THE ARRIVALS: A NOVEL
What I did like about the book was the issues it touched upon and did not shy away from: In particular, it really highlighted the extraordinary work and sacrifices stay-at-home moms make in raising their children.
A quick beach read, but you're not missing much if you pass on this. May 11, Angela Holtz rated it it was amazing. I think this would be classified as "chick lit" but I would call it "just a story" which is my favorite kind of story. Ginny and William have settled into their retired life together when their adult children return home with their children, pregnant spouses or just alone.
The house is filled to busting and William and Ginny take turns being annoyed by it. I loved this, because that's how it usually goes in a relationship. It's a good way to support ea from Lilac Wolf and Stuff I'm going to gush. It's a good way to support each other. Which leads to the other reason I adored this story. Each character is human, realistic. No one is all good or all bad, you WILL get annoyed with every character in this book.
I find that more engaging than characters that are sweeter than a cupcake. And there were numerous plot points, or story lines. Some I sort of knew where they were going to end, but even then it was a fun ride with nothing truly known for sure until it ended. There is lots of sadness, anger and tons of hope. It also clearly paints a picture of what it's like when you want to be a parent, when you are waiting to become one, when you are one and when your kids are all grown.
Sep 17, Emily rated it it was ok. I picked this book up mainly because of the setting Vermont, specifically the Burlington area and the premise a retired couple suddenly find themselves hosting all 3 of their grown kids at home for a summer , which is eerily similar to my summer spent home in Vermont.
The plot was nonexistent until the end, and most of the pages were filled up with pointless dial I picked this book up mainly because of the setting Vermont, specifically the Burlington area and the premise a retired couple suddenly find themselves hosting all 3 of their grown kids at home for a summer , which is eerily similar to my summer spent home in Vermont. The plot was nonexistent until the end, and most of the pages were filled up with pointless dialogue, especially annoying bits of three-year-old speak from the toddler character.
I didn't identify with or even like any of the characters. Also, I find it weird that the author makes SO many references and name-drops to local businesses and landmarks, but she doesn't ever say if she lived in Vermont, or went to college here-- it's strange it wasn't included in the author bio or the acknowledgements section like, 'thank you to the state of Vermont for all the proper nouns and place names'. Mar 31, Alissa rated it did not like it Shelves: I started this book, found it somewhat interesting, but didn't get very far into it when a new Maisie Dobbs came in, so I set it aside, then I picked it up again, for a day until another new book I wanted was in.
Then I realized I really didn't care about the characters. I found the plot to jumbled, didn't like the multiple perspectives and it's not enough to hold my interest.
Quick Facts:
What to do when the adult children move back home and bring their problems with them? Realize that although they are still your children, you can't fix their problems as if they were still your young children. Love them, remind them they are adults, and pray!!!!!! Apr 13, Pat rated it liked it. This story revolves around the return home of three adult children at the same time - one with children in tow and marital problems, one with a pregnant wife needing bed rest, and one with a badly broken heart and spirit.
Their parents, William and Ginny, strive to accommodate the physical and emotional needs of all three as their once-peaceful home is stretched to the limit.
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Their interactions are realistic given the inevitable generational differences that we all experience as children and as This story revolves around the return home of three adult children at the same time - one with children in tow and marital problems, one with a pregnant wife needing bed rest, and one with a badly broken heart and spirit.
Their interactions are realistic given the inevitable generational differences that we all experience as children and as parents; however, it has a predictable outcome and no memorable characters. Apr 06, Erin rated it really liked it Shelves: This was such a lovely, heartfelt book.
Meg Mitchell Moore really nails the tragedy of being a parent and the cycle of feeling imposed upon and then abandoned and then needed again. As a new-ish mom, I found this book especially affecting, but anyone who enjoys a good old fashioned dysfunctional family drama will enjoy this novel.
Prima lettura del per niente eccezionale, ma avevo bisogno di una lettura leggera. May 23, Cheryl rated it liked it Shelves: My Thoughts and Opinion: Having recently started my own chapter of being an empty nester, I was quite interested in the premise of this book. And along that line, I definitely could relate to the parental characters in the novel. It was very easy for me to, what I call being "transported", into the story line and become part of this family.
Which was quite surprising due to the fact that this was the debut novel by this author. There was a situation, where the patriarch character became so frustrated that he finally lost his patience, because his house had been so transformed into a mess. Another plight I could relate to.
And how the parents attempted to treat their children as the adults that they were. Except these adult children, never took into consideration that they were giving their parents their responsibilities and problems instead of dealing with them as the adults they were.
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I felt that there were some family dynamics, and this is only my opinion, that did not resemble real life. The timeframe occurred over a few months, and during that time, it was never stated to the parents why their children appeared "back home". I enjoyed this book due to the story line of the novel, but also felt that it was predictable.
