I loved We Are the Brennans. The writing showed so much talent that I was surprised and disappointed to find out it is a debut since I was hoping to read more of Tracey Lange's writing immediately!
The Brennan family is suffering from a serious case of shame silence. 29 year old Sunday abruptly left her family and fiance in New York five years ago, and is returning from LA to heal up after a DUI and bad car accident. Her older brother Denny has dug himself a financial hole and would rather keep digging than admit his mistakes to his family or business partner. That business partner is Sunday's former fiance, now married with a child. While it should be frustrating to have so much drama that could have been prevented with a good conversation, the writing is so natural and the characters sympathetic enough that it worked. Besides, characters who make sound, emotionally healthy choices wouldn't have much of a story to tell, at least not one worth reading.
It's worth noting that each chapter switches perspective (3rd person limited) and begins with a spoken line from the end of the previous chapter. Not quite the last sentence, that would be clunky. It works absolutely beautifully, like a baton pass in a relay race, that moves the story along without any confusion that can happen with perspective shifts.
In summary, great book, wonderful writing, and I will be recommending it to everyone!
The Brennan family is suffering from a serious case of shame silence. 29 year old Sunday abruptly left her family and fiance in New York five years ago, and is returning from LA to heal up after a DUI and bad car accident. Her older brother Denny has dug himself a financial hole and would rather keep digging than admit his mistakes to his family or business partner. That business partner is Sunday's former fiance, now married with a child. While it should be frustrating to have so much drama that could have been prevented with a good conversation, the writing is so natural and the characters sympathetic enough that it worked. Besides, characters who make sound, emotionally healthy choices wouldn't have much of a story to tell, at least not one worth reading.
It's worth noting that each chapter switches perspective (3rd person limited) and begins with a spoken line from the end of the previous chapter. Not quite the last sentence, that would be clunky. It works absolutely beautifully, like a baton pass in a relay race, that moves the story along without any confusion that can happen with perspective shifts.
In summary, great book, wonderful writing, and I will be recommending it to everyone!