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Stranger, Father, Beloved
A Huffington Post “2017 Hottest Reads of The Summer” Pick
“Taylor Larsen creates a powerful and moving story about the fracturing of a family and its descent into chaos. A brilliant debut of self-delusion, and a perfectly flawed male character spiraling downward.” —Huffington Post
An “emotionally intelligent family drama” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review), in the tradition of Tom Perrotta’s Little Children, about a wealthy man who reaches a crossroads after a lifetime of repression, sending his family into a slow spiral towards a breakdown.
When Michael James sees his wife Nancy chatting with a stranger at a party, his intuition tells him that he’s watching her with the man she should have married. He quickly begins a campaign to replace himself within his own family with this other man—who, to him, is worthier, better, and kinder—all so his faithful wife Nancy, his beautiful teenage daughter Ryan, and his young son Max can live the lives they deserve.
While Michael pursues this man’s friendship, Ryan goes through a period of sexual awakening and rebellion and distances herself from her family, and the quiet, weak Nancy becomes increasingly befuddled and frustrated by the behaviors of her husband and daughter. As tension and uncertainty build in their home, the James family slowly unravels.
With the quiet intensity of the film American Beauty and the emotional sensitivity of Lorrie Moore, Taylor Larsen creates a powerful and moving story about the fracturing of a family and its descent into chaos.
“Taylor Larsen creates a powerful and moving story about the fracturing of a family and its descent into chaos. A brilliant debut of self-delusion, and a perfectly flawed male character spiraling downward.” —Huffington Post
An “emotionally intelligent family drama” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review), in the tradition of Tom Perrotta’s Little Children, about a wealthy man who reaches a crossroads after a lifetime of repression, sending his family into a slow spiral towards a breakdown.
When Michael James sees his wife Nancy chatting with a stranger at a party, his intuition tells him that he’s watching her with the man she should have married. He quickly begins a campaign to replace himself within his own family with this other man—who, to him, is worthier, better, and kinder—all so his faithful wife Nancy, his beautiful teenage daughter Ryan, and his young son Max can live the lives they deserve.
While Michael pursues this man’s friendship, Ryan goes through a period of sexual awakening and rebellion and distances herself from her family, and the quiet, weak Nancy becomes increasingly befuddled and frustrated by the behaviors of her husband and daughter. As tension and uncertainty build in their home, the James family slowly unravels.
With the quiet intensity of the film American Beauty and the emotional sensitivity of Lorrie Moore, Taylor Larsen creates a powerful and moving story about the fracturing of a family and its descent into chaos.
273 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 12, 2016
35 people are currently reading
1001 people want to read
About the author
Taylor Larsen
4 books25 followersTaylor Larsen is a graduate of Columbia University’s MFA program in fiction writing. Taylor has taught fiction writing at Columbia University and the Sackett Street Writers Workshop, as well as literature courses for Pace University. Taylor's debut novel, Stranger, Father, Beloved, will release on July 12th, 2016 with Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. Originally from Alexandria, Virginia, Taylor currently resides in Brooklyn, NY with her husband. Taylor is currently hard at work on novel #2!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
June 3, 2017
Plot: 4 stars
Characters: Complex
Mood: Melancholic
When Michael sees his wife Nancy chatting with a stranger at a party, his intuition tells him that he’s watching her with the man she should have married. He quickly begins a campaign to replace himself within his own family with this other man—who, to him, is worthier, better, and kinder—all so his faithful wife Nancy, his beautiful teenage daughter Ryan, and his young son Max can live the lives they deserve.
While Michael pursues this man’s friendship, Ryan goes through a period of sexual awakening and rebellion and distances herself from her family, and the quiet, weak Nancy becomes increasingly befuddled and frustrated by her husband and daughter. As tension and uncertainty build in their home, the James family slowly unravels.
Larsen has written a story with vulnerable characters who seem incapable of fighting for their desires but rather chose to get swept along with societal and cultural views. Hidden amidst the darkness and suspense was the ray of hope, namely, the man Michael had chosen as his own replacement.
For a debut, the author did an outstanding job with this character-driven story and I would recommend this for those that like plots underscored with melancholy and suspense.
July 24, 2016
At 55% I can no longer continue with this. I tried, so many good reviews, thought it would turn around, but I just don't care. What unlikable people, except for the young asthmatic boy, Max who I can identify with, plus he's a child, harmless. And the story just seems to drone on and on, especially the parts with Ryan, and I don't understand parents that let their teenage daughter call all the shots. Oh well, done, finis. Giving it two stars for the writing.
August 1, 2016
Please visit Lit. Wit. Wine and Dine. to read more of my reviews.
