I decided to try something a little different from my "usual" and decided to give The Latecomer a try. It was definitely different for me and while I had mixed feelings, I did enjoy the story and would recommend it to those I feel would like it. This was my first book by Jean Hanff Korelitz.
The story begins by clearly pointing out that the triplets share no bond, no special "triplet" bond, they aren't even known as the Oppenheimer Triplets. Quite frankly, they don't like each other turning eighteen not only means heading off to college but finally beginning the separate lives they so desperately want.
Then begins the story with The Parents. We discover the parents' past, how they met, how they really met and not just the cute story the mom tells everyone. No, they met years before the "meeting" she tells everyone, during a tragic event that obviously changed the course of the lives. After all, had that event not occurred, they wouldn't have met then nor would their lives have led to their "meeting" years later. All it takes is a moment.
But anyways, the dysfunction clearly begins as far back as before the parents even got married. I did find myself skimming over pieces as it seems like a lot of details and lost my attention at times.
The story carries us through the years of the parents meeting, marrying, dealing with trying to have children, eventually having children and then the children leaving to start their own lives. This leaves the mom lonely and trying to fill that gap, which she does by having a child. An age gap like this often leads to siblings not having a close relationship... then again, the other three are triplets and have nothing even considered a relationship.
The young sister is who made the story more enjoyable for me, she attempts to help this family actually be a family.
Definitely interesting, sometimes a bit wordy and I couldn't entirely stay focused but I finished it and glad I did.
We were given a glimpse into the lives of this multi-layered, dysfunctional family, learned reasons behind their actions and characteristics and while the story seemed to drag just a little at times, it kept a decent flow that kept my attention.
The story begins by clearly pointing out that the triplets share no bond, no special "triplet" bond, they aren't even known as the Oppenheimer Triplets. Quite frankly, they don't like each other turning eighteen not only means heading off to college but finally beginning the separate lives they so desperately want.
Then begins the story with The Parents. We discover the parents' past, how they met, how they really met and not just the cute story the mom tells everyone. No, they met years before the "meeting" she tells everyone, during a tragic event that obviously changed the course of the lives. After all, had that event not occurred, they wouldn't have met then nor would their lives have led to their "meeting" years later. All it takes is a moment.
But anyways, the dysfunction clearly begins as far back as before the parents even got married. I did find myself skimming over pieces as it seems like a lot of details and lost my attention at times.
The story carries us through the years of the parents meeting, marrying, dealing with trying to have children, eventually having children and then the children leaving to start their own lives. This leaves the mom lonely and trying to fill that gap, which she does by having a child. An age gap like this often leads to siblings not having a close relationship... then again, the other three are triplets and have nothing even considered a relationship.
The young sister is who made the story more enjoyable for me, she attempts to help this family actually be a family.
Definitely interesting, sometimes a bit wordy and I couldn't entirely stay focused but I finished it and glad I did.
We were given a glimpse into the lives of this multi-layered, dysfunctional family, learned reasons behind their actions and characteristics and while the story seemed to drag just a little at times, it kept a decent flow that kept my attention.