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Catchlight
The four Keene siblings might have grown up under the same roof, but as adults they can barely stand to be in the same room. When their mother, Katherine, is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, these estranged siblings must find a way to navigate her illness without imploding.
And then there's the secret - the secret Katherine has been keeping for more than thirty years. The secret that will change everything. The secret that's in danger of being forgotten entirely.
The story of a broken family seeking redemption, Catchlight wrestles with questions of whether we can ever outrun our past, and who we are without memory.
And then there's the secret - the secret Katherine has been keeping for more than thirty years. The secret that will change everything. The secret that's in danger of being forgotten entirely.
The story of a broken family seeking redemption, Catchlight wrestles with questions of whether we can ever outrun our past, and who we are without memory.
305 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 2020
7 people are currently reading
156 people want to read
About the author
Brooke Adams Law
3 books24 followersWhen I graduated college in the summer of 2007, I had an idea for a novel. It was about a family of four siblings who couldn’t stand to be in the same room together, who had to band together when their mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
This story would eventually become my debut novel, titled "Catchlight."
I was so terrified to be writing a novel that I told almost no one about it. I wrote a whole draft – about 250 pages - nearly in secret.
This draft propelled my life for almost 12 years. It took me through an MFA program at Fairfield University, it compelled me to send queries to over 150 agents and enter for countless contests and prizes.
I rewrote it again and again and again. I was ready to put it away and start on a new book.
Then, on a whim, I submitted Catchlight for the Fairfield Book Prize.
And I won.
Catchlight will be released in the fall of 2020.
I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was a little girl. The fact that I make a living writing is a dream come true.
========================
Praise for Catchlight
Brooke Adams Law’s Catchlight is a beautiful, moving novel of a family in transition, struggling with loss and disease and addiction, but also with new possibilities for redemption and renewal and love. Law steadily draws the reader in to the complex and closely observed emotional ties that bind brothers and sisters together, as well as those that keep them separate. She asks us whether we can find joy in the midst of grief, and whether we can make art out of pain, and then she shows us how that is done.
-Phil Klay, author, Redeployment, 2014 National Book Award Winner, Fiction
Bound to each other by love and guilt, a family faces a season of grief sometimes overcome by unexpected, and unwanted, insight. In Brooke Adams Law’s debut novel, four grown siblings navigate passion and betrayal, parenthood and the loss of their parents. In the hands of a lesser writer, CATCHLIGHT could be a soapy collection of trauma dramas; but Law’s own empathy is so acute that these characters spring to life in a book that is part love story and entirely all-engaging read. At the end, you will know these people … and know yourself.
-Jacquelyn Mitchard, author, The Deep End of the Ocean (Oprah’s Book Club pick)
This story would eventually become my debut novel, titled "Catchlight."
I was so terrified to be writing a novel that I told almost no one about it. I wrote a whole draft – about 250 pages - nearly in secret.
This draft propelled my life for almost 12 years. It took me through an MFA program at Fairfield University, it compelled me to send queries to over 150 agents and enter for countless contests and prizes.
I rewrote it again and again and again. I was ready to put it away and start on a new book.
Then, on a whim, I submitted Catchlight for the Fairfield Book Prize.
And I won.
Catchlight will be released in the fall of 2020.
I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was a little girl. The fact that I make a living writing is a dream come true.
========================
Praise for Catchlight
Brooke Adams Law’s Catchlight is a beautiful, moving novel of a family in transition, struggling with loss and disease and addiction, but also with new possibilities for redemption and renewal and love. Law steadily draws the reader in to the complex and closely observed emotional ties that bind brothers and sisters together, as well as those that keep them separate. She asks us whether we can find joy in the midst of grief, and whether we can make art out of pain, and then she shows us how that is done.
-Phil Klay, author, Redeployment, 2014 National Book Award Winner, Fiction
Bound to each other by love and guilt, a family faces a season of grief sometimes overcome by unexpected, and unwanted, insight. In Brooke Adams Law’s debut novel, four grown siblings navigate passion and betrayal, parenthood and the loss of their parents. In the hands of a lesser writer, CATCHLIGHT could be a soapy collection of trauma dramas; but Law’s own empathy is so acute that these characters spring to life in a book that is part love story and entirely all-engaging read. At the end, you will know these people … and know yourself.
