I have never known a book with such a disappointing first half and such a marvelous second. I guess the author wanted to introduce Rosaleen's children in early separate chapters but they were all so boring. It is not until Part 2 when the family gathers unexpectedly all together at home for Christmas that the story takes off. Even how they arrive is terrific.
Rosaleen is some mother! How the children, now 25 years later, turned out OK (well maybe apart from one) we will never know. Is it the "forgetfulness and fury" in herself that drives her to despair about them? Can't she see that the fact they come home for Christmas is something to be relished? It's as if Rosaleen actually hijacks the book when it is really about her children: Dan, Constance, Emmett and Hanna.
But, like others at book club, I found certain difficulties with the storytelling. Hanna, for example, has the first chapter. But she is a child and we only catch up with her 25 years later. I wanted so much to learn about her life in between. Maybe that's for another book?
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