What do you think?
Rate this book
Family Thang
Comedy: a fractured family's dirty laundry is aired, soiled, stained, muddied, fumigated and declared a health hazard when their patriarch succumbs to barbecued neck bones laced with arsenic.
402 pages, ebook
First published January 30, 2012
53 people are currently reading
246 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 42 reviews
January 17, 2013
A Family Thang was one of those unexpected gems of a book that I love coming across. The character development was EXCELLENT! I loved each and every one of the characters and their personalities. The story was full of humor and had me laughing so hard that I had to wipe back tears at times. I told my friend about this book and she ordered her a copy and finished it over the weekend laughing just as hard as I was.
Shirley- Feisty and could be seen as the Rasputia of the family. Eric- Shirley's man, Broke pretty boy and the town's womanizer. Estafay- Holy roller with a face that besides Robert Earl, only a mother could love. Robert Earl- Where do I begin, married to Estafay, the oldest, dumbest and most scariest person in town, but oh man is he a riot! Shane- Seen as the slow one, but he actually has more sense than anybody in the family if you ask me. Leonard- The gay brother and somewhat the black sheep of the family. Lester- Ruth Ann's gullible, but decent and hard-working husband. Ruth Ann- beautiful, spoiled and low-down.
Sheriff Bledsoe- A gaseous hot mess of a sheriff who couldn't solve a tic-tac-toe puzzle if you showed him how. Kenny G- The beloved family dog poisoned by neck bones. Larry- The reason for the book, patriarch of the family poisoned by neck bones. Vincent- Leonard's lover. Ida- Matriarch of the family who will do anything to save her children regardless of the situation.
The only issues I had with the book was the ending. Not that it was a bad ending, but the way everything went down seemed incomplete for some reason. Plus, there seemed to be some confusion in the woods with Eric and his abductor. Ida's reason for doing what she did should've been elaborated on more in the beginning, if not the middle of the book. Plus, I would've loved some back stories that we're actually being told from Larry's point- of-view maybe at the beginning giving us a taste of who he was from the horse's mouth. Not saying that country folks can't be intelligent, but some of the dialect was off for the characters written.
Even though the book was tied up, I would still love to see these characters again. There's so many more stories to be told from them.
Shirley- Feisty and could be seen as the Rasputia of the family. Eric- Shirley's man, Broke pretty boy and the town's womanizer. Estafay- Holy roller with a face that besides Robert Earl, only a mother could love. Robert Earl- Where do I begin, married to Estafay, the oldest, dumbest and most scariest person in town, but oh man is he a riot! Shane- Seen as the slow one, but he actually has more sense than anybody in the family if you ask me. Leonard- The gay brother and somewhat the black sheep of the family. Lester- Ruth Ann's gullible, but decent and hard-working husband. Ruth Ann- beautiful, spoiled and low-down.
Sheriff Bledsoe- A gaseous hot mess of a sheriff who couldn't solve a tic-tac-toe puzzle if you showed him how. Kenny G- The beloved family dog poisoned by neck bones. Larry- The reason for the book, patriarch of the family poisoned by neck bones. Vincent- Leonard's lover. Ida- Matriarch of the family who will do anything to save her children regardless of the situation.
The only issues I had with the book was the ending. Not that it was a bad ending, but the way everything went down seemed incomplete for some reason. Plus, there seemed to be some confusion in the woods with Eric and his abductor. Ida's reason for doing what she did should've been elaborated on more in the beginning, if not the middle of the book. Plus, I would've loved some back stories that we're actually being told from Larry's point- of-view maybe at the beginning giving us a taste of who he was from the horse's mouth. Not saying that country folks can't be intelligent, but some of the dialect was off for the characters written.
Even though the book was tied up, I would still love to see these characters again. There's so many more stories to be told from them.
August 30, 2012
You ever work on a project and everything just falls into place with little effort on your part? Well, this is what happened while writing this novel. It was truly a pleasure to write and I enjoyed every minute of it. The plot sort of fell together; each chapter was a coin flip on which character to trip up next, and, IMO, it turned out rather nicely.
As of now this novel, in ebook form, is free everywhere, and I hope the reader enjoys reading it as much as I did writing it.
As of now this novel, in ebook form, is free everywhere, and I hope the reader enjoys reading it as much as I did writing it.
June 15, 2014
Somebody call Tyler Perry!
This book should be made into a movie. You can't help but laugh out loud! It's just one of those books that you've got to share with somebody. Great job. I'll be looking forward to reading more from this author.
