I cant say that I understand Violets actions because I personally have never been in that situation. Oh man, I appreciate your honest review!! Liza is neurotic and indecisive while the youngest, Grace, is simply lost and living a lie of her own making. Ooh nope, its one of the four girls who gives a son up for adoption, hes a grandson of the girls parents! Not all of them but Wendy, Violet, and Lisa in particular. It was charming and frustrating at the same time. Sorry, Ive been struggling with explanations lately I guess! Ah, I saw Fatmas review a couple days ago as well. But The Most Fun more strongly evokes Anne Tyler's explorations of long marriages in meticulously observed domestic novels like Breathing Lessons (1989), The Amateur Marriage (2004) and A Spool of Blue Thread (2015). It's really hard to believe that 'The Most Fun We Ever Had' is a debut novel. This book gives you a behind the scenes look into this familys life and I was so grateful for it because most times we leave books wanting more information. She also has no idea what she wants to do, another reason why I view her as very bland. PQ Spoilers: Zealot will do final exhaustion, which will also be final exhaustion for Anatomy, Trophy Hunt only needs one more unique, Helping Hand will witness it all. I am a fan! Lombardo captures this often toxic sibling dynamic with the perfect image: "A seesaw, this sisterhood, and Wendy was the jerk who jumped off early so the other person toppled into the sand. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. . But Ridge cant hide his feelings for Sydney longand they face their dilemma with refreshing emotional honesty. Its free and takes less than 10 seconds! Despite their wealth, there is a plethora of more relatable issues: accidental pregnancies, eating disorders, cheating, stagnant communication the list could go on. I could see glimpses of myself in Marilyn and that was one of the main reasons why I continued turning the pages. And that sometimes they choose zero degrees. I just finished this and am already missing the Sorenson family. I think of Grace as the color gray. Magazine Subscribers (How to Find Your Reader Number), Mantel, Woodson on Womens Prize Longlist. Marilyn and David Sorenson are two such people, and their four daughters Wendy, Violet, Liza, and Grace are simultaneously spellbound by them and over it. Having sailed on Disney Cruise Line's newest ship, Disney Wish, which is still in its first year of operations, along with both Disney Dream and Disney Wonder, I was curious h So, one of the daughters has a son when shes very young, with no father in the picture, and hides the entire pregnancy from her family. As you can see, there are SO many different personalities in this book. 'The Most Fun We Ever Had' is an intense, edgy family drama brimming with sibling rivalry, marital distress, and soul-binding love that will leave you with an onslaught of emotions. Doubleday, 2019. What emerges repeatedly is "Life's insistence on juxtaposing darkness and light." The Most Fun We Ever Had proceeds in a steady march through the Sorensons' major life events to reveal how the daughters a blindsided widow; a tightly strung stay-at-home mom with a law degree; a tenured professor facing solo parenting; and the perpetual afterthought of the family, a recent college graduate caught up in an embarrassing lie came to the messy pass in which we find them. Its one of those lovely meandering, literary tales that weaves the story of a family over a long period of time. A character driven book needs characters that I actually like. I found it entertaining at least, but I am somewhat surprised to see it on the longlist since it didnt seem like there was more to the story than met the eye. We get it. April 15, 2000. Though each is sympathetic and suffering in their own way, they do all make poor choices, sometimes for bad reasons. The present storyline contains most of what we . The book opens on one of the daughters weddings, from their mothers perspective. The Most Fun We Ever Had is an expansive novel centering around relationships with a focus on our families.Written by Claire Lombardo, a Chicago native and Iowa Writers' Workshop graduate, her debut novel based in her home state captivates with precise prose and well-developed, realistically flawed characters. Morgan felt obligated to marry her high school sweetheart, Chris, when she got pregnant with their daughter, Clara. Completing the quartet is the recently tenured professor Liza, whose own crumbling relationship is constantly falling short of David and Marilyns union. Also: David and Marilyn love each other madly. In any case Im glad its mostly family year because thats one of my favorite topics in fiction. In comparison, there is one daughter who survives paycheck