'The Most Fun We Ever Had' is an intense, edgy family drama brimming with sibling rivalry, marital distress, and soul-binding love that will leave you with an onslaught of emotions. Jonah lives with Wendy and then moves to his grandparents house, but never lives with Violet and her family. I hope youll have a good time with it if/when you pick it up! It is such a shockingly tender and uncannily knowing novel about the reality of long term love and affection, and the sweetness and claustrophobia of relationships between sisters. The characters were flawed sure but also horrible. Thats even more interesting! That book, which. And I have to agree on sister relationships seeming very different than brother-sister ones; I dont have the strongest of sibling bonds, but even in childhood when my brothers and I got along better it was NOTHING like sisterhood is generally portrayed. Claire Lombardo's The Most Fun We Ever Had probably won't be the most fun you'll ever have (I hope not, for your sake), but it's a wonderfully immersive read that packs more heart and heft than most first novels. Violet feels as though she is losing her husband Matt, and struggles to accept Jonah into their lives. Beneath it all, the daughters share the lingering fear that they will never find a love quite like their parents. Thanks! Into this family arrives Jonah, the son Violet had given birth to and then had adopted, whose presence is much needed by the family as can be seen in the impact he has. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated. But its the uptight second child, Violet, who is the source of the big family scandal: Her son, born without her parents knowledge, was given up for adoption and rediscovered 15 years later thanks to the pointed meddling of the eldest sister, Wendy, a dissolute young widow who resents Violets inability to appreciate her own luck. Make harvest craft easy to trade. Get The Most Fun We Ever Had from Amazon.com. I really enjoy books with different perspectives and this one definitely satisfied all of my perspective needs. There are much better family sagas out there with better stories and fewer pages. At its core, The Most Fun We Ever Had isnt much more than an entertaining drama about four sisters and their futile competition to prove themselves most worthy of their picture-perfect parents- and each other. ), with a link to a digital soundtrack by American Idol contestant Griffin Peterson. Their social lives and societal awareness are essentially nonexistent; even the characters jobs exist only as places where they might meet a potential marital interloper. Lombardo deeply understands marriage, sisterhood and plain old ordinary family dysfunction which is present on every character driven page. Sixteen years earlier. The blind character choice is great. I was frustrated that Violet acted like a complete child throughout the whole book and that the 16 year old kid was acting like more of an adult than her. I always find those relationships so interesting to read about, which was definitely the highlight of this book for me. ", Lombardo's sweeping family drama, fueled by power plays between spouses and between sisters, is operatic in both good ways and bad. Change). Set in the Chicago suburbs, Lombardo's book has been compared to The Corrections, Jonathan Franzen's seminal ode to a dysfunctional Midwestern family. This Study Guide consists of approximately 52pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - Claire Lombardo's dazzling debut, The Most Fun We Ever Had, is a rich, multigenerational novel that tells the story of four adult daughters of a Chicago couplestill madly in love after forty yearswho recklessly ignite old rivalries until a long-buried secret threatens to shatter the lives they've built. Wendy, widowed young, soothes herself with booze and younger men; Violet, a litigator turned stay-at-home mom, battles anxiety and self-doubt when the darkest part of her past resurfaces; Liza, a neurotic and newly tenured professor, finds herself pregnant with a baby shes not sure she wants by a man shes not sure she loves; and Grace, the dawdling youngest daughter, begins living a lie that no one in her family even suspects. We all desperately want your life and we all know well never have it, the third-oldest, Liza, confesses in a moment of truth. Flashbacks interspersed with the present-day chapters scroll all the way back to 1975, which in Lombardo's telling feels more like the 1950s. In Claire Lombardo's debut novel, The Most Fun We Ever Had, she isn't afraid to tackle the biggest of topics, specifically for womensisterhood, fear, general annoyance and birth or the absence of it.The reader gets an intimate look at the conception of the Sorenson family (literally, considering Lombardo's plethora of sex scenes), giving narrative control to each member: Marilyn and . Still, it was indeed very readable! help you understand the book. All Rights Reserved. Lombardo describes falling for someone as feeling accompanied in a way she had never before, by a person who was choosing to feel beholden to her instead of simply scooting up the rope of familial obligation. The novel shines brightest in the moments in which Lombardo is able to probe into the psyche of her female characters to express something that feels universal, yet somehow fresh. I couldn't relate, emphasize, nor care about them. I appreciated your probing more into the themes of the novel and how they didnt seem to illuminate anything beyond the specific situation of this family. Too long for the lack of plot and underwhelming and boring characters. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast . Violet also has a big secret that no one supposedly knows about. I do think Lombardos a good writer- I loved seeing how well she fleshed out all of these characters, how the four very different sisters personalities tracked across decades of their lives and how they all interacted with each other. Jonahs not much younger than Grace, the baby of the family, who is hiding out in Portland, living a lie about her law-school status and worried that she is a giant disappointment to the parents she reveres. Some of them bothered me as well, but a lot of the problematic things the characters say and do I took as criticisms of them; I dont think the author was using horrendous digs at less fortunate people out of a place of ignorance, but as a way of showing how privileged and ignorant her characters are. J. October 15, 2019 11:00am. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. 2. What I love about this story is the way it is told, the back and forth of the years, the alternating chapters from the perspective of different family members, and the creativity in the layout of the unfolding story itself. The adopted boy has, by a bad stroke of luck, spent most of his life in the foster care system, and his sudden need for care provides a rude awakening for the sisters whove grown up with two loving parents in a big house with adequate income. Im excited to see everyones wrap-ups and predictions this year. influencers in the know since 1933. The Most Fun We Ever Had is a novel about a family and follows in the footsteps of other reknown novels the chronicle the intricate complexities of close relationships. FAMILY LIFE & FRIENDSHIP, by His foster parents are moving abroad so Wendy is hoping Violet might take him in. In truth, I dont think theres anything at all to learn here. . There was nothing redeemable about them. I had this in a queue at my library but I may press on with others I want to read first! Oh, jeez. The emotions run high, the conversations run deep, and the relationships ebb and flow with grace. The book opens on one of the daughters weddings, from their mothers perspective. Marilyn Connelly and David Sorenson's love for each other has more than survived the decades, they have 4 now adult daughters, Wendy, Violet, Liza and Grace who have felt pressured to emulate the loving example of their parents. At one point Wendy wonders whether all Asians are prim and conservatively dressed a confusing question to ask when she must encounter Asians every day right outside her luxury apartment, on the streets of the third largest city in America. There was a lot of repetition and I honestly wanted to skip some pages when the characters really got on my nerves. My Lord, did I love this novel. [ Claire Lombardo describes how she arrived at the Iowa Writers Workshop with a very messy, 813-page draft. ]. Grace continues to evade her family and meets her crush, Ben Barnes. In addition to more likable characters this could have used a good edit. Trouble signing in? But this book? By 2016, their four radically different daughters are in a state of unrest. When Marilyn Connolly and David Sorenson fall in love in the 1970s, they are blithely ignorant of all that awaits them. Completing the quartet is the recently tenured professor Liza, whose own crumbling relationship is constantly falling short of David and Marilyns union. On the heels of Wendys birth, Marilyn becomes pregnant with Violet and the tumultuous child-rearing years begin. The really tragic thing about this spoiler is that whoever has created it probably thinks that they have been really creative and innovative, whereas, in reality, they have just made their slightly shabby sports car look even trashier. Very exciting!! Violet, however, has two young boys with her husband and does not want to impact their lives. Whats that like? Her retort: Its a vast hormonal hellscape. Every chapter contains a piece of the pie that you must consume. But despite the thorough setup, the books commentary barely dips below the surface of the expected. IMDb is the world's most popular and authoritative source for movie, TV and celebrity content. One of the most fun" Hoover is a master at writing scenes from dual perspectives. Press J to jump to the feed. Random Grandson, at your service! And, of course, the two who started it all have their own issues to deal with: getting older, watching their daughters change, and taking in a grandson to raise after they thought their childrearing days were done. But while I thought a lot of those details were just characterization tactics and a critique of wealthy white suburbia, it is definitely understandable that they would be unpleasant to read anyway. Many ways. Jonah acclimates to living with David and Marilyn, but he witnesses Liza kissing another man and inadvertently discloses this information to Ryan. Clara dreams of being an actress and has a crush on Miller, who plans to go to film school, but her father doesn't approve. The usage of the word "retard" was questionable and I don't know how it was made through the rounds of editing. Why do we have someone watching a couple have sex/make out so often? When Marilyn Connolly and David Sorenson fall in love in the 1970s, they are blithely ignorant of all that's to come. The Most Fun We Ever Had. All of her complaints are definitely in the book. FAMILY LIFE & FRIENDSHIP. But you don't mind, because the Chicago-based clan of THE MOST FUN WE EVER HAD is definitely worth getting to know. Its definitely an interesting story, but not a perfect one. THE MOST FUN WE EVER HADBy Claire Lombardo. I feel like even though the book claims each sister is in a state of unrest, Graces struggle is somehow not quite as severe as the others. Don't Threaten. Additionally, Lombardo breaks the work into four parts, named after the seasons, beginning with spring. The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Lombardo, Claire. It will make you feel sad for some characters, be rooting for others and want to reach through the book and slap another. (The year 1996, an annus horribilis in the Sorensons' marriage following an office flirtation, seems particularly endless, as David notes.). When we picked Press J to jump to the