What do you think?
Rate this book
The Sleepy Hollow Family Almanac
In the spirit of novels by Nick Hornby and Tom Perrotta, a smart, funny debut about a disillusioned young man whose fledgling leap from postadolescence to adulthood lands him back in an already overburdened family nest.
Calvin Moretti can’t believe how much his life sucks. He’s a twenty-four-year-old film school dropout living at home again and working as an assistant teacher at a preschool for autistic kids. His insufferable go-getter older brother is also living at home, as is his kid sister, who’s still in high school and has just confided to Cal that she’s pregnant. What’s more, Calvin’s father, a career pilot, is temporarily grounded and obsessed with his own mortality. and his ever-stalwart mother is now crumbling under the pressure of mounting bills and the imminent loss of their Sleepy Hollow, New York, home: the only thing keeping the Morettis moored. Can things get worse? Oh, yes, they can.
Which makes it all the more amazing that The Sleepy Hollow Family Almanac is not only buoyantly fun but often very, very funny. In this debut novel, Kris D’Agostino has crafted an engrossing contemporary tale of a loopy but loving family, and in Calvin Moretti, he’s created an oddball antihero who really wants to do the right thing—if he can just figure out what it is.
Calvin Moretti can’t believe how much his life sucks. He’s a twenty-four-year-old film school dropout living at home again and working as an assistant teacher at a preschool for autistic kids. His insufferable go-getter older brother is also living at home, as is his kid sister, who’s still in high school and has just confided to Cal that she’s pregnant. What’s more, Calvin’s father, a career pilot, is temporarily grounded and obsessed with his own mortality. and his ever-stalwart mother is now crumbling under the pressure of mounting bills and the imminent loss of their Sleepy Hollow, New York, home: the only thing keeping the Morettis moored. Can things get worse? Oh, yes, they can.
Which makes it all the more amazing that The Sleepy Hollow Family Almanac is not only buoyantly fun but often very, very funny. In this debut novel, Kris D’Agostino has crafted an engrossing contemporary tale of a loopy but loving family, and in Calvin Moretti, he’s created an oddball antihero who really wants to do the right thing—if he can just figure out what it is.
352 pages, Paperback
First published March 20, 2012
34 people are currently reading
1406 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 176 reviews
March 30, 2012
I wanted to like this book more, because I think it did capture the experience of a certain type of middle-class, post-college guy who's directionless in life after all the obvious directions have been followed, but there was a hurdle that I really couldn't get over.
I'll just quote the 6th of the discussion questions at the end of the book (no spoilers, promise): "The novel opens with Calvin stating, 'I work with retards.' What does he mean by that? How does that statement make you feel about Calvin's character initially? Do your feelings about him change as the book progresses?"
What excellent questions! Let me answer them for you.
1. He means he works with autistic kids.
2. It makes me feel like the author is a controversy-courting dipshit, and that his character is nothing but a reflection of himself.
3. Not particularly, no.
It's really a shame that the author has the character call his students "retards" throughout the book, because it was really distracting for me, and I'm sure most people with brains and souls.
The best part is that one of the quotes on the back indicates that this book "winningly describes the millennial generation," which is my generation. So great. My generation is known as the assholes who are so post-PC that they pepper otherwise non-controversial books with casual slurs. That's really excellent.
Also, fuck this guy.
Like I said, his writing's not bad, he got the feeling of a family in crisis down well. And yet.
It's possible the author was attempting to use the term to indicate the character's immaturity and anger at his loser status. But really. Jesus Christ. I just...I just don't even.
I'll just quote the 6th of the discussion questions at the end of the book (no spoilers, promise): "The novel opens with Calvin stating, 'I work with retards.' What does he mean by that? How does that statement make you feel about Calvin's character initially? Do your feelings about him change as the book progresses?"
What excellent questions! Let me answer them for you.
1. He means he works with autistic kids.
2. It makes me feel like the author is a controversy-courting dipshit, and that his character is nothing but a reflection of himself.
3. Not particularly, no.
It's really a shame that the author has the character call his students "retards" throughout the book, because it was really distracting for me, and I'm sure most people with brains and souls.
The best part is that one of the quotes on the back indicates that this book "winningly describes the millennial generation," which is my generation. So great. My generation is known as the assholes who are so post-PC that they pepper otherwise non-controversial books with casual slurs. That's really excellent.
Also, fuck this guy.
Like I said, his writing's not bad, he got the feeling of a family in crisis down well. And yet.
It's possible the author was attempting to use the term to indicate the character's immaturity and anger at his loser status. But really. Jesus Christ. I just...I just don't even.
May 21, 2012
This book started off promising. I enjoy coming of age books about young people trying to figure out how to move forward in life. Unfortunately, Calvin does not offer any insights in how to do this.
Spoiler alert. The most abhorrent part of this book was his sister Elyssa's pregnancy. It was dealt with in a completely unrealist way. When she first announces it to Calvin, he doesn't even bother to ask who the father is. At no point do her parents ask who the father is. Getting knocked up in high school would be a major deal for anyone living in an upper middle class New York Suburb, and would not be portrayed as valiant or admirable. I spent most of the book hoping she would miscarry, abort, or decide to give the baby up for adoption. It was very difficult to root for her decision to keep the baby. It wasn't clear whether she was going to go to college, which just made me feel like this family, who was already on the edge of financial destruction, would now have to care for two more people. At the same time, I really didn't want to see her killed off!
Calvin's ambitions were completely unclear. He really didn't seem to want anything. I agree that the time after college is a very difficult one, and it's often very hard to figure out your way in the world. His parents were enabling him by not encouraging him to pursue any type of career that would move his life forward.
I found this book to be ultimately boring and not funny at all.
