Roost

by Ali Bryan

Winner of the 2014 Georges Bugnet Award for Fiction
One Book Nova Scotia Selection 2014

Claudia, single mother of two young children, pines for her past independent life. Her ex, after all, has moved on to a new wardrobe, a new penchant for lattes--and worst of all, new adult friends. But in Claudia's house she's still finding bananas in the sock drawer and cigarettes taped to wrestling figures. Then Claudia receives the unexpected news that her mother has died.

Shared through the hilarious, honest, and often poignant perspective of a single mother, Roost is the story of a woman learning about motherhood while grieving the loss of her own mother. And as she begins to mend, she's also learning that she might be able to accept her home--as it is.

Genres: Fiction, Canada, Book Club, Contemporary, Parenting

256 pages, Paperback

First published March 25, 2013

Reviews

[Blaine DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5* for this wonderful dark comedy of a family who is trying to deal with the aftermath of their wife/mothers unexpected death. We have 8 main character and we see their interactions at the wife/mothers 60th birthday party, and then follow them after their mother us struck by a Banana Boat in Cuba and her sudden resulting death. Her daughter Claudia is the narrator and she has her own problems as a single mother bringing up 2 very precocious children age 2 & 4. Her father has no idea how to cope after his wife' death, including trying to cook a ham while it is still wrapped in plastic. Ali Bryan is a keen observer of human nature and her characters are real, as is her plotting. I loved her book The Crow Valley Karaoke Championships and this book is just as good. And luckily for us her book Coq is a look at Claudia and her family 10 years later in life. Great work Ali!! 4.5****

[Laura Frey (Reading in Bed) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A funny thing happened while I was reading Roost. I was on a flight from Nova Scotia, author Ali Bryan’s home province and the setting of Roost, on my way home to Alberta, where Bryan now lives. I was nursing Henry while Ben played on his iPad. Ben’s legs don’t reach the floor, so he braced himself on the seat in front of him to adjust his position. The woman in front of Ben turned around and said, “If your son kicks my seat again, I am going to come back there and pour a glass of water over his head.” I said, “He’s three. I’m doing my best.” She told me to “do better” and turned around, huffing and puffing. This woman threatened my three year old son and called me a bad parent. As shame burned just below the skin on my reddening face, I thought, “this is exactly the type of thing that would happen to Claudia. Except she wouldn’t give a flying fuck.”

Claudia is our heroine, a woman smack in the middle of various family dramas, with barely enough time or energy to register it all, let alone deal with the fall out. She’s got two young kids, a prissy brother and sister-in-law, eccentric parents, and an ex who’s moving on with his life entirely too quickly A crisis occurs when her mother dies, and everyone around her starts to unravel. Her family seems to think, Claudia is already heaped on with responsibility, so, why not add more? Why not have her deal with funeral arrangements, and take care of her nieces and nephews while sister-in-law is treated for postpartum depression? Why not leave her holding the (garbage) bag when her father’s hoarding comes to light? I think about Claudia when I’m feeling busy or stressed or hard done by. I’ve got it easy.

This all sounds a little heavy, but the book is hilarious. I love Bryan’s deadpan style. Claudia says, of her two-and-a-half year old daughter,



…when you first held her in the hospital and she weighed five pounds and she gazed in your eyes and you fell in love, did you ever imagine that you would one day think she was an asshole?

Anyone who’s had a two-and-a-half year old gets this.

See the rest of my review: http://reading-in-bed.com/2013/08/24/...

[Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely and quick read. Claudia is the single mother of two children who is forced to grow up quickly when her mother unexpectedly passes away and she is left with a brother who can't cope and a dad who falls apart. The book is told as a series of very quick chapters - almost vignettes - and gives us a clear picture of a woman who is barely keeping it together in all aspects of her life - as a parent, as an ex-wife, as a daughter and sister, as a woman. Moments ring true to anyone who has ever felt less than spectacular in their parenting, or feels that their life is out of control. The moments surrounding her mother's funeral especially struck home, particularly the line "By the second visitation I want nothing more to do with my mother's death." which was precisely how I felt in the midst of all the formalities of my (much-loved) father-in-law's funeral. Despite the seemingly maudlin topic, there are moments of real humour here, and at the very least, fist-bumping solidarity for any woman trying to juggle the many balls of life. While the book is written without a true resolution, I never felt cheated for a moment by the story or the ending. It is almost as if we are allowed a brief snapshot into Claudia's life, and while it may not be perfect, the ending brings just enough comfort that I felt good about sending Claudia off, even in her imperfect way.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book. It's kind of weird when a domestic book about home life seems fresh and original. This was a story about a single parent and her two children, and how she deals with parenting when her mom dies and her family sort of falls apart.

I loved the voice and the humour in this book. It was actually funny.

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ali Bryan's debut novel Roost is the amusing and oddly touching story of Claudia, single mother and marketing professional. Narrated in Claudia's edgy, fast-paced, plain-spoken voice, the novel takes us through a series of personal crises as she struggles to wrangle her children-—Wes (four) and Joan (two)-—and cope with her father's erratic behaviour following the death of her mother. Separated from Glen, who is still in the picture but showing distinct signs of moving on with his life, Claudia's days are already complex and hectic before her mother's sudden death during a Caribbean vacation. After this her father becomes an additional worry. But Claudia cannot slow down or take time off. Life and career continue to make demands and she has no choice but to meet them head on. Ali Bryan's Claudia could very well be the prototypical 21st-century single mom: a young woman for whom emotional fulfillment is elusive and who makes it through the day with her head hovering just above the waterline, thankful for any stray moment of peace she can snatch, a glass of wine in one hand and soggy diaper in the other. Though none of them are particularly capable, and all of them have troubles of their own, she is unashamedly reliant on sympathetic friends and family to hold it all together. Not above bribing her kids with fast food and ice cream to get them to behave, and calling her kitchen appliances assholes when they don’t cooperate, Claudia is hardly a candidate for mother of the year. But she does what she has to and succeeds (more or less) against sizable odds, and by these means wins over the reader. Her business trip to Calgary is a brilliant set piece, in itself worth the price of admission. Ali Bryan has written a witty, sharply observed and genuinely entertaining novel that will appeal to readers who can appreciate its ironic perspective. And for the sociologists among us, it is also a wry and astute commentary on family, sibling rivalry and contemporary life in urban Canada.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Roost is a fun, quick read that you can easily finish in a day or two. I don’t think that I have ever read a romance novel, but I imagine Roost would read much like a romance, only without most of the romance. The chapters are short, which makes it satisfying to read and easy to fly through.

Roost is hilariously funny all the way through. The conversations that Claudia has with her 2 and 4-year-olds crack me up. Don’t expect kids that age to have a conversation that makes any sense.

Even though Roost was enjoyable, I really can’t give it more than 3 stars due to its simplicity and straightforwardness. It is a good book to read purely for its entertainment value, when you would rather not think.

Read the rest of this review, and more of my reviews at: www.bookwookie.ca

[Ashley J.J. White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roost is a spirited, hilarious account of the cross-sections of chaos and mundanity of domesticity. How something can be both crazy and boring is something I’ve wondered a lot about domestic life, and Bryan illustrates this strange paradox with care and finesse.

Another reviewer on Goodreads withheld a star because of its “simplicity and straightforwardness”, but I’d argue stories like this are important *because* they’re so universal. Oddball family dynamics are something most of us can relate to, and sometimes the main purpose of a novel is for the reader to simply feel seen.

I devoured this book in 3 sittings due to its short, snappy chapters, well-crafted characters and concise, witty prose. Can’t wait to read Coq next and follow this wily family to Paris!

[Sharon · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm obviously in the minority here, but I am not enjoying this book at all. I guess it simply isn't my type of book. I started it because of One Book Nova Scotia, but after 89 pages I'm finding it simply too lightweight, uninteresting writing style, and not very funny, which it is supposed to be. In short, boring. It's taken me until now to figure out where the author is taking us with it. If I had read the dustcover I would have known sooner, but I never read dustcovers as they always give away too much. The fact that it was selected for a provincewide book club and was thought to be very good was enough of a recommendation to give it a try. I'm sending it back to the library.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Silly and fun; even wickedly irreverent at times, Roost is a short, entertaining and surprisingly heartwarming read. Claudia is a divorced mother of two young children who moves through her busy and chaotic days in a sarcastic and self-deprecating funk. There is no doubt she loves her children and her family but when her mom suddenly dies, her already crazy, busy life is turned on its head. She’s egocentric and lacks confidence in herself as a mother, daughter and sister which sets her up for many challenges as she navigates her new normal with her grieving father and brother. Facing the many questions about death and grandma from her children, her own grief at the loss of her mother and the extra demands foisted on her as the daughter of the deceased she has to learn to be strong, decisive and independent and compassionate and empathetic all at the same time. Her growth and the insight she gains in herself and her family makes taking this journey with Claudia and her often ridiculous life well worth the effort.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book from First Reads and was asked to write a review. Roost is a story about the life of a single mom and the challenges she faces in raising her children while being the glue holding the family together after her mother dies. I thought it was a good story. It was not a book that I couldn't put down. It wasn't a mystery or a thriller. Just a nice story that was very well-written with touches of humor that vaguely reminded me of Erma Bombeck. There were many parts of the story that made me laugh out loud. I genuinely liked the main character and could relate to her. The chapters are short and there was nothing was wasted in the book. Every page and scene written was relevant to the story. This book was the first for this author. I think she is well on her way to becoming an excellent story teller. I look forward to reading more of her work. If you are looking for a light read, I recommend this book.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book for free from Goodreads First Reads. Claudia is a single mother of two children, aged 4 and 2. Just reading about her life exhausted me because it is hilariously chaotic. She has a near perfect brother who makes her feel inept and inferior. He gifts their parents with a trip to Cuba (this story is located in Novia Scotia). While on the trip, Claudia's mother suffers an accident that proves fatal. While the family seems to cope with this tragedy on the surface, as the book continues it becomes obvious that Claudia's father is in deep denial and has serious problems living alone. Claudia has to try to keep her own family functioning while interceding in her father's life.
Ali Bryan writes with great humor. Her descriptions of Claudia's conversations with her children are amusing and very believable.

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the humour and the reality of the book. The ending is abrupt but completely understandable. I love each and every character, even the romance. Although normal books would've ended in a clichéd manner, I much prefer this one. The book is so unique with the routine that I feel as if I can vividly see it and I love it! I hope to read more books from Ali Bryan! This book was given to me through the contest on here and I feel so lucky to have read it and be one of the rest to have done so.

[Brie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hope Ali Bryan has more books in the works. It's so rare to literally laugh-out-loud while reading a book. I enjoyed every bit of this book, even the hard parts (ex. Claudia's mother dying) as the family dynamics were so honest. The mess, the chaos and the hurriedness of Claudia's home (and life) was palpable and I felt like a fly on the wall, observing it all. As an expectant mother, I appreciated the underlying theme and candidness that while you will always love your children, sometimes you might not be able to stand them.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book for free through goodreads first reads. I got really into this book. The main character Claudia felt real to me and it was like I was experiencing all of her pain and frustration along with her. Her ex-husband was so irritating and the strain felt in all of her relationships was stressful to witness as she processed through her mother's death. I enjoyed this book because it was cathartic and had me crying at times but also cracked me up.

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I genuinely love this book, and it made me laugh out loud several times--and it takes a lot to make me laugh while reading! I'm not a parent myself, but I feel like this book captures parenthood in a way that feels real--never fake or over-simplified, but as something that's complicated and messy and overwhelming and wonderful and terrible. An extremely funny and moving novel.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. It was hilarious. You will cheer on the very loveable (and dysfunctional) main character to the end. I went out and bought a copy for my friend. I would recommend this book to anyone. A fun summer read and an exciting debut for Ali Bryan!

[Liana Kreamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is funny! It's like Susan Juby's "Alice, I Think" for grown-ups. Imperfect moms everywhere will appreciate the chaos.

I spotted this book on the list of eligible books for the 2013 Scotiabank Giller Prize. It will definitely be a contender for the Stephen Leacock Award.

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book about a single mom with 2 kids.

It was funny in parts and sad in other parts.

It ended too soon.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is for anyone with the perfect brother, aging parents and children. Light and funny, sweet and at times funny, it was a great quick read. Canadian references throughout.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not much substance, little to no character development. Wasn't my cup of tea, but if you're looking for a fast read with a few laughs this might be for you

[Dorothy Bentley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it; I recommend it!

[Sarah Obsesses over Books & Cookies · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had this on my shelf for a couple years after reading The Figgs- which is Bryan's second book. Going through the usual tough time trying to find the next read I picked this one and tore through it. It's about a family, specifically a single mom who is just trying to get through life and losing her mother in the process. Her inner monologue, the way she thinks and her personality is hilarious. I relate so much to her. Here is the first paragraph of one of the early chapters. "I drop the kids off at Turtle Grove Daycare. It is a squat stucco building with two wings, a boomerang of hurt feelings , pretend kitchens, and frizzy-haired teachers with varying degrees of back pain."

There is no real plot, it's just a domestic story from the point of view of a very witty (but annoyingly so) character struggling with parenting two kids, watching her ex move on and her father deal with the death of her mother. It was read in a few hours- too quickly. But a perfect distraction on the COVID era.

[GinaRay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really truly loved this book. I cried and I chuckled and I related. I was a single mom once and I get the struggle and if someone says that their kid is not an asshole then they are an asshole because they are liars. All kids are jerks in their own beautiful crazy ways but they are ours and we love them. My daughter was just like Joan at that age so I get it.

The family tragedy made me cry and cry and the selfishness of Claudia and Dan for not checking on their dad more pissed me off but Claudia redeems herself in the end. The book was beautiful and poignant and it was family coping with the unexpected lows and the incredible highs of life.

[Tom Axworthy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed The Figgs by Ali Bryan( about a Calgary family with the parents about to retire but the grown-up kids are still at home) and sought out Bryan's first book Roost, this one set in Nova Scotia. There is humour in Roost as Claudia tries to cope with her kids, siblings and Dad but the centerpiece of the story is the death of her Mother and subsequent decline of her father.Unlike The Friggs ,I did not find the premise of Roost funny( perhaps too close to real life) so although Claudia's musings on life's burdens occasionally raised a smile overall the book did not work for me.

[Shelagh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’d actually rate this book a 4.5 Star. I started chuckling on the first page of this book. What a wonderful glimpse into the life of a single mom. This book examines a number of serious themes in addition to single parenthood - divorce, grief and parenting your parent, all while spotlighting the chaotic but very funny things that happen in her life. The main character, Claudia is tough, resilient, and has the patience of a saint. Most mere humans would’ve cracked under the immense pressure her life imposed on her.
It wasn’t easy and entertaining reason and I think a great first book by this author! I will look forward to reading more of her work.

[Mary Elizabeth Morton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It made me laugh. It made me cry. It made me smile. The main character's voice was authentic and I related to her in many ways...specifically when dealing with her children. For example...hollering at her children right in the middle of a phone conversation with her best friend or being bewildered by her funny and frustrating children. Unfortunately I decreased my rating due to language, a scene with drug use and a sex scene that made me uncomfortable. Otherwise this is a delightful and entertaining read.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Fiction, Contemporary, Atlantic Canadian)

Roost was chosen as the One Book Nova Scotia selection for 2015.

Set in Halifax, Nova Scotia, it relates a slice of life for Claudia, a recently-single mom of two pre-schoolers, whose mother dies suddenly at the age of 60. Claudia must cope not only with her own grief, but also that of her brother, and of her father – who starts to hoard. Plus, her ex is moving to another relationship.

I found this to be laugh-out-loud funny, but it does contain a lot of crude language.

4 stars

[Jana McCarthy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first 3 times I tried to read this book I sat it down and didn't finish it. I finally did finish it for a school project and I am glad I did. This book does have a lot of humor in it that I didn't understand until I had 3 young kids of my own. Chapters are short and it is an easy read for the most part, but there is parts you really need to push yourself through. There isn't a real big ending, it just ends.

[litost · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this novel about a single parent who has so much going on it’s a wonder she copes at all: difficult relations with her brother and her ex; the death of her mother; a grieving father; two good but at times difficult children; a full-time job; and Bryan somehow manages to make it all funny. My small critique is that some heavy topics, like grief and dementia, get treated lightly. I enjoyed the Halifax setting.

[Karla Bays · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great portrayal of working parent, sandwich generation daily life when just getting through an ordinary day feels like a superhuman task. Also, a wonderful ah-ha moment when the reader (and possibly the main character) realizes what is really going on with her. Not to mention top-notch parent-child dialog: love the son!