-Jacquelyn Mitchard, author, The Deep End of the Ocean (Oprah’s Book Club pick)
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October 7, 2020DNF @ 60 pages
This is a story of four siblings accepting their mother's Alzheimer's diagnosis and trying to resolve their issues. But I couldn't bear reading about these 4 assholes anymore. They are selfish and guilt each other into doing things for them because they're "family" and I couldn't handle reading more of it.
This is a story of four siblings accepting their mother's Alzheimer's diagnosis and trying to resolve their issues. But I couldn't bear reading about these 4 assholes anymore. They are selfish and guilt each other into doing things for them because they're "family" and I couldn't handle reading more of it.
October 28, 2020
Terrific debut. Brooke Adams Law captures the devastation that visits a family when one member suffers from Alzheimer's disease. Can't wait to hear more from this author!
December 14, 2020
❤️ Review time! ❤️
This book is an amazing read. In the beginning it’s a bit slow but it pulls you in before you know it and you get completely absorbed into the plot and outcome of the ending. It’s heartwarming and heartbreaking and really leaves you feeling every emotion known to man all in one. This is a definite must read. It’s told from two perspectives and has short chapters that are easily followed. It’s well thought out and is slow to build but worth the wait.
This book is about four siblings and their struggles to overcome issues within the family to care for their mother who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s that is slowly getting worse after the passing of Bill their step-dad. It mainly focuses on James who is an alcoholic and Laura who is a therapist with struggles of her own.
Posted on Amazon and Goodreads.
This book is an amazing read. In the beginning it’s a bit slow but it pulls you in before you know it and you get completely absorbed into the plot and outcome of the ending. It’s heartwarming and heartbreaking and really leaves you feeling every emotion known to man all in one. This is a definite must read. It’s told from two perspectives and has short chapters that are easily followed. It’s well thought out and is slow to build but worth the wait.
This book is about four siblings and their struggles to overcome issues within the family to care for their mother who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s that is slowly getting worse after the passing of Bill their step-dad. It mainly focuses on James who is an alcoholic and Laura who is a therapist with struggles of her own.
Posted on Amazon and Goodreads.
September 27, 2020
3.5/5
This is the story of four siblings whose mother gets diagnosed with Alzheimer.
First of all, I thought I would see how this disease affects the lives from the entire family, not just the patient. And while we do get some glimpses of it, this novel is more focused on two of the siblings: Laura and James.
Laura is an educated woman in her 30s and though she’s always tried her best to be a good daughter and a doctor (she’s a psychiatrist), she still has to solve some issues about herself and her relationship within her family and significant other.
James, on the other hand, is a drunk. Therefore, he hurts himself and others due to his drinking. In fact, he’s the reason his kid gets injured in a car accident. He goes to jail and then then to rehab, so he can change his ways.
Through the pages we get to know these two and little by little, they solve their problems, whether they mean to take care of their mother and somehow find balance in their work and love life, or when it’s just learning how to take care of yourself and others around you.
I really liked the fact that they learn how to become better. They make mistakes, as any human being does, but that’s not the end of life, you see? This reminded me that we’re not alone, that we can lean on each other –a friend, a lover, a parent or a sibling. Humans, we’re meant to heal each other.
We go through joyful and tough times. We experience love, comfort, loss, grief, sadness, joy. We cannot be just one thing. We’re the sum of our own expectations but also the things that we share with others. And it’s easy to forget that time doesn’t stop for anybody, so you have to make the most of it while you can.
I received an e-book copy in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley.
Pub date: 05 October 2020.
This is the story of four siblings whose mother gets diagnosed with Alzheimer.
First of all, I thought I would see how this disease affects the lives from the entire family, not just the patient. And while we do get some glimpses of it, this novel is more focused on two of the siblings: Laura and James.