This book should be made into a movie. You can't help but laugh out loud! It's just one of those books that you've got to share with somebody. Great job. I'll be looking forward to reading more from this author.
July 5, 2019
Rip Roaring Good Book
While it isn't exactly literary fiction, this little mystery book was just what I needed. I laughed out loud more than once and even roared loud enough a couple of times that I thought I may have disturbed my sleeping husband. Everyone has someone like most of these characters in their family. I identified a couple of mine and a few acquaintances.
Throughout this book i had vivid mental images of the scenes and setting, and it certainly didn't hurt that it's set in Arkansas.
Although this isn't the type book.I would normally choose (I think it was a book bub freebie) I'm glad I did. Things have been terribly serious and stressful lately, especially in view of what's happening in the nation, I needed a break from seriousness and this book delivered.
I had a rip-roaring good time reading Family Thang and I'm glad I read it.
While it isn't exactly literary fiction, this little mystery book was just what I needed. I laughed out loud more than once and even roared loud enough a couple of times that I thought I may have disturbed my sleeping husband. Everyone has someone like most of these characters in their family. I identified a couple of mine and a few acquaintances.
Throughout this book i had vivid mental images of the scenes and setting, and it certainly didn't hurt that it's set in Arkansas.
Although this isn't the type book.I would normally choose (I think it was a book bub freebie) I'm glad I did. Things have been terribly serious and stressful lately, especially in view of what's happening in the nation, I needed a break from seriousness and this book delivered.
I had a rip-roaring good time reading Family Thang and I'm glad I read it.
February 17, 2025
Blood is thicker than water
I couldn't stop laughing when I started reading this book! This is the first story that has me laughing from the beginning and ending. I enjoyed the plot. One thing that puzzled me was the cover. Maybe someone can tell me how the cover fit in the story
I couldn't stop laughing when I started reading this book! This is the first story that has me laughing from the beginning and ending. I enjoyed the plot. One thing that puzzled me was the cover. Maybe someone can tell me how the cover fit in the story
October 20, 2018
Make a part two of this book so interested
I love everything except the part when Robert earl wants a snake farm and how we did not get to know Larry Harris in the beginning of the book
I love everything except the part when Robert earl wants a snake farm and how we did not get to know Larry Harris in the beginning of the book
March 17, 2025
Intriguing
This is the first and only book I've ever read from start to finish. The characters had me hooked from the beginning. Never thought that the person who did it would have been the one who did it.
This is the first and only book I've ever read from start to finish. The characters had me hooked from the beginning. Never thought that the person who did it would have been the one who did it.
June 7, 2017
Crazy family
The book dragged on in parts but was funny as heck. The family was dysfunctional yet the one the daddy hated was the one that killed him. Be careful whose food you eat.
The book dragged on in parts but was funny as heck. The family was dysfunctional yet the one the daddy hated was the one that killed him. Be careful whose food you eat.
July 27, 2018
What a surprisingly funny tale of a dysfunctional family caught up in a who-dun-it !
August 15, 2021
Just plain stupid.
Want to read
April 11, 2023Reverend Stanley Lucious Walker stood inside his church. Greater Paradise, admiring the magnificent interior, his
March 7, 2015
I could start this review about the importance of family, or its dynamics, or the history that creeps up and causes dissension. This book speaks to all of those things. But I chose to focus of the attribute I enjoyed most about James Henderson’s FAMILY THANG: it’s humor. Laughter doeth like a good medicine. That’s Bible and so true. When you laugh, your body releases feel good endorphins that aid healing and repair, remove toxins caused by stress. But aside from all the technical, scientific jargon, laughter just makes you feel good. And FAMILY THANG had me rolling from cover to cover (Or location to location as I read the eBook version of the novel).
Set in an Arkansas town so small it’s lone law enforcer is one Sheriff (I still laugh about that polygraph machine scene) the story starts with a funeral for a man and his dog. You heard me right…his dog. Henderson begins off with the hilarity of that little casket. From there, we find out there’s a murder to investigate–a real whodunit. Who stood the most to gain by a patriarch’s death? For which family member did the poisoning of the patriarch make the most sense?
The weaving this tale deals with serious family issues in such a light and hearty way that you can’t help but see your own people in the book. And situations once thought dire, you can just laugh at. Let them roll down the shoulder like rain water. So if you need a good laugh, or a lighter look at the drama of your own family, please read FAMILY THANG by James Henderson. But beware. This book will have you laughing in public and looking crazy. A lot of people end their social media conversation with LOL when I wonder if they’re really laughing. I titled this post LOL For real because this novel gives greater meaning to the phrase Laugh Out Loud.
