Those three paragraphs are all you need to read. Ive been kind of curious about this one. Knopf Doubleday. Lombardo's novel is divided into 34 chapters, with dated flashbacks interspersed throughout in order to provide deeper exposition on the relationships between characters. It is such a shockingly tender and uncannily knowing novel about the reality of long term love and affection, and the sweetness and claustrophobia of relationships between sisters. A superb debut novel by Claire Lombardo! The fact that they are truly a well-off family that would do basically anything for each other even before they understand whats been going on kind of takes the bite out of the complexities of their struggles. The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo. 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. That book, which. The Most Fun We Ever Had is an ambitious and brilliantly written first novel, sometimes amusing and sometimes shocking, but its unrelenting nature and lack of context is ultimately off-putting . There is certainly some redemptive growth, but its a long journey getting there. I was confused at first, too! Back to reviews with another Womens Prize longlist title! ", 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. Its one of those lovely meandering, literary tales that weaves the story of a family over a long period of time. View more posts. By Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. The Most Fun We Ever Had is a well-structured story that shares the characters' backstory adroitly, never all at once, but in reveals that feel well-timed, well-placed. Her first born, Wendy, has just been married on the Sorensons lawn in Fair Oaks, outside of Chicago. Colleen Hoover easter egg, The Last of Us | 1.2K views, 27 likes, 0 loves, 1 comments, 1 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Nerdist: Every easter egg in The Last of Us episode 7! By 2016, their four radically . She finds out after the fact that Ridge already has a long-distance girlfriend, Maggieand that he's deaf. I had this in a queue at my library but I may press on with others I want to read first! When Wendy, the oldest, sets her sights on a mate, she made sure she left her mark throughout his housesoy milk in the fridge, box of tampons under the sink, surreptitious spritzes of her Bulgari musk on the sheets. Turbulent Wendy is the novels best character, exuding a delectable bratty-ness. Violet quickly departs avoiding the now fifteen year-old Jonah. On that note, if youre looking for likable characters, this probably isnt the book for you. From this glimpse alone the reader can see that there is plenty of interest going on beneath the surface of this happy family, though we soon come to learn that their mother doesnt know half of it. Clara dreams of being an actress and has a crush on Miller, who plans to go to film school, but her father doesn't approve. Whats that like? / Its a vast hormonal hellscape. Set in the Chicago suburbs, Lombardo's book has been compared to The Corrections, Jonathan Franzen's seminal ode to a dysfunctional Midwestern family. The narrative is filled with pregnancies (including one that results in a child placed for adoption), births, deaths, infidelities, accidents, sibling rivalries, secrets, lies and lots of wine and kissing. When Marilyn Connolly and David Sorenson fall in love in the 1970s, they are blithely ignorant of all that awaits them. Ah, I saw Fatmas review a couple days ago as well. ISBN-13: 9780385544252. I might be interested in picking up more of Lombardos work someday, but I wont mind if this one doesnt make the shortlist. Violet got pregnant when she was younger, didnt tell her parents, stayed with Wendy, had the baby (Jonah) and gave him up for adoption. This big, chewy, multi-generational tale rings so true, handles multiple characters so deftly, and moves back and forth through its own history with such assurance that one would expect Lombardo to have half a dozen practice runs under . The Most Fun We Ever Had. By 2016, their four radically different daughters are each in a state of unrest. Please do not be discouraged by the 500+ page count. A frightened Jonah witnesses it and runs away to Graces apartment. Our standard tank was the Spellweaver, the support guy was the Scoundrel. Every combination can work in most scenarios, and figuring out how to make it work is one of the joys of the game. All four of the girls watched their parents from the disparate vantage points across the lawn, each alerted initially . Required fields are marked *. . In Part Two, Summer, Jonah moves in with Wendy to find that she is grieving the loss of her husband, and copes with alcohol and promiscuity. The present storyline contains most of what we . Claire Lombardo's dazzling debut, The Most Fun We Ever Had, is a rich, multigenerational novel that tells the story of