Every Last One by Anna Quindlen
Summary:
n this breathtaking and beautiful novel, the #1 New York Times bestselling author Anna Quindlen creates an unforgettable portrait of a mother, a father, a family, and the explosive, violent consequences of what seem like inconsequential actions
My Review:
My first introduction to Anna Quindlen was four years ago when RISE AND SHINE was released. I have vague memories of the book (I wasn’t writing my reviews down at the time) and, although those memories didn’t put me off of reading more Quindlen, they didn’t inspire me to seek her out again.
Every Last One gives me somewhat of the same feeling – which is really odd because I got very emotionally wrapped up in this story. The thing I decided I didn’t like about the book was the thing that actually hooked me in, I realize that now as I look back on the experience.
The first half of Every Last One describes a mundane life, a life that we all are familiar with in some way or another. The happy marriage, the three children, each diverse and each carrying their own set of issues. Ruby, the 17 year old poet – sassy, independent but still.. just a child with fears of the unknown, of going away to college and of making the right choices. Alex, the sports jock and one of a set of fraternal twins. The kid that everyone knows will be okay, the one the parents have the most ease in relating to, and then there’s his twin, Max – the drummer, the quiet sort, the depressed. Max has no where to fit in, surrounded by his popular sister and sports brother.
Out of those three children a story begins to spin. About halfway through the book is the part that both hit me hard and the part that reminded me of why I never sought out Anna Quindlen again. I feel like I got punched in the chest. Everything I assumed about the story was shattered and it affected me deeply – so why the so-so review?
Because I am resentful. I feel as if the story turned and I was strung along merely for the “shock” of what happened. Anna Quindlen redeems herself by really working through the grief and horror of her characters but I can’t help but feel a little bit like the entire first half of the book was a set-up to lull me into complacency.
With that said, this was a good book. It had a powerful story and a powerful message to convey, just guard your heart or you may find yourself weeping for an hour like I did trying to get a grasp on what just happened. (This is what happens, also, when you do not read reviews or descriptions of the book before picking it up.)