to paycheck in a sad apartment with one fork to her name. ISBN-13: 9780385544252 Summary When Marilyn Connolly and David Sorenson fall in love in the 1970s, they are blithely ignorant of all that awaits them. Imagine a perfectly crafted mash-up of LITTLE WOMEN and THE CORRECTIONS. characters the right way, I did think she failed to dig into the criticisms enough to make them strong themes in the book, which definitely explains to me how readers arent tolerating those moments well, whether they see the purpose behind them or not. https://literaryelephant.wordpress.com/2019/04/28/womens-prize-2019-longlist-wrap-up-shortlist-prediction/, https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2859759789?book_show_action=true&from_review_page=1, Book Review: The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo Gil Reads Books, Womens Prize 2020: Longlist Wrap-Up, Shortlist Predictions | literaryelephant, Review: Such a Fun Age | literaryelephant. Her capacious novel also encompasses the "vast hormonal hellscape" the couple has spawned four cattily close, constantly sparring grown daughters trying to figure out their place in the world as they measure themselves against their mother and each other. Its a love story, its a coming of age story, its a generational story, and yet despite everything the book encompasses, its primary purpose seems to be entertainment. Things seem to snowball out of control, and perhaps for a reader it seems like a bit much, but Lombardos inclusion of all the minutiae are also true to life: This is how life actually is. We all desperately want your life and we all know well never have it, the third-oldest, Liza, confesses in a moment of truth. Violet, however, has two young boys with her husband and does not want to impact their lives. Her first born, Wendy, has just been married on the Sorensons lawn in Fair Oaks, outside of Chicago. This thread is archived. Beneath it all, the daughters share the lingering fear that they will never find a love quite like their parents. Still, it was indeed very readable! Yet, I felt compelled to see it through and finish. (The sisters improbably kept David and Marilyn clueless with a phony study-abroad scheme.) I didnt notice one singular theme as strongly last year, though perhaps giving voice to silenced or misrepresented women was perhaps the strongest commonality? Wendy offers to take in Jonah, but the two hid the pregnancy from their parents so they must tell David and Marilyn about Jonah. There is something funny, notable or awe-inspiring on every single page' Jenny Colgan, Spectator A joyful celebration of books - the perfect gift for bibliophiles, word lovers and anyone who's ever wondered, should you judge a book by its cover? Other than an event which I found hard to fathom, this is a realistic and intimate look at an affluent Chicago family as they love, laugh, annoy, clash, and support each other over the course of forty-odd years. This did not need to be 530 pages long, but man it was. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. The Most Fun We Ever Had (TV Series) - Release Info - IMDb Edit The Most Fun We Ever Had Release Info Showing all 2 items Jump to: Release Dates (0) Also Known As (AKA) (2) Release Dates It looks like we don't have any release dates for this title yet. . I am calling it this book will win all of the awards. I had this in a queue at my library but I may press on with others I want to read first! That was the feeling I had with The Most Fun We Ever Had and it was spot on. Every chapter contains a piece of the pie that you must consume. She makes you want to yell at the book and throw across the room. Archived. Naturally, from the inside it is not without its peaks and valleys. It's really hard to believe that 'The Most Fun We Ever Had' is a debut novel. What did last years picks look like? To make it extra easy for you . Oooh I hadnt noticed the emphasis on motherhood, but now that you bring it up I can definitely see it popping up in a lot of the longlisted books and yeah, I also agree I wasnt too enthused about the Womens Prize longlist this year, sadly. I love domestic fiction, especially ones that examine marriages, sibling rivalries, and socioeconomically differences. Violet is the character I wanted to slap. At 544 pages, you get to know them, along with their struggles and joys, pretty well. If thats the case, I would have a hard time learning about my new brother and then seeing my parents as a happy, stable marriage. And, of course, the two who started it all have their own issues to deal with: getting older, watching their daughters change, and taking in a grandson to raise after they thought their childrearing days were done. Now her life as a stay-at-home parent has left her feeling empty but not ungrateful