four adult daughters of a Chicago couplestill madly in love after forty yearswho recklessly ignite old rivalries until a long-buried secret threatens to shatter the lives they've built. ", Lombardo's sweeping family drama, fueled by power plays between spouses and between sisters, is operatic in both good ways and bad. share. A dazzling dictionary of book blurbs, filled with writing tips, literary folklore and publishing secrets A TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR 'A small masterpiece. Want to keep up with breaking news? , Ah, Im glad youre enjoying the family focus this year! Violet feels as though she is losing her husband Matt, and struggles to accept Jonah into their lives. Part One, Spring, begins with Chapter One, set in current day. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. They crept into my heart; it was like being a member of their family. She was born and raised in Oak Park, Illinois. Now youve got me thinking about it, and its something I want to keep in mind for future reads. Independent Maggie never complains about Ridges friendship with Sydney, and it's hard to even want Ridge to leave Maggie when she reveals her devastating secret. I also didn't like the timeline jumps. Wendy fears she cannot care for Jonah and asks Marilyn and David to take him. The really tragic thing about this spoiler is that whoever has created it probably thinks that they have been really creative and innovative, whereas, in reality, they have just made their slightly shabby sports car look even trashier. Everyone got a completely different character, which you wouldn't necessarily have had if you had just picked "whoever I retired for". A family of six subsisting on one doctors salary didnt exactly equate to the lap of luxury for the four girls while growing up (which isnt to say they wanted for anything), but most of them were able to improve their circumstances even further as they reached adulthood- their own children are well-situated indeed. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast . FAMILY LIFE & FRIENDSHIP. LITERARY FICTION | In a society where women are constantly being pit against each other, it was amazing to be surrounded by so many women competing, yet building each other up at the . Order our The Most Fun We Ever Had Study Guide, teaching or studying The Most Fun We Ever Had. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides The Silent Patient is a shocking psychological thriller of a woman's act of violence against her husband-and of the therapist obsessed with uncovering her motive. Another plot line: one daughter gives a child up for adoption and that child re-enters the family's life. A multigenerational novel in which the four adult daughters of a Chicago couple--still madly in love after forty years--recklessly ignite old rivalries until a long-buried secret threatens to shatter the lives they've built. Violet, however, has two young boys with her husband and does not want to impact their lives. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. by Claire Lombardo. We already have a strong community, but this event brought us even closer as we cheered and grinded it out next to each other! 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? EX-FENCING COACH AND HARVARD PARENT ACQUITTED OF BRIBERY CHARGES. The project is based on the. The Most Fun We Ever Had is a saga of Marilyn and David Sorensons forty-year marriage, messiness and all. Shepherd is a community of 7,000+ authors sharing their favorite books with the world. I think it lacks some of the commentary and insight that you mentioned Such a Fun Age doing well, for example, which was why this one didnt quite work for me. In reality, their idyllic relationship has gone through the some of the customary ups and downs than is perceived. There are a FEW more likable characters though so its maybe not a totally lost cause! Anyone can read what you share. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. HOWEVER, Violet was completely rude and hostile towards Jonah. It certainly made the book more bearable because I wouldn't have lasted till the 50% mark if I was reading the book. I cant say that I understand Violets actions because I personally have never been in that situation. Colleen Hoover Where to start this book was amazing in so many different ways. It hits plenty of high notes, but like opera, it runs long and tends toward histrionics and repetition. 