Laura is an educated woman in her 30s and though she’s always tried her best to be a good daughter and a doctor (she’s a psychiatrist), she still has to solve some issues about herself and her relationship within her family and significant other.
James, on the other hand, is a drunk. Therefore, he hurts himself and others due to his drinking. In fact, he’s the reason his kid gets injured in a car accident. He goes to jail and then then to rehab, so he can change his ways.
Through the pages we get to know these two and little by little, they solve their problems, whether they mean to take care of their mother and somehow find balance in their work and love life, or when it’s just learning how to take care of yourself and others around you.
I really liked the fact that they learn how to become better. They make mistakes, as any human being does, but that’s not the end of life, you see? This reminded me that we’re not alone, that we can lean on each other –a friend, a lover, a parent or a sibling. Humans, we’re meant to heal each other.
We go through joyful and tough times. We experience love, comfort, loss, grief, sadness, joy. We cannot be just one thing. We’re the sum of our own expectations but also the things that we share with others. And it’s easy to forget that time doesn’t stop for anybody, so you have to make the most of it while you can.
I received an e-book copy in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley.
Pub date: 05 October 2020.
October 6, 2020
On the eve of burying their stepfather, the siblings need to plan the care for their mother who has recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Just a bit of dysfunction is present in this family. The doctor, Robert, on the verge of a crumbling marriage. Izzy, frazzled mom of young children. James, a lifelong alcoholic as was his father. Laura is recently divorced and emotionally fragile.
Catchlight is a photographic technique that can add light to the eye or to the entire subject. Brooke Adams Law catches the glimmer in each of the characters as they see Alzheimer’s Disease diminish the light of their mom.
This novel was an enjoyable read. I would be interested in a sequel to follow the characters.
Catchlight is a photographic technique that can add light to the eye or to the entire subject. Brooke Adams Law catches the glimmer in each of the characters as they see Alzheimer’s Disease diminish the light of their mom.
This novel was an enjoyable read. I would be interested in a sequel to follow the characters.
August 22, 2020
Thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy of this novel.
This book is the story of four siblings who come together after their mother is diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. The characters are very well developed and the plot moves at a very quick and consistent clip... no dull moments here. My only complaint would be about some unbelievable or convenient plot elements but really the book just moves along at a quick and satisfying pace. I loved it and will definitely keep an eye out for Ms. Law's next book!
This book is the story of four siblings who come together after their mother is diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. The characters are very well developed and the plot moves at a very quick and consistent clip... no dull moments here. My only complaint would be about some unbelievable or convenient plot elements but really the book just moves along at a quick and satisfying pace. I loved it and will definitely keep an eye out for Ms. Law's next book!
October 6, 2020
Catchlight is a plot-driven story centered on the lives of four siblings whose estrangement is interrupted by their mother's Alzheimer's diagnosis. Told from the perspective of two different siblings - a therapist and an alcoholic - Catchlight gives voice to messy emotions many novelists shy away from - shame, grief, and loss. The characters immediately feel familiar and their struggles relatable. You will find yourself cheering them on and hoping for a sequel.
November 9, 2020
Catchlight is the story of how a family reacts when their mother is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. This was a great read that feels true to life. Thank you NetGalley, author Brooke Adams Law, and the publisher Woodhall Press LLP for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 5, 2020
Catchlight is a well depicted story of a family navigating the devastating effects of an Altzheimer’s diagnosis of their mother, Katherine. She happens to be the glue that holds them together.
The characters are very human and loveable. I found myself routing for them to pull themselves together as individuals as well as a family. Cudos to Brooke Adams Law for conveying quite successfully the day-to-day sameness of the primary caregiver’s life and the impact it has on that person’s world.
The characters are very human and loveable. I found myself routing for them to pull themselves together as individuals as well as a family. Cudos to Brooke Adams Law for conveying quite successfully the day-to-day sameness of the primary caregiver’s life and the impact it has on that person’s world.