Set in an Arkansas town so small it’s lone law enforcer is one Sheriff (I still laugh about that polygraph machine scene) the story starts with a funeral for a man and his dog. You heard me right…his dog. Henderson begins off with the hilarity of that little casket. From there, we find out there’s a murder to investigate–a real whodunit. Who stood the most to gain by a patriarch’s death? For which family member did the poisoning of the patriarch make the most sense?
The weaving this tale deals with serious family issues in such a light and hearty way that you can’t help but see your own people in the book. And situations once thought dire, you can just laugh at. Let them roll down the shoulder like rain water. So if you need a good laugh, or a lighter look at the drama of your own family, please read FAMILY THANG by James Henderson. But beware. This book will have you laughing in public and looking crazy. A lot of people end their social media conversation with LOL when I wonder if they’re really laughing. I titled this post LOL For real because this novel gives greater meaning to the phrase Laugh Out Loud.
February 3, 2015
Family is first...especially when a lot of money may be involved
So grandpa does at his barbeque where his gay son returns with his boyfriend to grandpa's dismay. Out of 4 kids Jr doesn't like any of them. But he likes his dog Kenny G who dies and is buried with him in a crazy one of a kind funeral. It sets the tone for the rest of the book. Who killed grandpa and why? It becomes painfully aware it was for that big life insurance policy he had. But who's the benefactor? So much craziness ensues and family secrets are all out in the open and before any money is found they all hate each other. What could possibly being them all back together? You 'll have to read to find out.
So grandpa does at his barbeque where his gay son returns with his boyfriend to grandpa's dismay. Out of 4 kids Jr doesn't like any of them. But he likes his dog Kenny G who dies and is buried with him in a crazy one of a kind funeral. It sets the tone for the rest of the book. Who killed grandpa and why? It becomes painfully aware it was for that big life insurance policy he had. But who's the benefactor? So much craziness ensues and family secrets are all out in the open and before any money is found they all hate each other. What could possibly being them all back together? You 'll have to read to find out.
December 20, 2014
This is a good book to read during the Holidays because when your family is over, and you are ready to kill them all, reading Family Thang will change your opinion. Once you see what happens to four siblings, and what they do to each other, you will be glad for your own family. The siblings father is poisoned at a family barbeque, and the siblings, along with the town Sheriff, try to figure out who dunnit. This book goes from one adventure to another, and you wonder if any of the siblings will ever be content.
November 14, 2012
Family Thang was a humorous novel about what happens to a family when there is money to be inherited The author really made the characters come into the suspense. The book was light reading, I did not particularly care for the end.
August 4, 2013
This book wasn't my favorite. There was just too much.... It had a few places in it that made me smile/laugh- but mostly it was so over the top that I didn't actually enjoy reading it most of the time.
October 17, 2013
I enjoyed the book... It made me laugh out loud and smh at the same time.... I didn't like the ending.... And epilogue should end the story and with Ruth Ann it just seemed like it was leaving more open to the story.... I guess a family thang 2 will come out... Lol
December 1, 2013
Warning do not read in the library!
This book is too funny. I was lol, rotfl and smh. Do not read in the library, they will put you out.
This book is too funny. I was lol, rotfl and smh. Do not read in the library, they will put you out.
June 3, 2015
Hilarious
I loved this book I could not stop reading it and laughing at the same time. I will recommend this book to anyone who wants a good laugh the more you read the funnier it gets.
I loved this book I could not stop reading it and laughing at the same time. I will recommend this book to anyone who wants a good laugh the more you read the funnier it gets.
October 6, 2012
This was a funny enjoyable book. Except for the murders, you could be writing about some of my family. It had love, mistrust, cheating, murder, greed! And the local sheriff was a hoot!
October 29, 2012
This book was just so-so. I wish that I could give it 2.5 *.
January 2, 2013
Enjoyed it! Very funny at times.
January 18, 2013
Hilarious, this family was dysfunctional at its best!
January 30, 2013
Kinda like a jerry springer show, mixed up and crazy with a heck of a ending. Dont know what else to say about it
January 2, 2021
It had its laugh out loud moments, but it also had its slow moments. I couldn't stop reading it though because I had to know who killed daddy and his dog.
May 19, 2013
This is funny as hell. I am loving James H. great author.
July 9, 2013
I enjoyed this quick read. It was very funny at times. The ending was well worth the time spent reading. The Sheriff was the best. A fun read.
December 1, 2013
Cute story.
May 26, 2014
Wekeeeeeee! Wekeeeeeee!
February 22, 2017
A funny, funny story and well worth the read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews