Club Sandwich

by Lisa Samson

Hey, Friend–

Do you know what it’s like give to 100 percent and still feel like it’s not–and you’re not–enough for anybody? To be caught between caring for an aging parent and raising young children? I lived in that place for four years.

Ivy Schneider lives in this place, too, and she isn’t at all happy about it. Her husband Rusty spends ten months a year on the road singing in a gospel quartet, and her mom gets sicker every day, requiring increasingly more care and time. Ivy’s dad took off years ago but still comes around–for free meals. Her brother and sister are more than happy to let responsibility rest on Ivy’s shoulders. Maybe she could handle it all if only her darling three-year old terror, Trixie, would just “go” on the potty. Who will take care of Ivy while she takes care of the world?

No one, it seems. Then Ivy runs an ad in the paper to find folks like women of the “sandwich generation,” squeezed between the demands of raising young children and caring for an aging parent. Soon she and the other women of Club Sandwich are building uncommonly deep friendships, witnessing the reality that in fact no woman can be everything to everybody, and discovering firsthand that they can do more than they imagined possible with the help of each another and with a strong dose of faith.

If your life is about caring for others, I dedicate this book to you. Welcome to the club. You are most definitely not alone.

Grace,

Lisa

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Christian, Contemporary

357 pages, Paperback

First published June 7, 2005

About the author

The Christy-award winning author of nineteen books including the Women of Faith Novel of the Year Quaker Summer, Lisa Samson has been hailed by Publishers Weekly as "a talented novelist who isn't afraid to take risks." She lives in Kentucky with her husband and three kids.

Also, published under the name L.L. Samson

Reviews

[Lindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I only managed to get about a third of the way through the book before giving up. I simply wasn't enjoying reading about the main character who was perpetually whining about her absent, obese husband who was offer pursuing dreams of gospel singing glory, while she was stuck at home caring for her children and elderly mom, working for her partying/drinking brother in the family sandwich shop - and feeding their deadbeat dad whenever he showed up. This, is, of course, when she wasn't worrying about her married-well-but-unhappy sister and her sister's ungrateful, spoiled children. I'm sure the author brought about some meaningful, happy, blessed ending, but I couldn't endure reading thru the martyrdom any longer to get to it. I didn't find it awful - just not entertaining or interesting enough to hold my attention - even for a casual bedtime read.

[Just - The romance reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book pretty good once I reached somewhere around the middle of it. It was a little bit of a slow starter for me, but I really wanted to like it so I stuck with it. The book contains a good message about what it means to truly live in ones faith and hold strong to family values, even in our darkest times.

Plus Ivy the protagonist really speaks her mind, and her humor is witty and a bit snarky, which I like.

[Jonathan Norman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another incredible story of authenticity and grace. I really identified with Ivy's ability to connect to her true human self, sometimes petty, jealous and ungrateful but real and honest. Samson always does a great job capturing flaws and creating real characters in need of God's grace because of those flaws. Like Ivy, I'm always chasing the idea of who I think I should be, and I'm encouraged by her acceptance of herself in her own skin.

[Kirsten · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. On a quest to find a contemporary Christian author I can unequivocally enjoy, but it may not be possible. I liked it enough to consider reading another by the author, and I can recognize its strengths in the genre, but I have a hard time giving it three stars. (One thing I could not comprehend is that anyone would name an innocent child Bellatrix.)

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story itself was good, but the writing seemed to jump around a lot, and none of the characters were very admirable, especially not the protagonist/narrator.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not expect to relate to this novel. I started reading it mostly out of boredom. I was surprised at how emotionally moving it was to me. Even though I’m not a caregiver for a parent, the themes of forgiveness toward family and strength through friendships were compelling.
I did not like the main character, Ivy, very much. On one hand, I felt sorry for her. But on the other hand, I wanted to shake her and say, speak up to the people who can really change your situation instead of stewing. However, as I’ve given her more thought, I think I see myself in her as well. It is easier to bottle things up rather than do the hard work of confrontation and all that goes with it.
I think this is a very relatable story for anyone who has any type of family issues, whether it be with a spouse or a sibling or a parent or a child etc. This story covers a wide range of family drama.
I did not care for how some of the big issues in the story were resolved, or not resolved. Spoiler alert here........

Specifically, Ivy and Rusty’s marriage obviously needed a lot of work, yet it was just a matter of a nice dinner date, a weight loss and fitness regimen for Rusty, and boom, that seemed to cure all their marital woes. I don’t buy that. Also, I was confused by pronunciation of some names. Specifically her oldest daughter, Lyra. Does it rhyme with Myra? If so, their nickname of Lyr is awful as it sounds just like liar, so I’m leaning toward Lyra pronounced like it rhymes with mirror without an r at the end..
Another negative was that I didn’t think the other members of her sandwich club were given enough development. Maybe there are sequels to this book?

The ending had me bawling my eyes out. So all in all, it was a deeply moving, honest, sad, sweet story with some flaws and plot holes, but I’m still glad I read it.

[McKenna Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought that the writing voice was engaging and the style good, and it's a bit refreshing to read a novel written as a memoir from a conservative woman's POV.

I liked it up until the end, when *SPOILERS*

*****************

*****************

her husband comes back and owns up to his crap, at which point her personal accountability goes down the drain and she suddenly stops owning up to her own mistakes. She mentions them after he apologizes like once, but they never have a candid conversation about what she was doing. Before that point I liked how they showed her mental process of wanting a relationship with Mitch but at least in theory not being okay with what she was doing. Also, the sum-up of what happened at the end was a bit much for me. The style changed, and it was like a movie in which the ending is voiced-over instead of shown.

Other than that I was a big fan.

[Carol Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Club Sandwich yanked a several chords in my heart in good ways. I know it’s not a new release, but I’m very glad I discovered it. I listened on audio, which was fabulously narrated by Barbara McCulloh. She also narrated Lisa Samson’s Tiger Lillie, another fabulous book. It’s delightful to get immersed in a story with characters we can all relate to and who genuinely express emotional ups and downs. It’s wonderful to connect with a character who loves God, but has to work through real struggles and questions. And, it’s just good to have reasons to laugh along the way. Lisa’s ability to write humor in the midst of difficult storylines makes me a fan.

[Paige Redwine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fictional story revealed the stresses of a woman around my age. She's caring for children and aging parents. Her husband travels a lot. The story unfolds in showing God providing answers to her prayers and hope for the days ahead. It's humorous and easy to read. I enjoyed it!

[Debbie Beeman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have ready many of Lisa Sampson’s books and loved them. This one not so much. I couldn’t stand all the whining and the role of the martyr Ivy played. She didn’t have much of a spine. I wanted to put the book down but I decided to read to the end and I’m glad I did. The ending was good.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was ok, but a little bit too downcast for me. I thought the main character, Ivy, needed to stand up for herself earlier than she finally did. The ending is satisfying, and it shows realistic family problems, fractured relationships, and how tough forgiveness can be, even for Christians.

[Terry Confer Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had a hard time putting this down-loved the characters

[Sherry Hershberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

9

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book I wish I wrote! The author uses vernacular language. And it focuses on honest and imperfect women helping other women. Can't wait to read all the books by this author!

[Melissa (Semi Hiatus Until After the Holidays) · Rating 3 out of 5]

At thirty-eight, Ivy Schneider is stuck in a rut she didn't choose. She can't find time to finish her novel, though her column in the local newspaper is well-received. Ivy's husband is mostly absent, traveling with a gospel barbershop quartet. He's basically clueless, never responding to her cries for help.

Caring for their three children (including a teenage daughter and toddler terror) on her own wouldn't be so bad, but Ivy is also part-owner of her family restaurant, which takes time. Throw in a sister with marriage troubles, a brother with a substance abuse problem, and a mother slowly succumbing to dementia, and Ivy doesn't know how much more she can handle. She's a member of the sandwich generation - caught between raising children and caring for aging parents. When friends start a group called Club Sandwich, Ivy is one of the first members. Though she was never much of a joiner, this support group provides exactly what she needs as family issues, temptation from an old high school flame, and job turmoil threaten to send Ivy over the edge.

This novel hit so close to home that there were times I had to put the book down. The raw emotion as Ivy tries to find God's hand in the midst of her trials is extremely true-to-life. When Ivy cries, 'Help me, God. Help me. Help me. Help me,' tears streamed down my face. Lisa Samson has a way with words that gets to the heart of her characters. I didn't really connect with any of the other members of Club Sandwich, since the first-person narrative allows the reader to get a deep understanding of the main character, yet not much of anyone else. For some reason, though, this isn't a huge problem. The intimacy developed with Ivy overshadows the need to know what everyone else is thinking.

The faith element of the book is handled in a straightforward and realistic way. Marriage issues are not sugarcoated. Ivy struggles with real temptation. The problem of ailing and aging parents is one that more and more people are dealing with each year. I know I totally identified with this subject, as will most women over thirty. Club Sandwich will help readers realize that no one woman can be perfect at handling everything, and that's a message we all need to hear.

[Karen Britton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, although at times, I wanted to shake the main character. However, I could really identify with Ivy and all her struggles. Of course, I wanted to straighten out her husband, Rusty, too! I think Lisa Samson very adroitly captured the angst of women today who are trying to do it all--without any help! I was pleased with the outcome of the book, but it did leave me with some questions like, what happened to Ivy's relationship to Mitch? I would highly recommend this book to other women.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ivy is caught between caring for her kids at home and worrying about her mother's failing health. And she has to do it all on her own, while her husband travels most of the year with a Christian quartet. Her new friends help her with some major changes in her life.

I found this one in the library and thought I would give it a try. I've never read any by this author. It was a clean read, but I didn't enjoy it as much as I wanted to. It starts off really slow and I got bored, so I skipped ahead to see if it was worth continuing. It did pick up towards the last 1/3 of the book, but that's a long way in. I was hoping for more. Not terrible, but not worth reading again. I haven't decided if I'll give the author another try.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a woman who is pulled in many directions by her family. She takes care of her mother, her husband is always out of town - a gospel singer, she cares for children from age 3 to teen, and both her father and her father-in-law are also living in her house. Her mother doesn't know her husband is living in the basement because they have to keep it quiet as they are divorced. She also helps run her mother's restaurant where her brother (who is an alcoholic) is the chef. She has a sister who thinks money solves all problems. Anyway, it's about the ups and downs of being caught in the middle of generations. After reading this book, your life may seem very uneventful. Lisa Samsom writes with compassion, humor and is delightful in her presentation.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the premise of this book - the story of a woman caring for her kids and her aging mother - although some aspects of the execution are a bit weak. In fact, the actual "Club Sandwich," a group of women with similar issues, sort of spontaneously appears in the book and isn't actually developed much. The narrator states up front that she is Christian and conservative, and most details relating to these two traits did not resonate for me. She doesn't quote scripture, but she does talk about God, Jesus, and church. However, I thought the characters and dilemmas were interesting enough to persevere.

[Amber]

Poison-School lunches: "Sandwich" in the title-Ivy relies on her Christian background to shore her up as she deals with a husband on the road with a singing group, raising their 3 children alone, caring for a mother with dementia and helping run the family restaurant. If that isn't enough she is tring to write a book then her estranged father moves into the basement and her FIL moves in for 6 months. It was 6 chapters before I started taking a liking to this book. Ivy frequently uses bible stories/scripture that illustrate her life struggles.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is so far been my favorite Lisa Samson book. Her books are just always so real, there is no fluffy Christian faith in them. I wasn't too sure when I picked this book up that I would like it, but within the first two pages I think, I was already hooked. Samson writes characters like you would not believe. They are real people with real problems and you feel like you get to know them, at least for a time.

[Ann Lynch · Rating 1 out of 5]

BORING!!!!! It takes halfway through the book for the 'club' to even begin meeting. The main character complains she has too much on her plate, yet complains that no one else does anything, and keeps taking on more and more responsibility. Just say NO! Yet 3/4 way through the book tells one of the club members to do the exact opposite of what she is doing!!! Would not recommend. Just kept reading to see if it got any better. It didn't!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book a few years ago, and enjoyed it. But as I find myself being squeezed by demands from different generations, I have a greater appreciation for the challenges faced by the main character and especially her responses. As with Lisa Samson's other books, her characters are real. I appreciate Samson's honest portrayal of the Christian life.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book a while ago and really enjoyed it. I felt like I was right there with all of those characters. I also liked that the christian life was presented in an everyday, realistic way that the majority of us can relate to.

[Danni · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was quite an interesting novel. I felt bad for the main character because she had so much on her plate. Reading this book made me tired.
I liked the idea behind it that everyone needs some support from family and friends.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not loving this...I keep rolling through it because I think it might get better. Samson's writing style is jumpy and inconsistent.

[Larissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book about an average life.

Slow start, almost gave up, but came to see that the book is for real people living like me. Great book, check it out!

[Traci · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun read for the most part with some good human interaction and how we all need and feel the same things, just in different ways.

[Margaret · Rating 2 out of 5]

Listened to the audio book. Enjoyed it but the situation was artificial and somewhat contrived. The exploration of the sandwich generation issues was good, but didn't all quite work.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

bleh. I couldn't even get into this book. I need a little more inspiration in my inspirational fiction.