September 30, 2020
This book takes an extremely raw look at how four Rhode Island siblings deal with their mother’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Focussing on two of the siblings, Laura and James, you’ll see the ripple effect this has on their busy lives, in their relationships with others and in how they support each other and their parents in a time of crisis. Told from a dual perspective in alternating chapters, the author subtly pulls you into a complex web of family issues and emotions that keep you spellbound as these characters spiral out of control. Once they hit rock bottom and deal with their loss and addiction, your heartstrings will pull as they attempt to gain some semblance of family and love again. Law makes no attempt to sugar-coat her prose, nor does she hold back on dark issues and bad language; it is what it is. Her characters are human; ones with a good heart, yet ones who make poor choices under stress. Life is rough, tough and excruciatingly raw for the Keene siblings; however, they learn to rely on each other to heal. It will take an open mind to accept this permissive behaviour but it will be a rewarding debut read from a straightforward storyteller.
I received this e-book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received this e-book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 6, 2020
I loved this book! Hankie alert!! There were some points I was yelling at my tablet!! (Dont you just love when a book brings that out in you?)
4 troubled siblings come together in times of family tragedies.
Wonderful writing, I couldnt put it down! Well developed characters. I loved these characters!!I
Because this book brought out the "feels" in me, it gets a 5 star!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher and author for an ARC of this book.The opinions expressed are my own.
4 troubled siblings come together in times of family tragedies.
Wonderful writing, I couldnt put it down! Well developed characters. I loved these characters!!I
Because this book brought out the "feels" in me, it gets a 5 star!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher and author for an ARC of this book.The opinions expressed are my own.
October 23, 2020
I have fallen in love with Laura and James!
I read to meet new friends in the characters of my soon-to-be favorite books, so character development is what is most important to me in a good story. Catchlight delivers in this heart-wrenching, heart-warming story of a family in crisis and how their love and tenacity pull them through incredibly dark times. The raw reality of their difficulties is balanced with well timed twists and revealed family secrets make for a story that's near impossible to put down. I read most of it in two days. I found myself relating and crying and rejoicing with my new friends, Laura and James.
When I started Catchlight, I wasn't sure what to expect from its newly debuted author. Law does an exceptional job in her portrayal of relationships, dysfunctional and healthy family dynamics, and internal dialogue. My only critique lies within the abrupt introduction and handling of a few intimate scenes and what seems to be a more swift than normal health decline of one of the characters.
I can't wait to see what Law writes next. I will be following her career to partake in future delicious stories like Catchlight.
I read to meet new friends in the characters of my soon-to-be favorite books, so character development is what is most important to me in a good story. Catchlight delivers in this heart-wrenching, heart-warming story of a family in crisis and how their love and tenacity pull them through incredibly dark times. The raw reality of their difficulties is balanced with well timed twists and revealed family secrets make for a story that's near impossible to put down. I read most of it in two days. I found myself relating and crying and rejoicing with my new friends, Laura and James.
When I started Catchlight, I wasn't sure what to expect from its newly debuted author. Law does an exceptional job in her portrayal of relationships, dysfunctional and healthy family dynamics, and internal dialogue. My only critique lies within the abrupt introduction and handling of a few intimate scenes and what seems to be a more swift than normal health decline of one of the characters.
I can't wait to see what Law writes next. I will be following her career to partake in future delicious stories like Catchlight.
June 29, 2022
If Tolstoy is correct, that every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way, then the Keene family in Brooke Adams Law's novel Catchlight stands out in its uniqueness. Dealing variously with Alzheimer's, alcoholism, infidelity, grief and loss, the characters struggle individually, but somehow manage to come together as they move in the direction of some kind of redemption. As James Keene remarks towards the end of the novel, "I'm not well. But I'm still moving toward wellness." Maybe that's the best any of us can say right now.
I was surprised by how much I loved Catchlight! Life has been depressing enough without spending time with yet another dysfunctional family. But a few pages in found me rooting for all of the flawed family members; it wasn't long before I cared deeply about each one of them.
My favorite, Laura, is a therapist and photographer ('catchlight' is a term in portrait photography). She is a keen observer and analyst of herself and those around her. Her honesty is reflective of the way the author deals with troubling topics and challenging situations.