Spoiler alert. The most abhorrent part of this book was his sister Elyssa's pregnancy. It was dealt with in a completely unrealist way. When she first announces it to Calvin, he doesn't even bother to ask who the father is. At no point do her parents ask who the father is. Getting knocked up in high school would be a major deal for anyone living in an upper middle class New York Suburb, and would not be portrayed as valiant or admirable. I spent most of the book hoping she would miscarry, abort, or decide to give the baby up for adoption. It was very difficult to root for her decision to keep the baby. It wasn't clear whether she was going to go to college, which just made me feel like this family, who was already on the edge of financial destruction, would now have to care for two more people. At the same time, I really didn't want to see her killed off!
Calvin's ambitions were completely unclear. He really didn't seem to want anything. I agree that the time after college is a very difficult one, and it's often very hard to figure out your way in the world. His parents were enabling him by not encouraging him to pursue any type of career that would move his life forward.
I found this book to be ultimately boring and not funny at all.
January 30, 2015
I won a copy on Goodreads Firstreads.
First a disclaimer.I am sure there will be lots of people out there that find this book filled with deep meaning and sardonic humor.I am not one of them.Remember this is how I rate the book.
Calvin is a mid-20 year old who returns home after dropping out of graduate school and running out of money.His older brother has also returned home to help take care of their father who has lost his job as a pilot because of cancer.His high school sister also lives at home still.She gets pregnant and decides to keep the baby.The mother is trying to keep them all together but as her husband's medical bills mount,they have to face the fear they might lose their house.Calvin is torn between his desire to get away from his family and his desire to help them in their time of need.While his family does have its quirks, they are all very loving and supportive of each other.
Within the first 20 pages,I actively disliked Calvin.I can not say my feelings changed much for him throughout the novel.He is selfish, a whiner, a quitter, and unable to see when he has something good.His family obviously was well-off.They lived in a 5 bedroom, 4 bath house.They had a maid, landscapers,belonged to the country club, and all had vehicles.Calvin's mother gets him a job working with autistic children at a day-care.Because it isn't his dream job and doesn't pay the greatest, Calvin complains about it despite the satisfaction he gets and being repeatedly complimented on his work.He complains about not being able to save enough after paying back his college loan, buying vinyl records, drugs, weed, movie tickets,movie rentals,his credit card bill(probably more records), and trying to have a social life(even though that seems to be looking up porn on the internet and getting high).Calvin reports on almost every detail of what happens in his life,but he seems detached from these things for the most part.He quits grad school and his job because he knows they "aren't right" with no clue what to do or the desire to try and do anything.He seems to look down on everyone because they annoy him.While his family talks about saving their home, none of them seem to take any real steps toward saving it.This is strange because , the rest of the family always seem willing to help each other except for this.
The climax of the book was very good and would have raised the book to 2 stars. unfortunately Calvin's response to the climax brought it back down. Some might say he responded appropiately but to me it seemed he just,as Calvin would say, stayed on the seesaw.
There is an excess of the f-word.Some people might think me a prude for objecting to it.While I admit that I don't like the word, I mainly think it has become cliched or hackneyed.Just like cool, tubular, awesome, phat, the f-word has passed into the range of overuse.Even the words that stand in for it(f-word,f-bomb,freakin',friggin') have become cliche. Here is a test.Replace the f-word with the word toot(tooting, tooter, mothertooter, etc.).If you become tired of seeing toot after reading 20 to 25 pages, it is being overused.To give credit where it is due, Calvin does manage to never use the F-word in front of the autistic children.This would seem to be another example of Calvin having control but chooses not to use it in most cases.
The reason I entered this giveaway was the book was described as quirky and very funny.It was quirky but I did not find it funny.Sad, depressing, annoying but not funny.I received my first clue when I saw the phrase "smart and funny" which usually translates to pretentious.Then when I saw suggested reading group questions, I knew I was in trouble.Why does it always seem reading group books are never selected for enjoyment? Of course, I have always had trouble with being told what to read and then what I should think about it.I believe you can discuss technique or craftsmanship. That is solid and has rules and order.But the art of writing is totally subjective by the observer. Because art is what it makes you feel. Even if the creator of the art says it should make you feel one way,it is up to you, the observer, to make the final decision.
First a disclaimer.I am sure there will be lots of people out there that find this book filled with deep meaning and sardonic humor.I am not one of them.Remember this is how I rate the book.
Calvin is a mid-20 year old who returns home after dropping out of graduate school and running out of money.His older brother has also returned home to help take care of their father who has lost his job as a pilot because of cancer.His high school sister also lives at home still.She gets pregnant and decides to keep the baby.The mother is trying to keep them all together but as her husband's medical bills mount,they have to face the fear they might lose their house.Calvin is torn between his desire to get away from his family and his desire to help them in their time of need.While his family does have its quirks, they are all very loving and supportive of each other.
Within the first 20 pages,I actively disliked Calvin.I can not say my feelings changed much for him throughout the novel.He is selfish, a whiner, a quitter, and unable to see when he has something good.His family obviously was well-off.They lived in a 5 bedroom, 4 bath house.They had a maid, landscapers,belonged to the country club, and all had vehicles.Calvin's mother gets him a job working with autistic children at a day-care.Because it isn't his dream job and doesn't pay the greatest, Calvin complains about it despite the satisfaction he gets and being repeatedly complimented on his work.He complains about not being able to save enough after paying back his college loan, buying vinyl records, drugs, weed, movie tickets,movie rentals,his credit card bill(probably more records), and trying to have a social life(even though that seems to be looking up porn on the internet and getting high).Calvin reports on almost every detail of what happens in his life,but he seems detached from these things for the most part.He quits grad school and his job because he knows they "aren't right" with no clue what to do or the desire to try and do anything.He seems to look down on everyone because they annoy him.While his family talks about saving their home, none of them seem to take any real steps toward saving it.This is strange because , the rest of the family always seem willing to help each other except for this.
The climax of the book was very good and would have raised the book to 2 stars. unfortunately Calvin's response to the climax brought it back down. Some might say he responded appropiately but to me it seemed he just,as Calvin would say, stayed on the seesaw.