The book begins with Michael seeing his wife, Nancy, talking to another man at a party. He decides that this is the man who should be married to Nancy. He promptly begins working on his plan to make this man Nancy's new husband.
This is a strange book in the sense that a decent writer (clean, articulate language, etc.) has written a bad story about mostly bad, unlikable characters. My instinct about twenty per cent through the book was to put the book down, mark it DNF, and move on with my life. I didn't do that for two reasons. The first is that it's a fairly short book and I knew it would only take me another day or two get through. The second is that I appreciated the author's writing style enough that I kept hoping that the plot would change, that something would happen to make it a more pleasant to read. Sadly, this did not happen.
We learn that Michael has some behavioral health issues. He suffers from a neurotic paranoia that has been difficult for him to mask/control for most of his life. He also has some other issues but I don't want to give too much away. These issues, however, do not explain why Michael has such utter contempt and disrespect for women. With the exception of his precious mother, that is. I found his personality to be offensive and didn't feel it had anything to do with his legitimate diagnosis. He was simply a thoroughly unlikable man.
As for the other characters, I found most of them to be very stereotyped and one-dimensional. Nancy is too timid, too self-sacrificing, too compliant. NO ONE is that nice, that wholesome. I understand that she feels a little inferior because of her lack of education but it was all too much. John, the would-be husband, is too pure, too salt of the Earth.
1.75/5 stars
I would like to thank Gallery Books for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The book begins with Michael seeing his wife, Nancy, talking to another man at a party. He decides that this is the man who should be married to Nancy. He promptly begins working on his plan to make this man Nancy's new husband.
This is a strange book in the sense that a decent writer (clean, articulate language, etc.) has written a bad story about mostly bad, unlikable characters. My instinct about twenty per cent through the book was to put the book down, mark it DNF, and move on with my life. I didn't do that for two reasons. The first is that it's a fairly short book and I knew it would only take me another day or two get through. The second is that I appreciated the author's writing style enough that I kept hoping that the plot would change, that something would happen to make it a more pleasant to read. Sadly, this did not happen.
We learn that Michael has some behavioral health issues. He suffers from a neurotic paranoia that has been difficult for him to mask/control for most of his life. He also has some other issues but I don't want to give too much away. These issues, however, do not explain why Michael has such utter contempt and disrespect for women. With the exception of his precious mother, that is. I found his personality to be offensive and didn't feel it had anything to do with his legitimate diagnosis. He was simply a thoroughly unlikable man.
As for the other characters, I found most of them to be very stereotyped and one-dimensional. Nancy is too timid, too self-sacrificing, too compliant. NO ONE is that nice, that wholesome. I understand that she feels a little inferior because of her lack of education but it was all too much. John, the would-be husband, is too pure, too salt of the Earth.
1.75/5 stars
I would like to thank Gallery Books for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 29, 2016
"Stranger, Father, Beloved," is one of those first novels that makes you scratch your head at how it's possible for a first-time novelist to have reached such a ridiculous level of literary sophistication and craft. Larsen is definitely a writer's writer, keenly attuned to a language seemingly born of the characters she created. I'll just go ahead and say it: the awesomely nasty little premise of the story, the extraordinary detailing of the darker sides of the human psyche, the feeling that I had no idea what kind of epically dramatic fate this fumbling family would eventually succumb to . . . more than once I was reminded of the best of Nabokov. This is one of the most exciting novels I've read in a long while, following a family with more than its share of insecurity and deceit, but also a family that despite its severe dysfunction, seems to speak to all of our insecurities. I'll even say that "Stranger, Father, Beloved" speaks to the insecurities of our age, a time when the concept of family is constantly changing, when family roles have never been less easily defined.
February 8, 2017
Shhhh there is an elephant in the room, who breathes, eats, defacates and probably dreams as well, an elephant we all know is there but whom we all shall pretend isn't, okay?
Does this make for disturbed reading, maybe sad, yes of course. But is it unreal? I'd say no it isn't. Because I've met situations were the elephant is so bloody obvious but where all parties go on acting as if it isn't. So Larsen exploring this was spot on. Also spot on was how she connects what our parents did and how we come to do the same, not just genetics here but also imitation of what we saw growing up. She shows this in a layered way, with Michael's parents, then Michael and then his daughter and son. And it made me smile to see the similarities when they thought they were out forging a new path.
Lovely writing by Larsen.
Does this make for disturbed reading, maybe sad, yes of course. But is it unreal? I'd say no it isn't. Because I've met situations were the elephant is so bloody obvious but where all parties go on acting as if it isn't. So Larsen exploring this was spot on. Also spot on was how she connects what our parents did and how we come to do the same, not just genetics here but also imitation of what we saw growing up. She shows this in a layered way, with Michael's parents, then Michael and then his daughter and son. And it made me smile to see the similarities when they thought they were out forging a new path.