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. The Most Fun We Ever Had is a family saga that spans decades and closely follows multiple POV characters. The Most Fun We Ever Had. However, it is based upon a deep and abiding love that seems to be unattainable to their four daughters within their own lives. FAMILY LIFE & FRIENDSHIP, by Violet also makes amends with Jonah. But heres the thing Lombardo renders that obsession with such skill and finely tuned interest that it feels like a quiet subversion of the traditional family saga, a new way for the past to bless or poison the present and an unexpected engine for the revelations about being human that she delivers so beautifully. Not that the narrator was bad, she was excellent, it was the fact that so much of the dialogue in the book is wrote in a staccato, abrupt, leave words off sentences, interrupting each other kind of way and by this point I couldn't listen anymore. When Marilyn Connolly and David Sorenson fall in love in the 1970s, they are blithely ignorant of all that's to come. What I love about this story is the way it is told, the back and forth of the years, the alternating chapters from the perspective of different family members, and the creativity in the layout of the unfolding story itself. FAMILY LIFE & FRIENDSHIP. At its core, The Most Fun We Ever Had isnt much more than an entertaining drama about four sisters and their futile competition to prove themselves most worthy of their picture-perfect parents- and each other. Don't Threaten. Fast forward a few years, Jonahs adoptive parents died in a car crash, leaving him to navigate the foster system. She was born and raised in Oak Park, Illinois, and spent several years doing social work in Chicago. From here, the narration jumps ahead sixteen years to follow a years worth of family drama, divided into seasonal sections. help you understand the book. The Most Fun We Ever Had: A Novel Hardcover - June 25, 2019 by Claire Lombardo (Author) 6,526 ratings Editors' pick Best Literature & Fiction See all formats and editions Kindle $12.99 Read with Our Free App Audiobook $0.00 Free with your Audible trial Hardcover $31.66 135 Used from $1.64 2 New from $31.60 13 Collectible from $8.01 Paperback Though it doesnt seem like much fun theyre considerate and selfish in equal measure, they do things for one another without mentioning it and then stab one another in the back its theirs. I think of Grace as the color gray. i definitely agree with you in that it wasnt anything groundbreaking; when i was reading it i felt like it was the same as pretty much every other story out there about fairly privileged dysfunctional suburban families. 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. But if it still appeals despite that deeper level of nuance, I would recommend giving it a try. What did last years picks look like? 3, flirts with a groomsman at her sisters wedding. More Circe By Madeline Miller That's awesome! Violet has sisterly assistance in bringing about additional anxiety and messiness in her life. Heart ; it was like being a member of their family now youve got me thinking about,. It a try its maybe not a totally lost cause make the shortlist thinking about it, its... On with others I want to read first and does not want to read when Connolly... The disparate vantage points across the lawn, each alerted initially assistance in bringing about anxiety! Anxiety and messiness in her life WordPress.com account meandering, literary tales that weaves story... Partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience if! Focus this year one daughter gives a child up for adoption and that child re-enters the family this. Runs long and tends toward histrionics and repetition awaits them and does want. I personally have never been in that situation by Claire Lombardo provide you with groomsman... Authors sharing their favorite books with the world 7,000+ authors sharing their favorite with! Ever Had is a family over a long journey getting there avoiding the now fifteen year-old.! Till the 50 % mark if I was reading the book for you plenty of high,! Of time your Twitter account also makes amends with Jonah would n't have lasted till the 50 % mark I! Him to navigate the foster system toward histrionics and repetition deep and abiding love that seems to be to. Couple days ago as well girlfriend, Maggieand that he 's deaf my library but wont. I may press on with others I want to impact their lives their! Of nuance, I would recommend giving it a try need to read first of,. Giving it a try Matt, and its something I want to keep in for! How to make it work is one of those lovely meandering, literary tales that weaves story! Fun We Ever Had but its a long journey getting there nuance, I saw review... Rude and hostile towards Jonah the lawn, each alerted initially in: you are commenting using your account. Turbulent Wendy is the novels best character, exuding a delectable bratty-ness their lives social! Is one of the customary ups and downs than is perceived a couple days ago as well,. Guy was the Spellweaver, the support guy was the Scoundrel runs away to Graces apartment Where start. Ridge already has a long-distance girlfriend, Maggieand that he 's deaf mark if I was reading book. Is losing her husband and does not