There is an excess of the f-word.Some people might think me a prude for objecting to it.While I admit that I don't like the word, I mainly think it has become cliched or hackneyed.Just like cool, tubular, awesome, phat, the f-word has passed into the range of overuse.Even the words that stand in for it(f-word,f-bomb,freakin',friggin') have become cliche. Here is a test.Replace the f-word with the word toot(tooting, tooter, mothertooter, etc.).If you become tired of seeing toot after reading 20 to 25 pages, it is being overused.To give credit where it is due, Calvin does manage to never use the F-word in front of the autistic children.This would seem to be another example of Calvin having control but chooses not to use it in most cases.
The reason I entered this giveaway was the book was described as quirky and very funny.It was quirky but I did not find it funny.Sad, depressing, annoying but not funny.I received my first clue when I saw the phrase "smart and funny" which usually translates to pretentious.Then when I saw suggested reading group questions, I knew I was in trouble.Why does it always seem reading group books are never selected for enjoyment? Of course, I have always had trouble with being told what to read and then what I should think about it.I believe you can discuss technique or craftsmanship. That is solid and has rules and order.But the art of writing is totally subjective by the observer. Because art is what it makes you feel. Even if the creator of the art says it should make you feel one way,it is up to you, the observer, to make the final decision.
June 19, 2015
Calvin Moretti is a graduate school dropout who teaches autistic children. However to make his life bearable, he does not say that he teaches autistic kids but rater he reaches "retarded kids." Hating his life at the moment, he recalls how he got the job at the request of his mother who said that he needed to get a job. Appeasing her, he gets the job, although he is not fulfilled at all. While he does befriend a girl name Angela, both of their life did not turn out the way they wanted too. Angela and him have a lot of common but they rather not drown their sorrows together complaining about what could have been. Instead they try to put on a good impression for the kids but Calvin has never been the one that bridled his tongue.
Living with his parents is a nightmare, in between his sister unannounced pregnancy at seventeen, his annoying "optimistic mother" his zealous grandmother and his sickly father, there are so many other places that he would like to be residing. Unfortunately he is stuck paying off school loan and smoking weed in the meantime, knowing that does not add anything to his career. Bonding with his dad is one good thing, both of them are tired of putting on an act that everything is fine. Never being afraid to be outspoken, they often express their frustration with how badly their life has become.
Calvin wonders if his life would have been better if he stayed in school like his egoistical brother. At least he has a job and is highly successful, to his agony. Things cannot get any worst when he gets shocking news from his mother that is going to change his life for the worst. Hilarious,heartbreaking and powerful in this memorable novel about finding hope in dire circumstances.
I absolutely adored this book! It was witty and sad simultaneously,really captured the essence what most college students face.
In a lot of ways, I was like Calvin, so I really felt empathy to what he was going through and the regrets that he faced.
Rich characterization, splendid consistency and a remarkable novel.
It exceeded my expectations, one of the rare novels that mirrored my life!
Living with his parents is a nightmare, in between his sister unannounced pregnancy at seventeen, his annoying "optimistic mother" his zealous grandmother and his sickly father, there are so many other places that he would like to be residing. Unfortunately he is stuck paying off school loan and smoking weed in the meantime, knowing that does not add anything to his career. Bonding with his dad is one good thing, both of them are tired of putting on an act that everything is fine. Never being afraid to be outspoken, they often express their frustration with how badly their life has become.
Calvin wonders if his life would have been better if he stayed in school like his egoistical brother. At least he has a job and is highly successful, to his agony. Things cannot get any worst when he gets shocking news from his mother that is going to change his life for the worst. Hilarious,heartbreaking and powerful in this memorable novel about finding hope in dire circumstances.
I absolutely adored this book! It was witty and sad simultaneously,really captured the essence what most college students face.
In a lot of ways, I was like Calvin, so I really felt empathy to what he was going through and the regrets that he faced.
Rich characterization, splendid consistency and a remarkable novel.
It exceeded my expectations, one of the rare novels that mirrored my life!
July 25, 2016
From the opening line to the last sentence, Calvin Moretti captured my attention with his unique voice and the interesting way he views the world. He’s not always a likable character, but that’s what I liked about him. He doesn’t try to be something he’s not: he’s genuine. He’s the voice of a generation that hasn’t quite found themselves yet, and I can’t think of a better character to tell the tale. Despite his wayward direction, I found myself standing behind him every step of the way.
The story moved at a clipped pace, and I found myself flipping pages to find out what happened next. Although I wouldn’t call it a light read, at times it can be light-hearted. The beginning proved more than memorable, with pockets of humorous scenes filling up the pages, to a more profound middle and end. Like Calvin, this story proves to be much deeper than it appears on the surface. It’s a story and a journey worthy of your attention.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
The story moved at a clipped pace, and I found myself flipping pages to find out what happened next. Although I wouldn’t call it a light read, at times it can be light-hearted. The beginning proved more than memorable, with pockets of humorous scenes filling up the pages, to a more profound middle and end. Like Calvin, this story proves to be much deeper than it appears on the surface. It’s a story and a journey worthy of your attention.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
February 21, 2012
The cast of characters includes Calvin, the narrator who is a grad-school drop out living at home doing what might be considered too many drugs. He is the unlikely glue that holds the family together: his 17-year old sister Elissa seems to have everything together until we find out she's pregnant. His brother Chip is the type of guy who would wear a blackberry in a belt holster and carry a cell phone. His mother has fallen behind on bills in an attempt to pay for his father's medical expenses as he recovers from an illness that has forced him to leave his job as a pilot.
For fans of the movie Little Miss Sunshine, this darkly comedic debut novel is about family without all the fluffy hugs family stories include so often. In the words of a friend I was recently discussing this with, "Writing a book about a 20-something who has returned home to live with his family is nothing new. But what makes this book great is that the family all really loves and cares about each other, although they hate to admit it."
Read it. It's good.
For fans of the movie Little Miss Sunshine, this darkly comedic debut novel is about family without all the fluffy hugs family stories include so often. In the words of a friend I was recently discussing this with, "Writing a book about a 20-something who has returned home to live with his family is nothing new. But what makes this book great is that the family all really loves and cares about each other, although they hate to admit it."
