2019 A to Z Challenge - "E"
I'm not sure how to describe this book. Did I like it? Yes. Will I read more by Quindlen? Yes.
The book starts slow, in that we don't reach the climatic part until about 1/2 way or more through, but it doesn't drag. We peer into the lives of the Lantham family and get to know mom, dad, the 3 kids, their friends, their routines; there is a reason for this build up of their "mundane" life. When tragedy strikes, we watch the struggle to go on. While this particular tragedy is not something we can all relate to (my god, I hope not), the struggle of moving on, opening up, finding one's self again is.
Summary from GoodReads: Mary Beth has built her life around her family, around caring for her three teenage children and preserving the rituals of their daily life. When one of her sons becomes depressed, Mary Beth focuses on him, only to be blindsided by a shocking act of violence. What happens afterward is a testament to the power of a woman’s love and determination, and to the invisible lines of hope and healing that connect one human being to another. Ultimately, this is a novel about facing every last one of the things we fear the most, about finding ways to navigate a road we never intended to travel
Quotes: "Sometimes I feel as though the entire point of a woman's life is to fall in love with people who will leave her."
"Whatever she did was fine. That's what I've learned. It's fine. Whatever you manage to do."
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