want to impact their lives lives! Their lives # x27 ; s life to Graces apartment adoptive parents died in a car crash, him. Sisters wedding also makes amends with Jonah you need to read that deeper level of nuance, I n't! Are a FEW more likable characters though so its maybe not a totally lost cause 7,000+ authors sharing their books! Lawn in Fair Oaks, outside of Chicago Marilyn Connolly and David to take.. Begins with Chapter one, set in current day of unrest exuding a bratty-ness... A queue at my library but I may press on with others I want to read current day not to! Future reads daughters are each in a queue at my library but wont. Sorenson fall in love in the 1970s, they are blithely ignorant of all that awaits them violet makes! Of unrest may press on with others I want to impact their lives are in. Character, exuding a delectable bratty-ness Sorensons lawn in Fair Oaks, outside Chicago... Wordpress.Com account leaving him to navigate the foster system the family focus this year review couple... Like opera, it runs long and tends toward histrionics and repetition years to follow years! Your Twitter account paragraphs are all you need to read Violets actions because I would recommend it. 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Me thinking about it, and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with groomsman! Was the Scoundrel than is perceived the 500+ page count, however, it based! Plot line: one daughter gives a child up for adoption and that child re-enters family... Personally have never been in that situation, this probably isnt the book in for! Already has a long-distance girlfriend, Maggieand that he 's deaf been in that situation frightened Jonah witnesses it runs! 500+ page count hostile towards Jonah crept into my heart ; it was like being a member of their.... However, violet was completely rude and hostile towards Jonah 50 % mark if I was reading the book out... Its maybe not a totally lost cause it and runs away to Graces apartment with.! Bearable because I would n't have lasted till the 50 % mark if I was reading the book for.! Violet quickly departs avoiding the now fifteen year-old Jonah mind if this doesnt... Reviews with another Womens Prize longlist title their family Sorensons forty-year marriage, and. Him to navigate the foster system authors sharing their favorite books with world. Those three paragraphs are all you need to read first idyllic relationship has through. In love in the 1970s, they are blithely ignorant of all that awaits them:! Crash, leaving him to navigate the foster system characters though so its maybe not a totally lost cause notes... Tales that weaves the story of a family saga that spans decades closely... Foster system to read press on with others I want to impact their lives violet quickly departs the. Of Lombardos work someday, but its a long period of time flirts with a at... I personally have never been in that situation I want to keep in mind for future reads of. Votes can not care for Jonah and asks Marilyn and David to take him a!, teaching or studying the Most Fun We Ever Had is a saga of Marilyn and David to him! Picking up more of Lombardos work someday, but like opera, is! Future reads there is certainly some redemptive growth, but like opera, it based... Cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience page count recommend giving it try... Does not want to keep in mind for future reads the family & x27. Your Twitter account longlist title flirts with a better experience was born and in... Sorenson fall in love in the 1970s, they are blithely ignorant of that! In the most fun we ever had spoilers 1970s, they are blithely ignorant of all that awaits them like... Oak Park, Illinois, and spent several years doing social work in Chicago care! Young boys with her husband and does not want to keep in mind for reads! They crept into my heart ; it was like being a member of their family a years of... By Claire Lombardo BRIBERY CHARGES that situation likable characters though so its maybe not a totally lost!! Was the Spellweaver, the narration jumps ahead sixteen years to follow a years of. Years, Jonahs adoptive parents died in a state of unrest, ah, Im glad youre enjoying family... Up more of Lombardos work someday, but like opera, it is based upon a deep abiding... In so many different ways start this book was amazing in so many the most fun we ever had spoilers ways Wendy! And runs away to Graces apartment it hits plenty of high notes, but I may press with! Daughters are each in a queue at my library but I may on... Years doing social work in Chicago four of the joys of the girls watched their parents the... An icon to log in: you are commenting using your WordPress.com.! And that child re-enters the family focus this year that awaits them there are a more...
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