Read it. It's good.
August 12, 2015
I absolutely ADORE this book. I LOVED it!!!! I want to be BFFs with Calvin!!! It is one of the best books I have ever read. A really touching story of a family just living and dealing with life. I really related with Calvin and his quest to figure out what in the hell he was supposed to do with his life. I think most people can relate to his struggles. I have never laughed out loud so much during a read and then cried. I fell in love with the family. It could be any ones family which makes this book so wonderful.
February 27, 2018
SIX WORD REVIEW: The story of the American millennial.
April 10, 2012
I got the Advanced Read Copy (ARC) of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
I admit, I'm confused. The synopsis of this book claims it is not only buoyantly fun but often very, very funny. There are reviews at Amazon that claim the readers were laughing hysterically, continuing the theme that this is a funny book.
If this book is funny, I'm Rip van Winkle. Maybe my sense of humor isn't warped enough. I kept waiting for humor... and waiting... and waiting. All I got was more and more depressed. I found nothing funny or even particularly witty about Calvin's "as told by" voice. I didn't laugh once. I didn't even chuckle. I'm pretty sure I didn't even smile. I cried at the end. Where's the humor?
What is funny about a 20-something who is lost and directionless, living at home, spending what little money he has on weed and more records than he'll ever listen to, while paying off a massive student loan and trying to save enough money to move back out of his parents' home? Was his father's cancer and subsequent deep depression supposed to be funny? Or his mother's juggling bills and worry over paying the mortgage and losing the house? Maybe I was supposed to find his teenage sister's pregnancy hilarious? I'm not sure. I finished this book as confused as when I started, except I was absolutely certain about one thing: this book is not funny.
There is not only no joy in this book, there's no redemption. Calvin, in my opinion, makes little or no progress towards becoming a real adult. He's still confused. Furthermore, he doesn't even have a job, which is a step back from where he was when the book started. In that respect, I found the story a failure in terms of the classic coming of age theme. I didn't feel that Calvin ever underwent any kind of significant change. He improved - minimally, in my opinion. I kept waiting for him to have an epiphany and make what, for him, would have been a real sacrifice, like selling his collection of albums. But no, he continued being a whining, shallow, entitled twit who thought he was making a big sacrifice because he paid the electric bill for his mother instead of spending the money on weed.
On the other hand, as I read this book, I kept thinking this is the kind of book that would probably be picked by the Oprah reading list. I don't mean that as a compliment - I have disliked every Oprah's list book I ever read. For my own reading purposes, a book being on Oprah's list is like the kiss of death - I will avoid it like the plague. There are probably legions of people who love those books who will love this book; maybe they'll even think it's funny.
I'm giving it a rating of 3 because there are probably people who will like this book and because it was competently written. It gets no great marks for the price, which is $9.99 for the e-book, which is at least less then the $11.16 for the paperback. My recommendation is save your money. If you want depressing family slice-of-life stories, you can get them free by making a phone call to your favorite screwup relative.
I admit, I'm confused. The synopsis of this book claims it is not only buoyantly fun but often very, very funny. There are reviews at Amazon that claim the readers were laughing hysterically, continuing the theme that this is a funny book.
If this book is funny, I'm Rip van Winkle. Maybe my sense of humor isn't warped enough. I kept waiting for humor... and waiting... and waiting. All I got was more and more depressed. I found nothing funny or even particularly witty about Calvin's "as told by" voice. I didn't laugh once. I didn't even chuckle. I'm pretty sure I didn't even smile. I cried at the end. Where's the humor?
What is funny about a 20-something who is lost and directionless, living at home, spending what little money he has on weed and more records than he'll ever listen to, while paying off a massive student loan and trying to save enough money to move back out of his parents' home? Was his father's cancer and subsequent deep depression supposed to be funny? Or his mother's juggling bills and worry over paying the mortgage and losing the house? Maybe I was supposed to find his teenage sister's pregnancy hilarious? I'm not sure. I finished this book as confused as when I started, except I was absolutely certain about one thing: this book is not funny.
There is not only no joy in this book, there's no redemption. Calvin, in my opinion, makes little or no progress towards becoming a real adult. He's still confused. Furthermore, he doesn't even have a job, which is a step back from where he was when the book started. In that respect, I found the story a failure in terms of the classic coming of age theme. I didn't feel that Calvin ever underwent any kind of significant change. He improved - minimally, in my opinion. I kept waiting for him to have an epiphany and make what, for him, would have been a real sacrifice, like selling his collection of albums. But no, he continued being a whining, shallow, entitled twit who thought he was making a big sacrifice because he paid the electric bill for his mother instead of spending the money on weed.
On the other hand, as I read this book, I kept thinking this is the kind of book that would probably be picked by the Oprah reading list. I don't mean that as a compliment - I have disliked every Oprah's list book I ever read. For my own reading purposes, a book being on Oprah's list is like the kiss of death - I will avoid it like the plague. There are probably legions of people who love those books who will love this book; maybe they'll even think it's funny.
I'm giving it a rating of 3 because there are probably people who will like this book and because it was competently written. It gets no great marks for the price, which is $9.99 for the e-book, which is at least less then the $11.16 for the paperback. My recommendation is save your money. If you want depressing family slice-of-life stories, you can get them free by making a phone call to your favorite screwup relative.
November 16, 2011
Moving home after college seems to have become a trend, and it's understandable, given today's high unemployment rate. Who can afford an apartment when you're fresh out of school and working at a minimum wage job, struggling until something better comes along?
That's pretty much where Calvin, the protagonist of D'Agostino's debut novel, The Sleepy Hollow Family Almanac, finds himself in life. At 24, he's a film school dropout (not even a graduate!), living at home again, and working at a preschool for autistic kids (whom he calls "retards" in the first sentence of the book).
Cal's life, he tells the reader, isn't even close to what he wanted or expected for himself. Worse, his dad is seriously ill and his mom is cracking under the stress as their home is threatened with foreclosure.
