"The disappointments seemed to escape the family's notice, though. That was another of their quirks: they had a talent for pretending that everything was fine. Or maybe it wasn't a quirk at all. Maybe it was just further proof that the Whitshanks were not remarkable in any way whatsoever."
-from the novel
I found enough reason to finish this novel but I can't say I really enjoyed it. The chapters were long and the sequence was confusing at times. Both factors kept it from being a page-turner, in my opinion but the characters were well-developed and the writing style was clear. I will rate it a 3.
The story involves the Whitshank family, 1994, at a time when the mother is acting strangely and the family descends on her and her husband to "help out." Of course there is sibling rivalry, disagreement and some deep-seated resentment among the siblings. This includes the "black sheep" of the family, but not the one you think! All this was a little too close for comfort since my husband and I are about the ages of Abby and Red Whitshank!
Flashbacks to 1959 take the reader back to the beginning of Abby and Red's relationship and even as far back as Red's father and mother in the 1920's. So basically we meet four generations with the same affection and jealousy, celebration and tragedy, and occasional dysfunction of many families, but with one big secret underlying it all.
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