Lovely writing by Larsen.
September 19, 2016
It is very hard for me to review this book because it was not @ all the book I was expecting from the Amazon/GR blurb, which was indeed the book I wanted to hear read on audible. What we get instead is a very up-tight & personal account of the mental disintigration of a very disturbed middle-aged man (tho' not by my standards paranoid, which is what he's diagnosed as in the book) going through a mid-life (possibly end-of-life) crisis of Brontosaurian proportions. To give us the impression of what it is like to suffer from his mental illness, even the most insignificant activities are described in excruciatingly minute detail. The alternating sections are devoted to his teenage daughter Ryan's (they do spend a lot of time watching older movies but we're not told why she was named after Ryan O'Neil) sexual awakening & finding love. Those portions are actually enjoyable.
Shall write more later. This one needs more thought, particularly Michael's diagnosis. As one of his symptoms is the belief that had he decided to become a university professor, he would have had a happy satisfying life, no doubt clearly delusional.
Shall write more later. This one needs more thought, particularly Michael's diagnosis. As one of his symptoms is the belief that had he decided to become a university professor, he would have had a happy satisfying life, no doubt clearly delusional.
February 26, 2016
There’s a lot to say about“Stranger, Father, Beloved,” but the main thing to know is that this is the book to bring on the plane, train, beach, etc (anywhere you can plant yourself and not move until you finish). I couldn’t stop reading. It’s full of painfully accurate, darkly funny, haunting and poignant insights into marriage, friendship, high school, wild life, nightgowns, inhalers…the list goes on and on. If you like masterfully, meticulously plotted psychological dramas, “S, F, B” is for you.
April 16, 2016
From the moment I started reading Taylor Larsen's debut novel, I knew I wouldn't come out unscathed. Her prose and pacing brought me to places I typically try to protect myself from, but I'm glad I didn't this time. There is a profound and courageous sadness to the life of Michael, who desperately wants his wife to have something better than him for a husband. We often say we want the best for our loved ones, but how many of us are willing to sacrifice everything to make that happen, even our own role in the family? I highly recommend this novel. Just be prepared to wake up with a few more scars and a deeper understanding of what it means to be a flawed husband.
July 15, 2016
I do not understand why this book has nothing but good(ish) reviews. Reading this book was painful for me; not in a good that-really-affected me sort of way, but in a torturous can-this-just-be-over-already kind of way. Its not badly written, but the whole plot was uninteresting and tedious and made me feel depressed.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for providing me with an advance copy via Goodreads.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for providing me with an advance copy via Goodreads.
July 8, 2016
The characters in Stranger, Father, Beloved are some of the most compelling I've read recently. From the first page, I felt completely drawn into the emotional world of the James family, as well as the beautiful part of New England they inhabit. Reading this book was all pleasure, from the gorgeous setting to the complex (and often hilarious) inner-workings of Michael, Nancy and Ryan's minds. Larsen kept me guessing all the way to the very end--I had no idea what was going to happen! Great for serious readers looking for a good beach book. Or for curling up with on a rainy day and reading all the way through!
September 1, 2016
A debut novel of mental angst and psychological intrigue "Father, Beloved, Stranger" authored by Taylor Larsen. A graduate of Columbia University's MFA fiction writing program, Taylor has taught fiction writing a Colombia University and literature courses at Pace University, she lives with her husband in Brooklyn, NY.
It was a curious thing, why a highly intelligent successful notable academic scholar in philosophy and political science, a graduate from Yale University would feel like an imposter in his own life! Michael James, a 42 year old devoted father, husband, highly successful businessman with an elegant home in an exclusive unnamed Rhode Island neighborhood, seemed like the epitome of male elite perfection. Michael was harboring deeply hidden secrets. Suffering with a crippling anxiety disorder, he was under a physician's care and taking medication, he also seemed to self medicate with alcohol. This tendency, isolated him with a troubling lack of self-awareness. Nancy, his stay-at-home wife busied herself with gardening, her book club etc. she didn't have much of a role in the story, except to be underappreciated and put on disregard, nonetheless, was quite devoted to the care of her husband and family.
When Michael observed Nancy's happiness and total ease with another man at their house party, he became oddly fixated with the notion that John was the man his wife Nancy should have married instead of him. Larsen portrays his delusion and obsessions with fascinating endless observations/senarios, but they miss the mark entirely, and are overall, unrealistic. The nature of Michael's anxiety issues drags on and on without any true insight as brief hints are dropped etc. Michael and Nancy loose control of their teenage daughter Ryan, who avoided the family at all costs. Ryan's sensitive secretive nature, (is much like her father's) seems somewhat based on stereotypes. An example of this was Ryan's unusual and pointless relationship with her friend's mother Jill. Ryan's next relationship with her yoga instructor was predictable, and more believable. Their medically fragile younger son/brother Max had severe asthma attacks, that implied additional stress.
