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A psychologist might say that all families are dysfunctional to some degree—some more so than others—simply because human nature is fallible. The narrator of this story, Benjamin Sean Quinn, has extracted himself from a family that is not only dysfunctional, but downright toxic. After many years, he has successfully built a life for himself in Long Island, with a loving partner, two daughters, and a home that "belongs in a Pottery Barn catalog." Yet, despite all outward appearances to the contrary, Quinn harbors a deep-seated, abiding hatred born of his unfortunate childhood in New York and his parents' experiences in Billings, Montana.
The author masterfully weaves his story through artfully placed backstory narratives and the protagonist's own flashbacks. As Quinn embarks on his fateful trip back to Montana, the reader learns of the abusive nature of his parents' relationship, which was doomed from the start. Carmella had fled Montana when she'd had enough of Sean's abuse, yet the pair reconciled later in New York, thanks to the machinations of Carmella's family. Sean's extramarital affairs did not cease, however, nor did his violent outbursts. As Quinn explores his tumultuous family history in Montana, he meets another family that Sean had left behind long ago—a family that desires closure just as much as Quinn.
From the start, the reader is inescapably drawn into the stories of characters who seem so real they might be one's neighbors. The author does an exceptional job of bringing each character to life and exploring the intricate dynamics of their relationships. Whaley has mastered the technique of stream of consciousness writing, which unabashedly exposes the raw personality of the protagonist and the forces that shaped him.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review