Title: Every Last One
Author: Anna Quindlen
Publisher: Random House Trade Paperbacks
Publication Date: March 22, 2011
Paperback: 352 pages
ISBN: 978-0812976885
Genre: Fiction
Mary Beth Latham has built her life around her family, around caring for her three teenage children and preserving the rituals of their daily life. When one of her sons becomes depressed, Mary Beth focuses on him, only to be blindsided by a shocking act of violence. What happens afterward is a testament to the power of a woman’s love and determination, and to the invisible lines of hope and healing that connect one human being to another. Ultimately, as rendered in Anna Quindlen’s mesmerizing prose, Every Last One is a novel about facing every last one of the things we fear the most, about finding ways to navigate a road we never intended to travel.
My Review:
In what could only be described as a shockingly written story of family happiness, love, contentment and how truly unexpectedly tragedy may strike, Anna Quindlen hits a veritable grand slam in her novel Every Last One. In the story, we are introduced to the Latham family, Mary Beth and Glen, parents to twins Max and Alex along with daughter Ruby. Readers are taken through this quintessential happy family’s life including some of the usual problems that even the “perfect” family may realistically encounter including sibling issues, eating dysfunction or disorders, teenage relationships and break-ups. The storyline through about the first half of the book creates a sense of normalcy, calm, expectedly uneventful life challenges experienced in one form or another by most people. When readers are faced with the tragic event, so suddenly released as to shock most people with normal to even dulled sensitivities, Quindlen proves she can take readers into whatever dream world she wishes without a single hint of where she is headed. I will not tell any hints of what happens at this point and I must warn that the synopsis above gives enough away that readers will have some preparedness for the author’s unleashed plot transformation. I believe that it was Quindlen’s intent to have readers dive into this one completely unaware, but one word of caution is that the book can be rather shocking for some readers. I personally believe this to be the strength of the book, but it may upset some readers. With that mentioned, I highly recommend Every Last One to all adult readers and think it would make for an extremely interesting book discussion pick.
Anna Quindlen is the author of five previous bestselling novels (Rise and Shine, Blessings, Object Lessons, One True Thing, Black and Blue), and seven nonfiction books (A Short Guide to a Happy Life, Good Dog. Stay., Being Perfect, Loud & Clear, Living Out Loud, Thinking Out Loud, and How Reading Changed My Life). Her New York Times column “Public and Private” won the Pulitzer Prize in 1992. From 2000-2009, She wrote the “Last Word” column for Newsweek.
For more information about the author or her books please visit her website and her Facebook page.
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I received a hardcover copy of Every Last One by Anna Quindlen from TLC Book Tours to be a part of this tour and offer my honest review of the book. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned book.
I haven’t read this one, but usually like Anna Quindlen’s books. Thank you for the review
I adored this book, there is a bit of a shock, but I think that is what makes the story that much more.
I was really touched by this book. I read it earlier this year and still think about it. Really poignant.
It is one that will stay with me for quite a long time. I know some who did not like the direction the book took, I think it made the book.
I haven’t read any of her books or Anita Shreve–they seem to be centered around troubled relationships.
Yes, this one definitely is.
I haven’t heard of this book or this author. Thanks for the introduction.
I have not read one of her books I have not enjoyed immensely.
I’m really looking forward to reading this. Loved your review!
I truly found the book to be absolutely brilliant.
Shocking is a great way to describe this book. I was numb while reading the second half.
Yes, while I really enjoyed it and felt it made the book, others may not. I was moved on many levels.
This is another one I really want to read.
Ah yes, another one to not pass up. I had an excellent line-up.