It is easy for a reader unfamiliar with the issues Michael had to be confused, especially towards the end of the novel as the storyline related to a church retreat, remembering college life, a friend's wife he utterly detested, drinking/drug use as Michael began to noticeably and profoundly change. The story didn't actually admit the obvious situation until the very last part of the novel, which was like ignoring an elephant in a tiny room. Overall, this is an interesting story about a difficult subject matter, too often visited with scorn, judgment, and misunderstanding. 3* GOOD ~ With thanks to the Seattle Public Library.
It was a curious thing, why a highly intelligent successful notable academic scholar in philosophy and political science, a graduate from Yale University would feel like an imposter in his own life! Michael James, a 42 year old devoted father, husband, highly successful businessman with an elegant home in an exclusive unnamed Rhode Island neighborhood, seemed like the epitome of male elite perfection. Michael was harboring deeply hidden secrets. Suffering with a crippling anxiety disorder, he was under a physician's care and taking medication, he also seemed to self medicate with alcohol. This tendency, isolated him with a troubling lack of self-awareness. Nancy, his stay-at-home wife busied herself with gardening, her book club etc. she didn't have much of a role in the story, except to be underappreciated and put on disregard, nonetheless, was quite devoted to the care of her husband and family.
When Michael observed Nancy's happiness and total ease with another man at their house party, he became oddly fixated with the notion that John was the man his wife Nancy should have married instead of him. Larsen portrays his delusion and obsessions with fascinating endless observations/senarios, but they miss the mark entirely, and are overall, unrealistic. The nature of Michael's anxiety issues drags on and on without any true insight as brief hints are dropped etc. Michael and Nancy loose control of their teenage daughter Ryan, who avoided the family at all costs. Ryan's sensitive secretive nature, (is much like her father's) seems somewhat based on stereotypes. An example of this was Ryan's unusual and pointless relationship with her friend's mother Jill. Ryan's next relationship with her yoga instructor was predictable, and more believable. Their medically fragile younger son/brother Max had severe asthma attacks, that implied additional stress.
It is easy for a reader unfamiliar with the issues Michael had to be confused, especially towards the end of the novel as the storyline related to a church retreat, remembering college life, a friend's wife he utterly detested, drinking/drug use as Michael began to noticeably and profoundly change. The story didn't actually admit the obvious situation until the very last part of the novel, which was like ignoring an elephant in a tiny room. Overall, this is an interesting story about a difficult subject matter, too often visited with scorn, judgment, and misunderstanding. 3* GOOD ~ With thanks to the Seattle Public Library.
September 1, 2016
Wonderful prose which kept me reading. I did not like the main character, Michael. I know, I know, he had a mental illness. His thoughts about people really turned me off. Everything is about Michael and I feel sorry for his family. The lesson from this book.....be who you are. It will save people a ton of grief.
Great debut by Taylor Larsen. I will look for future works. Thank you to NetGalley for my copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Great debut by Taylor Larsen. I will look for future works. Thank you to NetGalley for my copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
July 8, 2016
A very good read.
July 15, 2016
Stranger, Father, Beloved by Taylor Larsen is a recommended debut novel featuring a family falling apart.
The James family is wealthy, living in a very nice Cape-style home on the Rhode Island peninsula. Michael James, his wife, Nancy, teenage daughter Ryan and young son Max should be content, but that isn't the case. Michael has a diagnosed mental illness, neurotic paranoia, and has been on medication for it for years. Now it seems that his medication isn't working as well as it should, probably due to Michael's drinking. That combined with his chronic insomnia is affecting his thought processes. When he sees his wife smiling and laughing with a stranger at a party, Michael decides that this man should be the one Nancy is married to and also the father to his children. Michael makes friends with the man, John, and sets his delusional plan into motion.
Stranger, Father, Beloved is told in the third person. Each chapter reflects the viewpoints of either Michael or Ryan, occasionally Nancy. It is all introspection, personal experiences, and thoughts. Michael is unlikable and looks at everything as something that could have been better had he made the right choice - the right choice being not his current life. Ryan, their teenage daughter, stays away from their home for days at a time, yet neither parent stops her. She is going through her own struggles with self-identity. Nancy is the long-suffering wife who loves Michael.
This is a very well written novel; however, it is unrelentingly sad. While I didn't find it particularly compelling, it does capture the slow demise of a family and Michael's paranoia. Ryan is actually the more interesting character, but the focus is on Michael, who is the most irritating.
