Mary Beth Latham really has it all. A loving and devoted husband, three teenage children – the twin boys Alex and Max, and her sweet outgoing daughter Ruby. Their home is filled with the joys of family and Mary Beth wouldn’t want it any other way.
When Ruby one day announces that she is breaking up with her long time friend and boyfriend Kirenen, Mary Beth feels sad for both her daughter and Kirenan who has really become like one of the family. Yet, at the same time her son Max is sinking into a depression over his much more athletic and popular brother Alex. A popular daughter, a depressed son and an over-confident son. In a way, this is what life with teens can be like…
And then one night after a New Years Eve party everything changes. An incredible act of violence throws Mary Beth’s life into the blender and when she comes out the other side, she is nowhere near the same… nothing is… NOTHING is.
Left with almost nothing, Mary Beth struggles to make a life again for herself, grasping at anything that can be considered “normal” and wondering when the floor will drop out from under her again.
Powerful read. I actually have to take pause as I write that. Having just finished this book I am now of an author who has astounded me with this well written novel, and her profound knowledge of grief. As I listened to this on audio, I had to nod my head as the level of despair is so correctly described that I have to believe if Anna Quindlin has not experienced this level of grief herself, then she did a lot of research to understand it well. Just listening to it made my heart beat faster in a sense of my own grief of what I was hearing.
The “happening: in this book is blind siding… when it hits it hits hard and only an experienced author could pull off such a plot and be able to maintain the story beyond that.
The narration itself reminded me a bit of Elizabeth Berg novels, the narrator, Hope Davis is almost monotone, but in this case, as the story is told from Mary Beth’s perspective – it should be, as grief takes you to a level of going through the motions of life… one foot in front of the other, and no emotion is really safer.
Intriguing, passionate, thought provoking…I am left feeling a sense of loss now that the book is over. I will be visiting author Anna Quindlin again.
Amazon Rating
Good Reads
I updated the 2011 WHERE Are You Reading map to include Every Last One
I borrowed this audio from my local library
which I ♥
Book Journey 
Anna Quindlen is one of my favorite authors (along with Berg). If this one is your first by Quindlen, you are in for a treat of a great selection of wonderful books. One True Thing was fabulous and was made into a movie with Meryl Streep & Renee Zellwegger.
Thanks Laurel this is good advice! 😀
When I read this, I couldn’t even believe what I was reading. Took my breath away.
Right! I was totally amazed!
Yes, I absolutely loved this book – if that word can be used here. I, too, was blindsided by the violence. This book is probably my favorite ever so far. I think you’re right about her portrayal of grief. Either she’s been there, she was close to someone else who had been there, or she is a very, very good researcher!
Its hard to hit on an emotion so well Heather, I was thoroughly impressed.
What a great review … I think that Quindlen is a truly gifted writer, and having gone through a sudden and violent personal loss myself, I know that type of “numb and disbelieving” grief all too well.
Right Julie – and you know it when you see it (or hear it) in someone else.
Sorry for your recent loss.
Oh Sheila, you caught my attention. This sounds like a beautiful read. I am definitely adding it to my TBR list!
Oh good Bonnie, it really was a great read!
Grief is incredibly difficult to write and can be incredibly difficult to read. It sound like Quindlin does a really great job depicting grief. I’m definitely intrigued by your review and will probably be picking this book up in the future.
Thanks Jennifer, I dont know if I have ever read grief like that before where I felt it… really felt it.
I recently read this myself after seeing it reviewed on another book blog. From the description I had an inkling what was coming. Really good book and realistic in the emotions portrayed too. It was also my first time reading Anna Quindlen.
I think it was the audio that took me so fully into the emotion Debi, I gave much credit to the author for this grief portrayal but I also should say the narrator had it in her voice well too.
I used to really look forward to Quindlen’s novels but then I thought she really messed up with a few (Rise & Shine) and I was considering dropping her but everyone says this particular book is quite good. I’ll have to check it out.
I thought this one was pretty good. I havent read Rise and Shine.