D'Agostino, in an interview provided with the advance review copy I received, says that parts of this story are based on his own experiences. After graduating from college in 2000, he tells us he found himself "completely adrift in the world...," as well as "jobless, broke, and largely without motivation". In writing this novel, the author says he aimed to "put on the page a snippet of someone's life at a crossroads."
The Sleepy Hollow Family Almanac accomplishes this goal. It's packed with the stuff of real life: the maddening preschoolers who demand a potty break when they're just back from the bathroom; the once strong, airline pilot-father who rambles around in a bathrobe when cancer grounds him; the bank account that keeps shrinking even though Cal is desperately trying to save for his own place; the unmarried, pregnant sister; and on and on.
There's a dark humor here, although having experienced some of the stresses D'Agostino writes about, I felt more of the darkness than the humor; too much identification with Cal, I suppose, and perhaps a lack of sufficient sympathy when our trying-to-come-of-age narrator "enter(s) the mind-set of total ambitionless slackerdom."
A novel should be an account of change, whether interior or exterior, and I'm not sure I really saw a lot of change in Cal by the end of the book. He does make some difficult decisions at last, but I was left with the feeling that he's still mostly being pushed around by forces he doesn't fully understand, doesn't like, and can't control. The author does give us a snapshot of a life at the crossroads, but I would have liked to see this character take a more deliberate step at the fork he was facing--no matter which path he chose.
That's pretty much where Calvin, the protagonist of D'Agostino's debut novel, The Sleepy Hollow Family Almanac, finds himself in life. At 24, he's a film school dropout (not even a graduate!), living at home again, and working at a preschool for autistic kids (whom he calls "retards" in the first sentence of the book).
Cal's life, he tells the reader, isn't even close to what he wanted or expected for himself. Worse, his dad is seriously ill and his mom is cracking under the stress as their home is threatened with foreclosure.
D'Agostino, in an interview provided with the advance review copy I received, says that parts of this story are based on his own experiences. After graduating from college in 2000, he tells us he found himself "completely adrift in the world...," as well as "jobless, broke, and largely without motivation". In writing this novel, the author says he aimed to "put on the page a snippet of someone's life at a crossroads."
The Sleepy Hollow Family Almanac accomplishes this goal. It's packed with the stuff of real life: the maddening preschoolers who demand a potty break when they're just back from the bathroom; the once strong, airline pilot-father who rambles around in a bathrobe when cancer grounds him; the bank account that keeps shrinking even though Cal is desperately trying to save for his own place; the unmarried, pregnant sister; and on and on.
There's a dark humor here, although having experienced some of the stresses D'Agostino writes about, I felt more of the darkness than the humor; too much identification with Cal, I suppose, and perhaps a lack of sufficient sympathy when our trying-to-come-of-age narrator "enter(s) the mind-set of total ambitionless slackerdom."
A novel should be an account of change, whether interior or exterior, and I'm not sure I really saw a lot of change in Cal by the end of the book. He does make some difficult decisions at last, but I was left with the feeling that he's still mostly being pushed around by forces he doesn't fully understand, doesn't like, and can't control. The author does give us a snapshot of a life at the crossroads, but I would have liked to see this character take a more deliberate step at the fork he was facing--no matter which path he chose.
May 1, 2012
I really quite enjoyed the first two thirds or a bit more of this book, before I felt that it had become a little predictable, even though it was kind of charming.
The story of, yes, a dysfunctional family, for which you might as well substitute any family, this book is narrated by Calvin, who wears the title of slacker son against his somewhat troubled sister Elissa and his perfect brother Chip. Spending most of his time listening to music and indulging in weed and other controlled substances, Calvin teaches "retards", as he calls them, in a private school. It is easy to see that he has a talent for working with his own assigned autistic child, a three-year-old lovable to everyone including Calvin.
Debating constantly about whether he should get a better job or go back to school or do nothing, Calvin reliably chooses to stay the same for the most of the book, while hoping to leave his family behind and get out of the house.
The family's troubles, which include a pregnancy and cancer, pull the family together gradually and everyone begins to show a slightly better side than is shown at first. The kids really start to pull for the parents they have chosen to dismiss for a lot of the book. This is where it loses me. The quirky, fresh clan of the title is fun and more or less easy to identify with, and the writing style keeps a bit of zip in the story. Once everyone starts glowing with goodwill, there is nothing left to be very concerned with except the reliably morose Dad. There is a tragedy in the book but by this time the momentum is running out.
I was disappointed to be presented with another "inspiring" book, with tension seeping out of it at every chapter, instead of building to an interesting climax. I was generous to give it three stars, perhaps, but I did really enjoy reading much of it. I was frankly a bit bored by the end, unfortunately. I would like to have given it a true favorable review.
The story of, yes, a dysfunctional family, for which you might as well substitute any family, this book is narrated by Calvin, who wears the title of slacker son against his somewhat troubled sister Elissa and his perfect brother Chip. Spending most of his time listening to music and indulging in weed and other controlled substances, Calvin teaches "retards", as he calls them, in a private school. It is easy to see that he has a talent for working with his own assigned autistic child, a three-year-old lovable to everyone including Calvin.
Debating constantly about whether he should get a better job or go back to school or do nothing, Calvin reliably chooses to stay the same for the most of the book, while hoping to leave his family behind and get out of the house.
The family's troubles, which include a pregnancy and cancer, pull the family together gradually and everyone begins to show a slightly better side than is shown at first. The kids really start to pull for the parents they have chosen to dismiss for a lot of the book. This is where it loses me. The quirky, fresh clan of the title is fun and more or less easy to identify with, and the writing style keeps a bit of zip in the story. Once everyone starts glowing with goodwill, there is nothing left to be very concerned with except the reliably morose Dad. There is a tragedy in the book but by this time the momentum is running out.
I was disappointed to be presented with another "inspiring" book, with tension seeping out of it at every chapter, instead of building to an interesting climax. I was generous to give it three stars, perhaps, but I did really enjoy reading much of it. I was frankly a bit bored by the end, unfortunately. I would like to have given it a true favorable review.