Michael's constant looking to the past was tiresome for me. I know he has a mental illness, but he also sought out and craved sadness and dissatisfaction. His elevated opinion of his great mental prowess compared to lowly Nancy's lack of any intellectual ability was annoying. Ryan's actions and her freedom to basically do as she pleased because she is unhappy at home were startling. These parents are immersed into self-contemplation and yet so fearful of her reaction that they did not try to talk to her to find out where she has been for the past week?
Finally, the big startling revealing insight at the end felt contrived and opportunistic. Yes, Stranger, Father, Beloved is technically very well written and I stayed with it to the end. I just don't buy it.
Disclosure: My advanced reading copy was courtesy of the publisher for review purposes.
The James family is wealthy, living in a very nice Cape-style home on the Rhode Island peninsula. Michael James, his wife, Nancy, teenage daughter Ryan and young son Max should be content, but that isn't the case. Michael has a diagnosed mental illness, neurotic paranoia, and has been on medication for it for years. Now it seems that his medication isn't working as well as it should, probably due to Michael's drinking. That combined with his chronic insomnia is affecting his thought processes. When he sees his wife smiling and laughing with a stranger at a party, Michael decides that this man should be the one Nancy is married to and also the father to his children. Michael makes friends with the man, John, and sets his delusional plan into motion.
Stranger, Father, Beloved is told in the third person. Each chapter reflects the viewpoints of either Michael or Ryan, occasionally Nancy. It is all introspection, personal experiences, and thoughts. Michael is unlikable and looks at everything as something that could have been better had he made the right choice - the right choice being not his current life. Ryan, their teenage daughter, stays away from their home for days at a time, yet neither parent stops her. She is going through her own struggles with self-identity. Nancy is the long-suffering wife who loves Michael.
This is a very well written novel; however, it is unrelentingly sad. While I didn't find it particularly compelling, it does capture the slow demise of a family and Michael's paranoia. Ryan is actually the more interesting character, but the focus is on Michael, who is the most irritating.
Michael's constant looking to the past was tiresome for me. I know he has a mental illness, but he also sought out and craved sadness and dissatisfaction. His elevated opinion of his great mental prowess compared to lowly Nancy's lack of any intellectual ability was annoying. Ryan's actions and her freedom to basically do as she pleased because she is unhappy at home were startling. These parents are immersed into self-contemplation and yet so fearful of her reaction that they did not try to talk to her to find out where she has been for the past week?
Finally, the big startling revealing insight at the end felt contrived and opportunistic. Yes, Stranger, Father, Beloved is technically very well written and I stayed with it to the end. I just don't buy it.
Disclosure: My advanced reading copy was courtesy of the publisher for review purposes.
December 12, 2016
Taylor Larsen's debut novel STRANGER, FATHER, BELOVED is an odd story of one man's descent into mental illness, and the chaos that results in his marriage and family. Michael James and his family seemingly have it all, but everything is not as it seems to outsiders in their quiet, wealthy community. There are deep wells of unhappiness and anxiety at the heart of this family's life. Larsen tells her story from the shifting viewpoints of all four of the family members (Michael, his wife, their teenage daughter, and their adolescent son). This is a nice touch, which allows us to see the family from different perspectives. There is some fine writing on display, although the dialogue (such as it is) can be stilted at times.
But ultimately this was a letdown for me. I didn't find the narrative compelling. Maybe it was the cover image . . . or the publisher's description . . . but I thought I'd be reading something dark and unsettling -- a book that would push me toward some very uncomfortable places. But that mood never really seemed present. The story wasn't very disconcerting, and I didn't feel the tension I think Larsen wanted us to feel. Mostly I found that I wasn't overly interested in these characters, and I didn't much care how things would end.
I'm puzzled by the references in the publisher's promotional material to Tom Perrotta and Lorrie Moore, two writers I appreciate. I didn't feel any of the emotional heft, complexity, nuance, warmth, and wit I associate with Perrotta and Moore. Really, nothing about Larsen's novel reminded me of their work.
I liked some things Larsen did here, and I look forward to seeing what she writes next, but I didn't find this novel to be a success. It's a flat, awkward book.
(Thanks to Gallery Books / Simon & Schuster for an advance e-galley. Receiving a free copy did not affect the content of my review.)
But ultimately this was a letdown for me. I didn't find the narrative compelling. Maybe it was the cover image . . . or the publisher's description . . . but I thought I'd be reading something dark and unsettling -- a book that would push me toward some very uncomfortable places. But that mood never really seemed present. The story wasn't very disconcerting, and I didn't feel the tension I think Larsen wanted us to feel. Mostly I found that I wasn't overly interested in these characters, and I didn't much care how things would end.
