All the Lonely People
by
Jess Riley
-274 pages-
This wry, touching novel from the author of Driving Sideways follows a cast of five endearing misfits who form a family of choice to try and make sense of their families of origin.
WANTED: A whole new family to share holidays with. Please have a good heart and be a thoughtful, polite person. No sociopaths, no pedophiles, no fans of the Kardashians. We're not weirdos, I promise. I love old Steve Martin movies, new Steve Martin banjo tunes, Indian food, and reruns of Bob Ross painting happy little trees. So if you're looking for something other than the typical family dysfunction this Christmas, drop us a line.
After losing her beloved mother to cancer, 37-year-old Jaime Collins must confront the ugly fact that she and her siblings don't actually like one another. At all. Fueled by grief and an epic argument at Thanksgiving dinner, Jaime decides to divorce her brother and sister and posts an ad on Craigslist for a new family with whom to share Christmas dinner.
What happens next is a heartwarming, funny, and surprising journey to forgiveness and healing. Is blood really thicker than water? What makes a family? And how far do we have to go to find our way back home again?
Dedicated to anyone who has ever wanted to unfriend a relative on Facebook, All the Lonely People is about family: those you make...and those you make peace with.
Discussion Highlights:
Discussion Highlights:
The concept of the book was humorous and somewhat relatable, because honestly, who hasn't imagined finding a new family? Also, the fact that most of our members found the book club through a Craiglist ad was a funny happenstance. But the author's lack of deeper characters and more researched back stories left a bitter taste in our mouths. It was hard to accept some of what she tried to pass off as truth.
Next Month's Book:
by
Paula McLain
-314 pages-
Our 8th monthly meeting will be on October 21st, 2013! See you there!
