The World Without You
By
Joshua Henkin

Summary...

A family comes together to their summer home for their son Leo's memorial.

My Thoughts...

This is a beautiful lyrical soulful book.  I want to both love and run away from this family.  Some of them I wanted to hug and others I wanted to shake.  The only person I felt real sympathy for was David...the father.  Marilyn...the mother...OMG...a mess after her son Leo' death.  Everyone else was flawed and irritating.  I say irritating but it was the kind of irritation that just made me want to know more and more about them.

I loved this book...it drew me in from the very first page.  First of all...it takes place mostly in the Berkshires...an area that I love.  Then the book tackles the issues each member of this family face as they come together for  Leo's ( brother/son/ husband ) memorial service.

The flashbacks are huge in this book.  Everyone has baggage and everyone has issues and no one is really coping very well at all.

Marilyn has decided to leave David.  One daughter is desperate for a baby.  Another daughter lives in Israel and has no clue who she is or why she married her husband.  Leo's widow is there... lost, sad and worrying about telling everyone about her new relationship.  Another daughter is in a long term relationship with no plans to marry or have children.

Those are the small stories within the big story.  And sort of always hovering in the background is Gretchen...the 94 year old matriarch with tons of money who rigidly supports everyone.  

This book has a lovely thoughtful ending.  I sing out the praises for this book.  It was touching, moving, and beautiful.

I am so glad I read it.