I'm puzzled by the references in the publisher's promotional material to Tom Perrotta and Lorrie Moore, two writers I appreciate. I didn't feel any of the emotional heft, complexity, nuance, warmth, and wit I associate with Perrotta and Moore. Really, nothing about Larsen's novel reminded me of their work.
I liked some things Larsen did here, and I look forward to seeing what she writes next, but I didn't find this novel to be a success. It's a flat, awkward book.
(Thanks to Gallery Books / Simon & Schuster for an advance e-galley. Receiving a free copy did not affect the content of my review.)
April 30, 2016
Stranger, Father, Beloved takes us on a journey through the mind of deeply unhappy man. Michael is very wealthy, married with two children, lives in a beautiful home in Rhode Island but he is fragile and brittle and everyone around him seems to be waiting for the shattering fall he is bound for. Michael's isolation and complete inwardness makes the novel difficult to gauge. Are we inside the head of a man who has mental illness? Is he going to hurt himself or someone in his family? It takes a long time to get to the heart of the matter. The resolution is sad, for sure. Michael's life decisions have made a mark on his wife, Nancy, ones that cannot be undone. He has two children who need him and he isn't able to connect with them. Michael is all about Michael and we have to follow his path to self realization to understand why he has made a mess of things for Nancy, Ryan and Max. The novel is sad but I'm sure lived out in many lives, ones we will never know about. Taylor Larsen has given us a good case study in repressed living and all the collateral damage it can cause.
Copy courtesy of NetGalley and Gallery Books.
Copy courtesy of NetGalley and Gallery Books.
July 24, 2016
The story of a family slowly breaking apart. I was reminded of a quotation by Henry David Thoreau - "The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation." Certainly Michael ( the main character of this book) could be described by this thought. He worries about even the very smallest thing in this life. He feels like nothing he does or has ever done is correct. And yet, with all his negativity, I found myself hoping that things would work out for him. He was pathetic, yet likeable. His wife, Nancy, feels as if she is in a loveless marriage. The daughter, Ryan, is in the turbulent teen-age years and the young son, Max, suffers from asthma and is sick a good deal of the time. Not a single person in this family is happy.
It's difficult to believe that this is Taylor Larsen's first book. Oh my goodness, she has such a wonderful way with words. Once you begin reading, it is so hard to put the book down.
I want to thank Simon and Schuster for sending this book to me. It is a depressing book, but so well written that you root for every character.
It's difficult to believe that this is Taylor Larsen's first book. Oh my goodness, she has such a wonderful way with words. Once you begin reading, it is so hard to put the book down.
I want to thank Simon and Schuster for sending this book to me. It is a depressing book, but so well written that you root for every character.
August 2, 2016
There is a lot to like in Taylor Larsen's "Stranger, Father, Beloved". Let's start with good writing and a good story. Her descriptions of life on the "Peninsula," the novel's New England setting, convey a sense of the modern, exurban gothic. The near total collapse of kin and community has created a terrifying hollowness there. Larsen's characters, whose interiors she plumbs with subtlety and nuance, struggle for constancy and human connection. In such a writer's hands, improbable plot turns become both believable and gripping. A terrific read!
August 15, 2016
A very engaging and compelling book by Taylor Larsen. Not only is it a page turner because of the plot that tears you from one emotion to the other, but also because of its refreshing easy style. The characters are developed expertly and the transition from one to the other flows smoothly. Surprising, emotional and scary events make this novel a wonderful read that is hard to put down. It certainly leaves the reader longing for the next book!
June 6, 2016
I received this book as a Goodreads winner, and really enjoyed it. I found the book hard to put down, and the complex issues Michael, the main character, is trying to deal with. I would recommend this novel to anyone who has ever questioned their mental health, or position in their family.
Want to read
May 17, 2016I won this book via Goodreads First Reads Giveaway. I received an advanced uncorrected proof paperback copy.
March 24, 2019
What follows will only make sense if you read the book.
I'm of two minds when it comes to this novel.
On one hand:
1) It has a sweet, mysterious premise that explores the stalesness of adult life: once you have a wife, two kids, a house with a white picket fence around it... what then? The characters of Stranger, Father, Beloved all ignore rational decisions throughout the novel, hoping something interesting will come of it and THAT felt eerily real.
2) It's very well written albeit overwrought at times. No, a sentence like "The hammer was lifted by the small hands and then brought down again and again throughout the day" isn't beautiful. It's clunky and it betrays a lack of basic knowledge of how to handle a hammer. There's another sentence that has the words "in the basement" twice in it, too. The writing is akin to Tom Perrotta, but the editor deserves to be tarred and feathered.