April 2, 2012
This is a resetting of the traditional coming-of-age novel to a more authentic time (post-college) and more authentic place (back in the family nest). There are way too many stories about young adults bravely blazing their own path, finding love, and finally making it as an artist, writer, or in some other cool job in the big city. Sleepy Hollow Family Almanac offers a refreshing alternative to this cliche.
Cal, a 24-year-old film school drop out finds himself saddled by student loans, stuck working as a teacher's assistant at a nursery school for autistic kids, and living in his parent's crowded home. His dad has cancer and mopes around the house with a gun in his bathrobe pocket. His teenage sister has cancer. His parent's house is about to be foreclosed upon. Basically, everything's messed up.
It's within this context that Cal realizes adulthood is reached the boring way, through a series of compromises, not by a sudden, explosive epiphany that reveals your actualized self. But the telling of Cal's story isn't boring at all. It's measured and masterful. D'Agostino achieves a poignant balance between the ordinary and the extraordinary and the comic and tragic. Eventually, it becomes difficult to distinguish one from the other, which is the sign of pretty terrific writing.
Recommended to: anyone who graduated high school after 1999 (you will see yourself in Cal), the parents of anyone who graduated high school after 1999 (you might see your kid in Cal), Westchester/Rockland County folks (you might see your town's name in print. Palisades Mall, Harriman Park, Tappan Zee Bridge shout outs.)
Cal, a 24-year-old film school drop out finds himself saddled by student loans, stuck working as a teacher's assistant at a nursery school for autistic kids, and living in his parent's crowded home. His dad has cancer and mopes around the house with a gun in his bathrobe pocket. His teenage sister has cancer. His parent's house is about to be foreclosed upon. Basically, everything's messed up.
It's within this context that Cal realizes adulthood is reached the boring way, through a series of compromises, not by a sudden, explosive epiphany that reveals your actualized self. But the telling of Cal's story isn't boring at all. It's measured and masterful. D'Agostino achieves a poignant balance between the ordinary and the extraordinary and the comic and tragic. Eventually, it becomes difficult to distinguish one from the other, which is the sign of pretty terrific writing.
Recommended to: anyone who graduated high school after 1999 (you will see yourself in Cal), the parents of anyone who graduated high school after 1999 (you might see your kid in Cal), Westchester/Rockland County folks (you might see your town's name in print. Palisades Mall, Harriman Park, Tappan Zee Bridge shout outs.)
February 5, 2017
I came to this novel after reading Kris D’Agostino’s terrific second novel, and was pleased to discover this one is every bit as good. The Sleepy Hollow Family Almanac is a first-person-told, coming-o-age novel about a 24-year-old, Calvin Moretti, who’s adrift after dropping out of graduate school in film. He’s working at a school for autistic children and not enjoying it very much, even though he’s good at it. He has boomeranged back home, but his family is in a state of crisis because his father has cancer. With him out of work, and living on a limited disability check, the family is at risk of losing their home. Calvin’s older brother, who has a successful Wall Street, returns home to help out, but that may not be enough. Lots of additional complications ensue – Calvin’s high-school-aged sister gets pregnant, and Calvin’s father’s love of guns wreaks some havoc. The book skillfully mixes humor - culled from the family’s and, in particular, the father’s zaniness -- with some unexpectedly serious turns into drama that are heartfelt and moving. Through it all, the books remains a very entertaining read with some profound insights on the wanderlust that can plague that mid-twenties period before you find yourself and your partner in life. As someone who just moved to the Tarrytown/Sleepy Hollow, I also found it to be a very good intro the area. (There are nearby state parks mentioned that are now on my list to visit!)
February 2, 2012
As a 24 year old, I must say that I have a number of friends who identify as lost, annoyed, and deeply in debt. And regardless of the educational experiences of all of us, the job situation is less than good. One might go as far to say that it truly horrible. Due to this, I think The Sleepy Hollow Family Almanac is certain to have an eager audience- especially in college towns.
Like many of my generation, Calvin Moretti thinks his life sucks, but it's actually more than that. Calvin's family members are all facing their own unique problems- from Calvin's father's cancer to his high school sister's unplanned pregnancy to his mother's financial woes. While this story is about Calvin, told from his point of view, it is a family saga more than anything. What makes it unique is the the humor, characters, and the current nature of the story; it just might be the book to link that person living in the basement with the middle-life crisis pair living upstairs.
Like many of my generation, Calvin Moretti thinks his life sucks, but it's actually more than that. Calvin's family members are all facing their own unique problems- from Calvin's father's cancer to his high school sister's unplanned pregnancy to his mother's financial woes. While this story is about Calvin, told from his point of view, it is a family saga more than anything. What makes it unique is the the humor, characters, and the current nature of the story; it just might be the book to link that person living in the basement with the middle-life crisis pair living upstairs.
April 22, 2012
Little did I realize when I picked up this book that it would be a depressing look at a suburban slacker's struggle to figure out who he was. At first I sniggered along with his snarky irreverent references to the kids he worked with as "retards" but that joke got old pretty quick. I'm not sure what this book is trying to be. There were a few funny bits, but mostly this was a swirling mess of people making poor choices (or no choices). I didn't really like anyone, but there wasn't any villain to really hate either. Although once Calvin I was done hoping he'd figure his life out. I stopped caring.
Anyway, a later-in-life(25ish) coming-of-age tale of a not very likable guy. It had potential but I think the author should have stuck with snarky and not gotten all deep and depressing.
Anyway, a later-in-life(25ish) coming-of-age tale of a not very likable guy. It had potential but I think the author should have stuck with snarky and not gotten all deep and depressing.
April 26, 2013
There were paragraphs of this book where I thought to myself WOW the author really understands his characters and their emotions. In the afterward, it stated that certain parts actually were autobiographical so that did lend authenticity to the book. Overall, short and entertaining. A good look at twenty-something angst and family.