feed. Thats where I thought Lombardos writing shone in this book- the characters arent always sympathetic but they do feel like complex, well-thought-out people and it was so interesting to see how their lives and decisions would intersect. The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo review - family friction A restless mother and meddling sister trigger family reprisals in this nuanced, polished debut Claire Lombardo: 'a keen. Claire Lombardo, 2019. But she secretly got along much better with Chris thoughtful best friend, Jonah, who was dating her sister, Jenny. He is a good kid with good morals that makes you laugh. Where to start this book was amazing in so many different ways. . Yes, Violet was not my favorite character, but I appreciated how Lombardo portrayed her because it made me feel. Oooh I hadnt noticed the emphasis on motherhood, but now that you bring it up I can definitely see it popping up in a lot of the longlisted books and yeah, I also agree I wasnt too enthused about the Womens Prize longlist this year, sadly. But Clara and Morgans home life changes radically when Chris and Jenny are killed in an accident, revealing long-buried secrets and forcing Morgan to reevaluate the life she chose when early motherhood forced her hand. After a while, you feel that you've always lived with the Sorenson family, and always will. Newcomer Lombardo brews all seven deadly sins into a fun and brimming tale of an unapologetically bougie couple and their unruly daughters. Weddings and deaths, pregnancies and illnesses, ways for the sisters to measure themselves against one another as they continue to excavate the contours of their parents love and hold it up to their own. Its a love story, its a coming of age story, its a generational story, and yet despite everything the book encompasses, its primary purpose seems to be entertainment. Of course its not the responsibility of every novel to wrestle with cultural shifts, with politics and war, but the near total absence of even a whiff of non-Sorenson-related events over 40 years and 500-plus pages must be a conscious choice. Ah, sorry you didnt enjoy this one! It looks like the judges were just very interested in books about parenthood this year for some reason! Knopf Doubleday. Were glad you found a book that interests you! The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo The length is a stopper: 532 pages. A frightened Jonah witnesses it and runs away to Graces apartment. The Most Fun We Ever Had is a gorgeous and profound debut." -- Margot Livesey , author of Mercury "Remarkably alive and wise, Claire Lombardo's story of the Sorensons is a stunning vision--not just of family or love, but the funny, tender mystery of human connection itself, with all its intensity, charm, and wonder." This surprise, about which I'll only say that it introduces another convincingly complex character, brings out the best and worst in various family members and leads to the most moving scenes. We had lots of flashbacks and secrets that didn't get revealed till later on in the plot but the flashbacks were just too many to my liking. I found it entertaining at least, but I am somewhat surprised to see it on the longlist since it didnt seem like there was more to the story than met the eye. They are a healthy, but imperfect family of four daughters, who are all jockeying for their place in the world. (LogOut/ Things seem to snowball out of control, and perhaps for a reader it seems like a bit much, but Lombardos inclusion of all the minutiae are also true to life: This is how life actually is. Into this churn, Lombardo adds cancer, infidelity, a heart attack, another unplanned pregnancy, a stillbirth, and an office crush for David. All pages and the cover are intact, but the dust cover may be missing. Thank you! This woman plays such scant role in the plot that she seems present primarily to balance the scales of the familys wealth. The item is very worn but continues to work perfectly. His return years later is what wakes everyone up to the enormity of what the four daughters have been hiding. In this "rich, complex family saga" ( USA Today) full of long-buried family secrets, Marilyn Connolly and David Sorenson fall in love in the 1970s, blithely ignorant of all that awaits them. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Only a few pages into the novel, and the reader already knows about Wendys vulnerability, characterized as vestiges of her teenage habits appeared only fleetingly for her now she still, on occasion, flirted with the idea of purging, and once in a while shed try a diet that she read about in US Weekly. Get personalized recommendations, and learn where to watch across hundreds of streaming providers. THE MOST FUN WE EVER HAD By Claire Lombardo The big family secret is revealed almost immediately in Claire Lombardo's engrossing debut novel, "The Most Fun We Ever Had," which. And honestly, even though I think the author went about those non P.C. I did like the relationships between the characters and seeing how their choices panned out, effecting the whole family in the end. There is certainly some redemptive growth, but its a long journey getting there. At the age of 20, Wendy marries Miles, a man 15 years her senior who comes from old money, to escape her family and her eating disorder. share. This is how Lombardo pulls at your heart strings. Characters flip between bottomless self-regard and pitiless self-loathing while, as late as the second-to-last chapter, yet by RELEASE DATE: June 25, 2019. I was aware that An American Marriage won last year, but I didnt know it was up against a lot of pretty strong works. Here are 10 books that authors have personally recommended if you like The Most Fun We Ever Had. Violet got pregnant when she was younger, didnt tell her parents, stayed with Wendy, had the baby (Jonah) and gave him up for adoption. 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