On the other hand:
3) There are some huge nuts and bolts storytelling problems. The author bails out of that sweet premise using the "EVERYBODY WAS GAY ALL ALONG" excuse (spoiler), which she never ever builds towards prior. It comes out of a hat like a goddamn rabbit 90% in.
4) I don't know who I disliked more: Michael for being a coward and wanting to audition another dad for his family or Nancy for knowing Michael was having another breakdown and doing nothing, knowing too well it would victimize her. I can take unlikable characters, but at least make them interesting, you know? These two are stereotypes of an abusive relationship: the all-controlling dad and the victimizing mother, who cares about herself more than she cares about her kids.
5) It treats mental illness (an issue dear to me) sometimes with Shakespearean pompousness and other times very dismissively. "Did the closet bring the paranoia or did the paranoia bring the gay thoughts?" is right out of a 1940's psychiatry manual. And I'm being nice here, sometimes Michael's mental problems are borderline anecdotal.
Taylor Larsen is obviously really talented and it's part of the reason why I hid this review. But she received poor counselling around the way. I would read another book from her granted that the premise doesn't sound so Updikian-with-a-suppository.
I'm of two minds when it comes to this novel.
On one hand:
1) It has a sweet, mysterious premise that explores the stalesness of adult life: once you have a wife, two kids, a house with a white picket fence around it... what then? The characters of Stranger, Father, Beloved all ignore rational decisions throughout the novel, hoping something interesting will come of it and THAT felt eerily real.
2) It's very well written albeit overwrought at times. No, a sentence like "The hammer was lifted by the small hands and then brought down again and again throughout the day" isn't beautiful. It's clunky and it betrays a lack of basic knowledge of how to handle a hammer. There's another sentence that has the words "in the basement" twice in it, too. The writing is akin to Tom Perrotta, but the editor deserves to be tarred and feathered.
On the other hand:
3) There are some huge nuts and bolts storytelling problems. The author bails out of that sweet premise using the "EVERYBODY WAS GAY ALL ALONG" excuse (spoiler), which she never ever builds towards prior. It comes out of a hat like a goddamn rabbit 90% in.
4) I don't know who I disliked more: Michael for being a coward and wanting to audition another dad for his family or Nancy for knowing Michael was having another breakdown and doing nothing, knowing too well it would victimize her. I can take unlikable characters, but at least make them interesting, you know? These two are stereotypes of an abusive relationship: the all-controlling dad and the victimizing mother, who cares about herself more than she cares about her kids.
5) It treats mental illness (an issue dear to me) sometimes with Shakespearean pompousness and other times very dismissively. "Did the closet bring the paranoia or did the paranoia bring the gay thoughts?" is right out of a 1940's psychiatry manual. And I'm being nice here, sometimes Michael's mental problems are borderline anecdotal.
Taylor Larsen is obviously really talented and it's part of the reason why I hid this review. But she received poor counselling around the way. I would read another book from her granted that the premise doesn't sound so Updikian-with-a-suppository.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2016
Stranger, Father, Beloved is a compelling debut novel about a man, Michael, dealing with a mental breakdown. Financial success, a big home along the coast of Rhode Island and a family of four aren’t enough to make up for Michael’s lifelong feelings of emptiness, inadequacy and regret — not to mention the neurotic paranoia he’s been dealing with since his early 20s. One night Michael sees his wife talking to a stranger at a party and convinces himself that she belongs with him instead, so he sets out on bringing them together in what he perceives to be an altruistic mission.
Meanwhile, the rest of Michael’s life is slowly spiraling out of control, causing the line between reality and delusion to become blurred. It’s unclear how much of what’s happening around him is a projection of his paranoid mind: Would his wife really be better off without him? Is his teenager daughter as wild as he thinks she is?
This is a raw, unrelenting book in many ways. Michael’s thoughts about his wife, his family and his peers are extremely judgmental and often hard to stomach. Fortunately, I happen to like fiction that make me uncomfortable, so this didn’t bother me.
I did have some problems with this book though. For one, there’s barely any dialogue. Almost everything that happens is taking place in the characters’ heads, with third-person narration. I love character-driven novels, but I kept wanting more interactions. And much of the dialogue that was included seemed very unrealistic — I’m thinking specifically here about his daughter’s relationship with her best friend’s mom.
There’s a lot of potential here, for sure, and upon completion I felt like I had read a satisfying, cohesive book — I just happened to be ambivalent about certain aspects of it.
Note: Thanks to Simon & Schuster for a chance to read an advanced digital copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
Meanwhile, the rest of Michael’s life is slowly spiraling out of control, causing the line between reality and delusion to become blurred. It’s unclear how much of what’s happening around him is a projection of his paranoid mind: Would his wife really be better off without him? Is his teenager daughter as wild as he thinks she is?
