We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves
BUY THE BOOK
Community Reviews
This is a truly amazing story, well crafted and exhaustively researched. I don't remember why I bought this book to begin with, but I'm glad I knew nothing about it when I started reading because I didn't see it coming...
That said, there are so many sad, horrific scenes in this book that were just way too upsetting for me. As an animal lover, I can't bear to read some of the terrible things that humans do to animals.
Rosemary Cooke grew up in a dysfunctional family, but not your normal dysfunctional family. Her father was a smart, gifted scientist, which of course created all kinds of psychological issues for Rosemary, and her siblings. We come in in the middle of the story. (When Rosemary was young, she talked too much so her parents would always tell her to start in the middle.) Rosemary is in college, and is reflecting on her past, and the fates of her estranged brother and sister -- feelings she's repressed for years. We slowly come to learn what happened long ago, through reawakened memories, her mother's journal entries, and more, that made their seemingly happy home come crashing down and causing tragic circumstances for one and sparking the disappearance of another.
That said, there are so many sad, horrific scenes in this book that were just way too upsetting for me. As an animal lover, I can't bear to read some of the terrible things that humans do to animals.
Rosemary Cooke grew up in a dysfunctional family, but not your normal dysfunctional family. Her father was a smart, gifted scientist, which of course created all kinds of psychological issues for Rosemary, and her siblings. We come in in the middle of the story. (When Rosemary was young, she talked too much so her parents would always tell her to start in the middle.) Rosemary is in college, and is reflecting on her past, and the fates of her estranged brother and sister -- feelings she's repressed for years. We slowly come to learn what happened long ago, through reawakened memories, her mother's journal entries, and more, that made their seemingly happy home come crashing down and causing tragic circumstances for one and sparking the disappearance of another.
I’d read enough reviews of this book to know the basic plot line. Honestly, there is no easy, “spoiler free” way to discuss it! The story was engaging and Rose, Fern & Harlow were beautifully developed characters. At its heart, this book is about the fragility and selectiveness of memory. The same events filtered through the lens of different characters adds a richness to the story.
At times, the narrative was a bit “lectury”, as if the author didn’t have confidence in the conclusions readers might draw on there own about the novel’s more political plot line. It was a little to on-the-nose, “this is what you need to believe” for me and it felt unnecessary.
The end left me thinking and vested in the future of the main characters. All in, a very enjoyable read.
At times, the narrative was a bit “lectury”, as if the author didn’t have confidence in the conclusions readers might draw on there own about the novel’s more political plot line. It was a little to on-the-nose, “this is what you need to believe” for me and it felt unnecessary.
The end left me thinking and vested in the future of the main characters. All in, a very enjoyable read.
See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.