Catchlight is easily the best book I've read this year.
I was surprised by how much I loved Catchlight! Life has been depressing enough without spending time with yet another dysfunctional family. But a few pages in found me rooting for all of the flawed family members; it wasn't long before I cared deeply about each one of them.
My favorite, Laura, is a therapist and photographer ('catchlight' is a term in portrait photography). She is a keen observer and analyst of herself and those around her. Her honesty is reflective of the way the author deals with troubling topics and challenging situations.
Catchlight is easily the best book I've read this year.
October 6, 2020
Catchlight is a compelling story about a family struggling with their mother's diagnosis and progression into Alzheimer's disease. Although that diagnosis is tragic, the story is not. Every member of the family responds in their own way and comes to grip with their role in the family. There is a family secret that adds interest and dare I say drama to the story. The characters are likable and real. You care about what happens to them and how they resolve their issues. I didn't want to stop reading this book! I felt like I knew the family and wanted to know what happened to them (maybe a sequel?) The love between mother and child, between spouses, between siblings, is shown in many ways and it is always relatable. The love scenes are touching and the dialogue is well written. There is a prison rape scene that may be a trigger for some, but even that is handled well. I was sorry to come to the end of this story and I am proud to be an early reader of this debut novel. I hope this is the start of many books to follow!
October 10, 2020
Do any of us truly know what we would do if tragedy struck our families? How we would react? Would we be able to handle it? Brooke Adams Law digs into that idea and takes the time to explore one family's highs and lows after their matriarch's Alzheimer's diagnosis in "Catchlight." She guides us through the youngest of the four Keene siblings, Laura and James, who share the narration a few chapters at a time, bringing us into their journey of grief, pain, and growth.
Law brings us a captivating story about how people navigate life while facing their own fears and failures and confronting the fact that you are not what is expected of you. Her characters are relatable and well-rounded and her writing allows the story to flow from beginning to end. There were a couple moments that felt a little convenient, but overall I was invested in this family and wanted to see them through this awful moment in their lives.
Read this book. It is fascinating, gripping, funny, heartbreaking, and real.
Law brings us a captivating story about how people navigate life while facing their own fears and failures and confronting the fact that you are not what is expected of you. Her characters are relatable and well-rounded and her writing allows the story to flow from beginning to end. There were a couple moments that felt a little convenient, but overall I was invested in this family and wanted to see them through this awful moment in their lives.
Read this book. It is fascinating, gripping, funny, heartbreaking, and real.
November 10, 2020
Thanks to NetGalley for providing an eARC copy of this book!
When I read the description, I was instantly drawn to this story about four siblings caring for their mother who's been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. As I read through the pages, and followed their journey, I was brought to tears at times. What made this book even more phenomenal was that Law has written a heartbreaking tale that manages to infuse joy into an otherwise dark time for this family.
We especially focus on Laura and James. Laura-- an educated woman struggling with living up to her own standard. And James-- a person who struggles with alcoholism and has hurt so many people around him. In their own way, both Laura and James grow as people, and they learn to find their strength in family as they're caring for their mother.
I'll be on the lookout for Law's next book, and I'm excited to follow her career as an author!
When I read the description, I was instantly drawn to this story about four siblings caring for their mother who's been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. As I read through the pages, and followed their journey, I was brought to tears at times. What made this book even more phenomenal was that Law has written a heartbreaking tale that manages to infuse joy into an otherwise dark time for this family.
We especially focus on Laura and James. Laura-- an educated woman struggling with living up to her own standard. And James-- a person who struggles with alcoholism and has hurt so many people around him. In their own way, both Laura and James grow as people, and they learn to find their strength in family as they're caring for their mother.
I'll be on the lookout for Law's next book, and I'm excited to follow her career as an author!