January 14, 2014
I'm only 5 chapters in, but I'm done. Finished. If you find the bitterness of mopey millennials to be funny and worth your attention, then have at it. Just keep in mind that the young 'hero' of this book works in a school for autistic children and he repeatedly refers to them as 'retards'. Haha?
Read
August 13, 2012I had hoped this would be like The Family Fang but oh it was not. Maybe I'm just past the point in my life where I have a lot of patience with the rambling musings of a slacker protagonist.
November 23, 2013
Exactly what a I needed. A sarcastic, dark comedy read that focused on family drama. Well suited for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday : )
February 9, 2015
This first novel is full of poignant and droll moments as its protagonist, Calvin Moretti, tries to try to grow up for the benefit of his tragicomic family. Hope to read more from this author.
February 25, 2021
Whomever said that every male novelist's Roman à clef could be summed up with the phrase, "I got a handjob 5 years ago. I am ambivalent about it now." is very smart.
February 10, 2019
If I had to describe this concisely to someone, it'd be 'hipster fiction'.
On one hand, I liked the author's voice, which is why I give it 3 stars (actually more like 2.5, but since it's his debut novel I decided to be generous). It comes across as a bit self-indulgent. Calvin is pretty clearly a self-insert. I could tell that by reading, and got it confirmed to me in an author's note at the end of the book.
The two main problems I had with this:
1) Calvin doesn't WANT anything.
2) Elissa.
Every bit of advice or writing manual I've ever read hammers home the point that a protagonist has to want something in order for their journey to compel a reader. Calvin is kind of a lump. He jerks off and smokes weed and doesn't want anything out of life or have any goals or interests. While I get that was sort of the point, to portray that as a generational reality, it didn't really make for good tension in a story.
The story itself was pretty aimless, but since I liked the writing style and the observations about people and society that were sprinkled through the narrative, I kept reading. The biggest mistake in this book is Elissa. I think she could have been eliminated as a character completely. She isn't memorable in a fictional sense, and the whole story of her illegitimate teenage pregnancy just annoyed me. I kept thinking, "Get an abortion, for christ's sake." As if that wasn't bad enough, the climax of the book involves her dying in childbirth. This didn't work for me on so many levels. Not only did it come across as melodrama, but it felt kind of ridiculous -- a 17 year old in the 21st century dying in childbirth? Yeah, I get that it can technically happen, but really? It felt unbelievable and forced, and I didn't feel any of the emotional impact I'm sure I was intended to. For a side character's side plot to end so explosively just seemed like a waste of a climax. It seemed like the author realized he was running out of ways to punish his aimless characters in their depressing world of drudgery and had to grasp for something sensational in order to try and raise the stakes.
It's hard to know based on this book whether D'Agnostino has authorial talent or whether he just has a quirky,engaging voice that he funneled into something vaguely fictional. I'd have to read something disparate by him to make the judgement call.
On one hand, I liked the author's voice, which is why I give it 3 stars (actually more like 2.5, but since it's his debut novel I decided to be generous). It comes across as a bit self-indulgent. Calvin is pretty clearly a self-insert. I could tell that by reading, and got it confirmed to me in an author's note at the end of the book.
The two main problems I had with this:
1) Calvin doesn't WANT anything.
2) Elissa.
Every bit of advice or writing manual I've ever read hammers home the point that a protagonist has to want something in order for their journey to compel a reader. Calvin is kind of a lump. He jerks off and smokes weed and doesn't want anything out of life or have any goals or interests. While I get that was sort of the point, to portray that as a generational reality, it didn't really make for good tension in a story.
The story itself was pretty aimless, but since I liked the writing style and the observations about people and society that were sprinkled through the narrative, I kept reading. The biggest mistake in this book is Elissa. I think she could have been eliminated as a character completely. She isn't memorable in a fictional sense, and the whole story of her illegitimate teenage pregnancy just annoyed me. I kept thinking, "Get an abortion, for christ's sake." As if that wasn't bad enough, the climax of the book involves her dying in childbirth. This didn't work for me on so many levels. Not only did it come across as melodrama, but it felt kind of ridiculous -- a 17 year old in the 21st century dying in childbirth? Yeah, I get that it can technically happen, but really? It felt unbelievable and forced, and I didn't feel any of the emotional impact I'm sure I was intended to. For a side character's side plot to end so explosively just seemed like a waste of a climax. It seemed like the author realized he was running out of ways to punish his aimless characters in their depressing world of drudgery and had to grasp for something sensational in order to try and raise the stakes.
It's hard to know based on this book whether D'Agnostino has authorial talent or whether he just has a quirky,engaging voice that he funneled into something vaguely fictional. I'd have to read something disparate by him to make the judgement call.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2017
This book was a surprise. I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into, but I'm glad I picked up this little book. Calvin was a fascinating, relatable, quirky dude, and I enjoyed seeing his evolution, or lack there of, throughout the story. Quite reminiscent of Nick Hornby's writing, I definitely recommend this tale of Cal's millennial inertia and his family's struggle to keep the family together.
May 18, 2019
The family in this story is so well done. Incredibly uncomfortable with the main character calling the kids retards all the time tho. I was baffled what purpose it was supposed to serve. It came off to me as the author trying to be edgy to grab your attention but there are so many better ways to do that.
May 20, 2017
Overall, enjoyable read. Sometimes frustrated with main character and ending is quite sad.
July 6, 2018
2.5/5 review to come
Read
May 24, 2020Wasn't what I was expecting. Even so I read about 1/3 through and it just wasn't grabbing my interest.
March 9, 2017
Hated everything about this book. First line is "I work with retards." It doesn't ever get any better from there.
October 30, 2012
During my last semester of college, a professor of mine overheard my conversation with a fellow student about the joys of graduation. No more late night painting sessions, with 2 hours of sleep on a lumpy couch with 6 cups of coffee. No more paint on my clothes. And no more minimum wage job at a run-down shoe store. I would make my own rules; paint on my own time. But my professor knew better than I. “Life of an artist is hard,” she said, “Four months after graduation will be the lowest part of your life. But don’t worry, because it will be uphill from there.” My professor was right. Four months after graduation I was living at home, unemployed, and broke. But also as my professor had predicted, my life got better after months of aimlessness mediocrity. I got a part time job at the library that paid enough for me to live on my own, and pay for my art supplies. “ Life after graduation is hard.” She said, “It is a new phase in your life. Just as you had to adjust to high school and college, so do you adjust to becoming an adult.”
