DID YOU EVER HAVE A FAMILY, A Novel

by Bill Clegg
 
I picked this novel up because it was a National Book Award finalist and was on a list of best books to read. From the opening scene, I was hooked and really couldn’t stop reading until I finished it.  I keep recommending it to anyone who likes reading fiction.
 
The story is about a mother, June Reid, who experiences an unimaginable tragedy the night before her daughter’s wedding.  In her grief, June leaves her small Connecticut town and drives across the country, seeking solace and a way to go on.  We learn the details of her family’s story not only from June but from those she leaves behind.  Clegg expertly advances the story using people in the town, all of whom had connections to June and her family.  We hear about the night of the tragedy from the teenaged boy who lived next door to June.  Details about the wedding plans and the day of the wedding come from the florist.  And several other compelling figures add to our understanding of exactly what happened.
 
As the story unfolds, we come to realize that everyone we hear from in this small town has ties to everyone else.  We learn of ongoing feuds and resentments, including those between the “townies” and the rich out-of-staters who come on the weekends to spend time in their million-dollar mansions.  But ultimately, we see how connected these people are in their grief over the horrifying tragedy. 
 
This is a heartbreaking story about loss, as well as healing, forgiveness and hope.(Liz)

A SECOND HELPING

The foundation of this book is trauma and tragedy, loss of family and of self.  And these losses are so stunning and unimaginable that I could barely allow myself to relate to them. But what makes this book so unique and pleasurable to read is that Clegg writes each chapter from a different point of view. Clegg will keep you turning pages with his fascinating, panoramic view of the ripples one action or event can have in the world. (Lily)