January 12, 2021
Catchlight by Brooke Adams Law - I had not expected to like this book and was reading it for a book club I am in. I thought because it dealt with Alzheimer's that it would be depressing. The book does deal with it, but it has so many levels to it. I believe this is a debut novel and I was so pleasantly surprised. It deals with family struggles, not just with having a parent who is ill, but also life's struggles. What I loved about the book was how it had me rooting for all the characters. I hoped they would be successful, or happy, or work through their issues. The book mostly centers of two siblings, but there are actually four siblings. My only wish was to have more chapters that included each siblings story. That would have made the book longer, but I would have like to learn more. Honestly, I am not saying Law should change the book, I loved it, I just yearned for more. Great book!
November 17, 2020
Brooke Adams Law's debut novel is a must-read. In another review for this novel, I read that this story is not just another trauma-drama, and this is exactly true. Law captures the complex intricacies of adulthood, families, and relationships. She does not shy away from real feelings, honest moments, or even ugly realities of life. Various events throughout the chronicles of this family's incredibly difficult reality urge the reader to reflect deeply on dark moments and the healing that may occur if the dark moments are faced directly. These characters are raw and honest; the reader may easily connect to their hardships, their joys, and their collective family identity. Once this book is in your hands, you will not put it down.
August 27, 2020
The Matriarch of this family, Katherine has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's and this novel is about her four adult children and how they deal with this devastating disease and their own troubles both within the family as well as their own lives.
Though Katherine's disease is progressing and she is forgetting most everything, there is one huge secret that she has not unremembered and it will be revealed like it or not!
Her family will be shocked!
I enjoyed the smooth writing of this book and the alternating characters telling their part of this story and their feeling,s as they attempt to cope with the slow loss of their mother.
A good read!
Though Katherine's disease is progressing and she is forgetting most everything, there is one huge secret that she has not unremembered and it will be revealed like it or not!
Her family will be shocked!
I enjoyed the smooth writing of this book and the alternating characters telling their part of this story and their feeling,s as they attempt to cope with the slow loss of their mother.
A good read!
September 16, 2020
loved this book. The story was so compelling which, together with the short chapters, made this a real page-turner. I think there is something in this book that would appeal to just about anybody. I couldn’t put it down. Awesome character development- I felt like I knew these characters and was so invested in their stories; I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen to them even as I was dreading finishing the book. The ending was satisfying without tying everything up in an improbably neat little bow. My only disappointment is that I have to wait for this author to write book, which I sincerely hope is on the horizon!! Highly recommend.
October 1, 2022
Giving four stars because I loved the book and the development of the characters and story BUT there were discrepancies in the age of one character when their father passed away. One page says one age, it’s unclear in another page, and different on yet another. There is also a concert that happens - first stated as being in one town and then stated being in another. I read the book mostly in one day in the car. Perhaps that made a difference. Maybe proofreaders didn’t notice or didn’t think readers would notice.
Overall it was a good story - heart wrenching in to many ways but full of love and compassion.
Overall it was a good story - heart wrenching in to many ways but full of love and compassion.
October 6, 2020
I love a good character driven novel, and Catchlight definitely delivers. A novel with well written characters has you both cringing at their mistakes and self sabotage and rooting for their triumph over their demons and I was doing both by the end. What I loved most was the framing of the story around the bumpy self discovery of two of the siblings: the family's black sheep and the family's "glue." Lawacaptures the reality of family conflict and sibling rivalry in a way that truly resonated with me as someone who is no stranger to family conflict and it's effects on your personal life.
February 26, 2022
I found Brooke's writing captivating from the opening the opening chapter and it kept building. The book is much more than the synopsis on Amazon and other sellers. Ms. Adams Law tells the story of one American family from the perspectives of the four siblings themselves. Each has a story, then another story under that one.
Unless you truly live in that perfect home, with perfect parents, perfect siblings, partners, jobs, finances, and all of the rest, you're like me, and probably in ways much like the Keene family.
I'm glad I read this one. I look forward to her next creation!
Unless you truly live in that perfect home, with perfect parents, perfect siblings, partners, jobs, finances, and all of the rest, you're like me, and probably in ways much like the Keene family.
I'm glad I read this one. I look forward to her next creation!