In the Sleepy Hollow Family Almanac, the narrator Calvin, struggles with the similar type of regression that I once was afflicted with. Only there are some major differences: his father has cancer, his teenage sister is pregnant, and they are about to lose the family home. In the world of Family Almanac, when it rains, it TURNS INTO THAT FRANKENSTORM CALLED HURRICANE SANDY AND IT DESTROYES EVERYTHING. As am reading this novel, I keep thinking how much shit can a family go through in a period of a year? (Trust me the things I just listed are the tip of the iceberg.) Once you wade through all of the drama and apathy that this family seems to just ooze from their very core, you are left with a story about family and a man-child who is just trying to get his act together and figure out what being an ‘adult’ truly means. A coming of age novel for the 21st century (with social commentary about the state of the economy, with students in massive debt and being unable to get a job even with a college degree.)
So I recommend this novel to anyone who had a similar WHAT THE HELL moment when they graduated from college, because you will find this novel highly relatable. But if you happen to be those lucky few who just seemed to make the right choices in college and got a job right away, you will find the narrator to be annoying and insufferable. But that is OK, because Calvin would find you to be annoying and insufferable too.
In the Sleepy Hollow Family Almanac, the narrator Calvin, struggles with the similar type of regression that I once was afflicted with. Only there are some major differences: his father has cancer, his teenage sister is pregnant, and they are about to lose the family home. In the world of Family Almanac, when it rains, it TURNS INTO THAT FRANKENSTORM CALLED HURRICANE SANDY AND IT DESTROYES EVERYTHING. As am reading this novel, I keep thinking how much shit can a family go through in a period of a year? (Trust me the things I just listed are the tip of the iceberg.) Once you wade through all of the drama and apathy that this family seems to just ooze from their very core, you are left with a story about family and a man-child who is just trying to get his act together and figure out what being an ‘adult’ truly means. A coming of age novel for the 21st century (with social commentary about the state of the economy, with students in massive debt and being unable to get a job even with a college degree.)
So I recommend this novel to anyone who had a similar WHAT THE HELL moment when they graduated from college, because you will find this novel highly relatable. But if you happen to be those lucky few who just seemed to make the right choices in college and got a job right away, you will find the narrator to be annoying and insufferable. But that is OK, because Calvin would find you to be annoying and insufferable too.
May 30, 2012
I won a copy of this book as a First Reads Giveaway.
This book was certainly entertaining, and I think D’Agostino did a good job of capturing the plight of a twenty-something with no idea what he wants to do with his life. It is a modern-day coming-of-age story, and I appreciate that D’Agostino made the main character older than in a traditional coming-of-age story; I agree with him that more people are “coming of age” older now than they were in the past.
My main problem with this novel was the main character, Calvin. As a recent college graduate myself who has just moved back home to live with my family, I was eager to read the book because I thought I would be able to relate to Calvin, but I couldn’t. I found him to be completely unlikeable. He’s directionless in life, and as the novel progresses he doesn’t really make an effort to find a direction. In fact, it could be argued he doesn't really come of age at all in this novel; in many ways, his teenage sister is more mature than he is. He would rather spend his money on weed than on helping his family pay the bills. He complains constantly about his problems (mainly that he doesn’t have a lot of money and that he wants to move away from his family but can't) while the other members of his family struggle with serious problems like cancer, pregnancy, and losing their home. As much as he claims to love his family, he doesn't seem to care about them all that much. I had a hard time having any sympathy for Calvin because I disliked him so much.
For me, it was Calvin’s family that saved this book, and that brought it up to 3 stars (more like 2.5). I liked reading about them. While a lot of their storylines revolve around difficult subjects (his father has cancer, his mother is struggling with the reality that they need to sell the house, his teenage sister is pregnant) D’Agostino has still managed to instill some humor into the story. They are quirky characters, and their quirks are what make them so likeable.
While parts of this book are quite sad, and listening to Calvin complain on an on can certainly get a bit boring, it was nonetheless a quick and enjoyable read thanks to the rest of the Morettis.
This book was certainly entertaining, and I think D’Agostino did a good job of capturing the plight of a twenty-something with no idea what he wants to do with his life. It is a modern-day coming-of-age story, and I appreciate that D’Agostino made the main character older than in a traditional coming-of-age story; I agree with him that more people are “coming of age” older now than they were in the past.
My main problem with this novel was the main character, Calvin. As a recent college graduate myself who has just moved back home to live with my family, I was eager to read the book because I thought I would be able to relate to Calvin, but I couldn’t. I found him to be completely unlikeable. He’s directionless in life, and as the novel progresses he doesn’t really make an effort to find a direction. In fact, it could be argued he doesn't really come of age at all in this novel; in many ways, his teenage sister is more mature than he is. He would rather spend his money on weed than on helping his family pay the bills. He complains constantly about his problems (mainly that he doesn’t have a lot of money and that he wants to move away from his family but can't) while the other members of his family struggle with serious problems like cancer, pregnancy, and losing their home. As much as he claims to love his family, he doesn't seem to care about them all that much. I had a hard time having any sympathy for Calvin because I disliked him so much.
For me, it was Calvin’s family that saved this book, and that brought it up to 3 stars (more like 2.5). I liked reading about them. While a lot of their storylines revolve around difficult subjects (his father has cancer, his mother is struggling with the reality that they need to sell the house, his teenage sister is pregnant) D’Agostino has still managed to instill some humor into the story. They are quirky characters, and their quirks are what make them so likeable.
While parts of this book are quite sad, and listening to Calvin complain on an on can certainly get a bit boring, it was nonetheless a quick and enjoyable read thanks to the rest of the Morettis.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 176 reviews