The book uses different narrators to tell the story of the Mulvaneys, a prominent family in their rural community. By local standards, they are very privileged and both loved, and envied (for their endless happiness and good luck), by their neighbors.
At the crux of this book is the rape of the sister in the family. Her father's reaction to learning that his daughter was raped is understandable and forgivable. But his actions kick start a chain reaction that leads to the downfall of the family. Eventually, they are forced to sell the family farm and move to the suburbs. In the meantime, the children in the Mulvaney family grow and move on.
The book takes turns focusing on the four Mulvaney children: Marianne, Michael Jr., Patrick and Judd. I most strongly identified with Patrick, the uber-student, ultra driven perfectionist. He strives to excel throughout the entire book and thenÉdrops out. Depending on the day, I would love to do the same thing.
The book evoked powerful emotions in me. I hurt for the daughter who was the rape victim and I felt for the mother who tried to remain cheerful despite all that was going on around her and I cried at the end, for the father whose life was essentially over the day his daughter was raped.
Interestingly, while at the Ark (a local live music club, here in Ann Arbor) with a fellow book club member, we were talking about our book club and this book in particular. Another patron overheard us and came over to us during intermission. She mentioned that her book club had read this book, too. She pointed out some insights that she, a child who grew up with an alcoholic father, had seen that both I and my companion had missed. That is the magic of book clubs, reallyÉyou get many, varied perspectives. As someone who grew up with great parents, I instead latched onto Mr. and Mrs. Mulvaney's reactions over the rape. I never even gave a thought to the thread of alcoholism that runs through the book.
There is no way to describe this wonderful book in a short span of time. As I said before, it is truly an epic story. With apologies to the Matrix, I must misquote Morpheus by saying that no one can tell you what this book isÉit is something you have to see for yourself.