This is a raw, unrelenting book in many ways. Michael’s thoughts about his wife, his family and his peers are extremely judgmental and often hard to stomach. Fortunately, I happen to like fiction that make me uncomfortable, so this didn’t bother me.
I did have some problems with this book though. For one, there’s barely any dialogue. Almost everything that happens is taking place in the characters’ heads, with third-person narration. I love character-driven novels, but I kept wanting more interactions. And much of the dialogue that was included seemed very unrealistic — I’m thinking specifically here about his daughter’s relationship with her best friend’s mom.
There’s a lot of potential here, for sure, and upon completion I felt like I had read a satisfying, cohesive book — I just happened to be ambivalent about certain aspects of it.
Note: Thanks to Simon & Schuster for a chance to read an advanced digital copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
August 3, 2016
3.5 Actual Rating. This book is completely out of the norm and for a debut I have to admit I'm thoroughly impressed with the technique.
The novel focuses around Michael, the breadwinner and head of a completely unhappy family, a genius suffering from severe anxiety and paranoia. We watch Michael's decline through his own eyes in addition to sneak peeks through other P.O.Vs as he struggles with his sexuality, insomnia, alcoholism, a rebellious teen, a severely asthmatic son, and a complacent simple-minded wife.
Michael believes the secret to his family's happiness lies in John, the landscaper he has hired to spruce up his backyard. He puts a plan in motion to replace himself with John who will be a good husband to his wife and the father he never could be to his children while he exits their life for good.
Somehow this completely unappealing sounding novel was very addicting in its honesty - even "perfect" families have their secrets. And while I don't think the author nailed the narrative, it was pretty dam close, and I did enjoy the other POVs....even geniuses arent fully aware of themselves and even simple-minded wives have feelings.
I received an ARC copy through Goodreads giveaways.
The novel focuses around Michael, the breadwinner and head of a completely unhappy family, a genius suffering from severe anxiety and paranoia. We watch Michael's decline through his own eyes in addition to sneak peeks through other P.O.Vs as he struggles with his sexuality, insomnia, alcoholism, a rebellious teen, a severely asthmatic son, and a complacent simple-minded wife.
Michael believes the secret to his family's happiness lies in John, the landscaper he has hired to spruce up his backyard. He puts a plan in motion to replace himself with John who will be a good husband to his wife and the father he never could be to his children while he exits their life for good.
Somehow this completely unappealing sounding novel was very addicting in its honesty - even "perfect" families have their secrets. And while I don't think the author nailed the narrative, it was pretty dam close, and I did enjoy the other POVs....even geniuses arent fully aware of themselves and even simple-minded wives have feelings.
I received an ARC copy through Goodreads giveaways.
July 25, 2016
What drew me in at first was the premise -- a man looks at his family and realizes they'd be better off without him. The writing is very good. The characters are complicated and not always likeable (which was refreshing). But somewhere 2/3 of the way through the book, the combo of mental illness, self-medication and sexuality became an uneasy one. I was also disappointed that the author abandoned the multiple viewpoints structure she'd established. Still, one of the best portrayals of a teenage girl I'd read in a long, long time.
August 14, 2016
While I'm partial in my review being friends with the author, I remain utterly astounded by the truth, fluid depth, and clarity of Taylor's writing. Not my usual 'escapism' read, it literally caused me moments of nausea. The downward spiral of the fathers mental suffering, trapped in his head all the while being completely aware of his own repugnance. The teenage daughter, (which she totally nails the portrayal of..) is the sole character to challenge the dysfunctions and 'fiction of family.'
It takes guts to write a novel like this and I commend Taylor for it. Thank you
It takes guts to write a novel like this and I commend Taylor for it. Thank you
July 23, 2016
This is a slow moving, beautifully written book, that details the struggles a man faces when he goes against his core feelings. Using his family as the backdrop, and perhaps victims to his progression of discovery, Larsen develops a story that makes you laugh at times and at other times get angry at the main characters actions. This book is an enjoyable read that describes family dynamics and struggles in a new manner.
August 14, 2016
Intriguing story about a conflicted, unfulfilled man and his interactions with those around him. Better than many of the books I've read, but left a number of unfinished storylines in my opinion. This will likely be the first in a series of books with the same lead characters, which is not an approach that I like (or appreciate properly? - to me it seems as if the author is "mailing it in" by not developing new, fresh characters).
August 19, 2016
This is one of those rare books that you can't put down, but at the same time, you want to savor for fear that it will be over too soon. The characters are so intriguing, that I still think about them, weeks after I finished the book. I highly recommend this debut novel and cannot wait to see what Larsen produces next.
August 14, 2016
Hauntingly complicated and beautifully written!
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