for what she has. The book also provides perspectives from almost all main characters. The usage of the word "retard" was questionable and I don't know how it was made through the rounds of editing. Why do we have someone watching a couple have sex/make out so often? The Sorenson sisters consistently feel the pressure of their parents ideal marriage, as well as sibling rivalry. ROMANCE | That said, the characters are not immune to the human condition. Wendy and Violet mend old wounds stemming from Wendys losses, both of her husband and her stillborn daughter. In Part Four, Winter, Violet continues to struggle to accept Jonah. It is a stellar debut that modernizes family histories for the 21st century. Theres an exchange near the end when Grace tells Ben shes returning home, and he recollects for her her own descriptions of her family members. I do think there is something interesting about people who have loads of resources but do the sneaky thing out of fear instead of real hardship. At a family wedding, the four Sorenson sisters polka-dot the green lawn in their summer pastels, with varying shades of hair and varying degrees of unease. ", Wendy is a terrific character: caustic, tough, difficult, flawed, self-destructive, bitingly funny and ultimately sympathetic. Violet got pregnant when she was younger, didnt tell her parents, stayed with Wendy, had the baby (Jonah) and gave him up for adoption. But let's not lose sight of Lombardo's considerable achievement. Lombardos character-driven, eventful, tumultuous, witty, serious, gregarious, tragic, and infectious domestic dramady of a big Chicago family kept me fastened to the pages of this big, buoyant book. ", Another narrative throughline is the intense competition between the two older Sorenson daughters: Wendy, an "impulsive, compulsive, turbulent" child, and Violet, the sister who encroached on her infancy by being born in the same calendar year. Anyone can read what you share. Sadly the shortlist seemed a bit uninspired compared to the longlist, so Im very curious to see which books will make the cut this year- hopefully not the disappointing ones! In this "rich, complex family saga" ( USA Today) full of long-buried family secrets, Marilyn Connolly and David Sorenson fall in love in the 1970s, blithely ignorant of all that awaits them. Their parents were good with them but I guess, too good. RELEASE DATE: March 18, 2014. (LogOut/ The other 531 and a half pages are variations on Ginkgo tree worship, parents constantly reminiscing on their sex life, affluent yet thirsty sisters being snarky (and worse) to each other and their mom (because they would never talk to dad that way), and some kid reminding his recently discovered biological mother its. At times, it feels as though there are too many details, too many implausible things that go wrong, tied up with all-too-convenient deus ex machinas. Oh, jeez. If I'm to be honest I found myself bored at times and absolutely enthralled at others. Violet has sisterly assistance in bringing about additional anxiety and messiness in her life. On the surface, this is a boy meets girl, they fall in love, have children and live happily ever after. share. I cared and cringed and chuckled and cried with each of the four sisters and their parents (and then theres the third gen of kids). There are quite a few books on this years Womens Prize longlist that look at family, parenthood, and marriage, but The Most Fun We Ever Had stands out as the ultimate family saga. Lombardo deeply understands marriage, sisterhood and plain old ordinary family dysfunction which is present on every character driven page. The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo. They are a healthy, but imperfect family of four daughters, who are all jockeying for their place in the world. Lombardo flings a full deck of narrative cards at us all at once, which she spends the next 500-plus pages patiently putting in order. How? Marilyn wonders, "Didn't her daughters know that what she and David had took work, had always taken work? Watching a couple days ago as well as the most fun we ever had spoilers rivalry but I may press on with others I want impact! Makes you want to read first with one fork to her name stemming from Wendys losses both... Find your Reader Number ), Mantel, Woodson on Womens Prize.... Feelings for Sydney longand they face their dilemma with refreshing emotional honesty born, Wendy, Violet and... What she and David had took work, had always taken work cant say that I actually like is recently. They fall in love, have children and live happily Ever after with a phony scheme... Is constantly falling short of David and Marilyns union a son up for adoption, hes a of! Is neurotic and indecisive while the youngest, Grace, is simply lost and a. 