October 4, 2023
An enjoyable read, but I can't say much more than that. I liked some of the characters, but there was something missing from this story, something I can't quite put my finger on. I think the subject of Alzheimer's disease was well-handled and reminded me a lot of my grandmother, who has been suffering with Alzheimer's for many years. But somehow, this book lacked heart for me. Although I enjoyed the story, it wasn't something that kept me immersed, or something that really spoke to me, despite my own personal dealings with Alzheimer's.
November 9, 2020
Beautiful story of a full family with many layers of difficulty, and that's before adding on the challenges of the caretaker and Alzheimer's. The story is told from the viewpoint of two of the siblings, which was totally manageable. (I would have loved to get in the head of the other two siblings.... But they seemed too self centered to bother to care about others.) Good book if you have a bug family, good book if you don't. Lovely, just lovely.
October 9, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. It is a novel about Laura and her family, and how they deal with her mother Katherine's struggles with Alzheimer's. Laura has 3 siblings. Her father and stepfather Bill also have an important role in the family dynamics and the storyline. It gives a realistic view of the challenges a family faces with Alzheimer's, and explores how past family dynamics shape each sibling's reaction and response to the situations that arise. I recommend this novel.
November 18, 2023
A beautiful and nuanced story of a family dealing with the decline of the matriarch as she struggles with dementia and younger brother struggling with alcohol use disorder. Each character was originally rendered, and I identified with the story arc of the protagonist as she navigated her life as a therapist, caretaker, and defining her own identity after divorce. The prose was strong and deftly executed and supported the story as it unfolded.
October 5, 2020
There is something so familiar, so real in this novel that I found myself fully immersed in this place I’ve never been, with these characters I’ve never known, but feeling like I am here with them. The complexity of family relationships, the wake of pain our lives, choices, and secrets can leave behind despite the best of intentions, and the guilt, love, joy and vulnerability we imbue ourselves with - universal human experiences that construct this story. Brook Adams Law gives us a cast of characters that are flawed and deeply human. She presents them free of judgment, and allows us as readers to feel for them even at their lowest moments. We see all their breaks, all their weaknesses, and we see glimpses of ourselves.
Losing a loved one to an invisible enemy slowly is a form of pain that changes not just the one suffering, but all those present to that suffering. Alzheimer’s and addiction both rob loved ones of the person who was, and leave behind the painful fraught relationship of the person who is now. We see the Keene family navigate both of these levels of loss, along with the loss of truth, the loss of trust among each other and themselves at times. We see the ever changing undulating shape that family takes, with all the love and mess that entails.
The ongoing themes of both Home and Faith also featured prominently. Home as unifying place for family, and Faith as far as both providing a space of belonging and refuge, but also a simultaneous and contrary sense of alienation- the way these two concepts weave continuously through the story is beautifully handled.
The fragile vulnerability of the characters kept me as a reader deeply invested in this lovely book. If you enjoy titles in the vein of Before We Were Yours, you will surely enjoy this one as well
Losing a loved one to an invisible enemy slowly is a form of pain that changes not just the one suffering, but all those present to that suffering. Alzheimer’s and addiction both rob loved ones of the person who was, and leave behind the painful fraught relationship of the person who is now. We see the Keene family navigate both of these levels of loss, along with the loss of truth, the loss of trust among each other and themselves at times. We see the ever changing undulating shape that family takes, with all the love and mess that entails.
The ongoing themes of both Home and Faith also featured prominently. Home as unifying place for family, and Faith as far as both providing a space of belonging and refuge, but also a simultaneous and contrary sense of alienation- the way these two concepts weave continuously through the story is beautifully handled.
The fragile vulnerability of the characters kept me as a reader deeply invested in this lovely book. If you enjoy titles in the vein of Before We Were Yours, you will surely enjoy this one as well
November 27, 2024
I couldn’t put this book down. It dragged me in and had me invested in the characters’ lives. Beautifully written and painfully honest. I haven’t enjoyed a book this much in quite a while. Read this book.
April 8, 2021
Insightful.
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