No matter what the rating this book gets, like the synopsis states, "once a parent, always a parent". Apr 11, Tatiana rated it liked it Shelves: Ever wonder what would happen if an empty nest suddenly filled up again for a summer? In the beginning, it was difficult to really like anyone.
They were all so needy and petty and whiny, like children, which was the idea, of course. Once a parent, always a parent, and the same goes for kids, particu Ever wonder what would happen if an empty nest suddenly filled up again for a summer? Once a parent, always a parent, and the same goes for kids, particularly when living in your childhood home.
Their opinions differed, but any one of them could have made the statements. I was especially disappointed in Father Colin, a Southie only in description, not voice; Patrick Kenzie he was not. Moore had a knack for capturing New England small town atmosphere, as if trapping it in a Bell jar, preserving it for deeper examination at leisure. While the unanswerable argument of working mom vs. Moore also leaned on the same paragraph configuration three or four clauses before the point too often. Stephen was perhaps my favorite character. I waited, fruitlessly, for him, even in his gentle way, to lose it with workaholic Jane.
Everyone scoffed at the prospect of him being a stay-at-home dad, but the way he took care of his pregnant wife, from scouring the internet for tips on accommodating bed rest to his unending, cheery patience, proved him well-equipped for fatherhood.
In all, I came around and did enjoy this novel, the nebulous happy endings for each family member notwithstanding. View all 3 comments. May 23, Patty rated it it was amazing. This book was in one of my favorite places…Vermont…and had families as its main theme. Adult children came home to their parents and the house they grew up in one at a time over the summer. They brought baggage that included children, husbands, pregnancies, career issues and infidelities. They all came home to their old rooms and old haunts and old friends. They all knew more than their parents did and yet the parents in this story…Ginny and William…were the ones who provided a respite and care and food and support.
Ginny and William love having their children home and just want them to be happy. The old fashioned sort of mom who did laundry and cooked and almost never complained and just wanted to help fix everything. It was a wonderful wonderful book. Jul 21, ILoveBooks rated it liked it. Three adult children converge on their parents in June and stay for the summer. Their baggage includes a crumbling marriage, a newborn, an adorable three-year-old, an endangered seven-month pregnancy, and a heart-broken, financially-strapped daughter.
The storm of problems in one summer is unlikely, but the author draws the reader into the lives of the characters and makes it believable. Both Ginny and William Owen lovingly welcome them. When everyone is sleeping, Ginny stands contentedly, remem Three adult children converge on their parents in June and stay for the summer. When everyone is sleeping, Ginny stands contentedly, remembering the past safe cocoon of their home. Happily, the summer successfully closes with newfound hope because of the support of their parents, siblings, and friends.
Adult readers will relish the poignancy of constant love for their children - no matter their ages. Oct 10, Michael rated it liked it Shelves: I don't believe this version, God is not that cruel. Jun 06, James Giddings rated it really liked it Shelves: This is the second Swedenborgian novel I have read, and Naomi Gladish Smith's novel paints a remarkable portrait of the afterlife in which innumerable heavens and hells exist eternally.
I reviewed it at http: Hannah rated it liked it Oct 08, Mike Lemke rated it it was amazing Jul 18, Jennifer D Buccheri rated it it was amazing Sep 28, Swedenborg Foundation rated it it was amazing May 29, Amy rated it liked it May 09, Mike Lemke rated it it was amazing Feb 27, Wendy rated it liked it Mar 11, Diane Kerner rated it liked it Jun 09, Zi rated it did not like it Aug 16, Prentice Mills rated it really liked it Jun 14, Brandi Stephenson rated it did not like it Jul 04, Lindsay rated it really liked it Dec 08, Annie rated it it was amazing Sep 06, Jo Ann rated it liked it Aug 02, Annette rated it it was ok May 15, Mary rated it really liked it May 25, Sydney marked it as to-read May 04, Roza added it May 28, Dayna marked it as to-read Dec 19, Olivia marked it as to-read May 12, Jennifer Kingswell added it Nov 11, Valerie Legacey is currently reading it Feb 07, There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
About Naomi Gladish Smith.
I picked this book up mainly because of the setting Vermont, specifically the Burlington area and the premise a retired couple suddenly find themselves hosting all 3 of their grown kids at home for a summer , which is eerily similar to my summer spent home in Vermont. After years of publishing essays and fiction, the essays in venues as varied as The Christian Science Monitor and JAMA The Journal of the American Medical Association , she wrote three novels about the afterlife and most recently a memoir of her father, V as in Victor. Not helping was his willingness to jump in bed with Chloe the first moment they realized that they had a thing. I have a hundred questions about all of this and none of its ever explained. He couldn't forgive himself for the conviction he'd felt.
The family led a peripatetic life until settling in a Chicago suburb. After years of publishing essays and fiction, the essays in venues as varied as The Christian Science Monitor and JAMA The Journal of the American Medical Association , she wrote three novels about the afterlife and most recently a memoir of her father, V as in Victor. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
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