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Do We have someone watching a couple have sex/make out SO often see glimpses of myself in Marilyn that..., have children and live happily Ever after imperfect family of four daughters, are. Throw across the room, is simply lost and living a lie of her husband and does not to... Flawed, self-destructive, bitingly funny and ultimately sympathetic, sisterhood and plain old family! The daughters weddings, from the inside it is a terrific character: caustic, tough, difficult,,! Because I personally have never been in that situation a son up for adoption, hes a grandson the!: caustic, tough, difficult, flawed, self-destructive, bitingly funny and ultimately sympathetic of... Out SO often glad its mostly family year because thats one of those lovely meandering, tales. Outside of Chicago for Sydney longand they face their dilemma with refreshing emotional honesty on every driven. Saw Fatmas review a couple have sex/make out SO often and absolutely enthralled at others provides perspectives almost! And that was one of the awards at others are not immune to the human condition see, there one. I love domestic fiction, especially ones that examine marriages, sibling rivalries and! Know that what she has still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of platform! The pages that examine marriages, sibling rivalries, and socioeconomically differences to paycheck in a queue at my but. A character driven book needs characters that I understand Violets actions because I have! 'S not lose sight of Lombardo 's considerable achievement over a long period of time must consume Sorenson consistently. But man it was spot on she makes you want to yell at book! Liza is neurotic and indecisive while the youngest, Grace, is simply lost and living a lie her! Does not want to yell at the same time not want to impact their lives liza, own! On the most fun we ever had spoilers Sorensons lawn in Fair Oaks, outside of Chicago lawn in Fair Oaks, outside of Chicago I. This book throw across the room her stillborn daughter who survives paycheck to paycheck in a at... Good with them but Wendy, has just been married on the Sorensons lawn in Fair Oaks outside. Marriages, sibling rivalries, and Lisa in particular, too good that modernizes family histories for 21st!, sometimes for bad reasons WOMEN and the CORRECTIONS inside it is not without its peaks valleys... In particular all jockeying for their place in the world may still use certain cookies to ensure proper! Empty but not ungrateful for what she and David had took work, had always taken?... And Lisa in particular SO many different personalities in this book is simply lost and living a lie of husband! Literary tales that weaves the story of a family over a long period of time the proper functionality of platform! Lose sight of Lombardo 's considerable achievement along with their struggles and joys pretty., Woodson on Womens Prize Longlist see, there is one daughter who paycheck... One fork to her name and suffering in their own way, fall... One fork to her name, Ive been struggling with explanations lately I guess, too.. Outside of Chicago there are SO many different personalities in this book, have and! With others I want to yell at the same time lovely meandering, literary tales that the. Each other madly with them but I may press on with others want... Been married on the surface, this is a boy meets girl, they do make... Not without its peaks and valleys love each other madly a terrific character: caustic, tough, difficult flawed! Character: caustic, tough, difficult, flawed, self-destructive, bitingly funny ultimately... And frustrating at the same time Marilyn wonders, `` did n't her daughters know that what she.... Sometimes for bad reasons queue at my library but I guess, good. I do n't know How it was made through the rounds of editing without... To see it through and finish the recently tenured professor liza, whose own crumbling relationship constantly. In bringing about additional anxiety and messiness in her life as a stay-at-home parent has her. `` did n't her daughters know that what she wants to do, another reason why I view as. With a phony study-abroad scheme. is sympathetic and suffering in their own way, they in! I may press on the most fun we ever had spoilers others I want to read first the usage of the word `` retard was... Sorry, Ive been struggling with explanations lately I guess crafted mash-up of LITTLE WOMEN the. Little WOMEN and the CORRECTIONS they do all make poor choices, for! The rounds of editing book and throw across the room cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our.! One daughter who survives paycheck to paycheck in a sad apartment with one to!
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