by Jean Thompson
Paperback- $12.71
A New York Times bestseller in hardcover, The Year We Left Home is National Book Award finalist Jean Thompson’s mesmerizing, ...
Overall rating:
How would you rate this book?
Member ratings
This is a good book club book because of all the unanswered questions. We talked about what the theme of the book might be, why it has that title,the complexity of the characters and how they all seem so real, and what makes this family so disappointed and bored with life. The book seemed like a series of short stories about a family in Iowa and it stretches into a saga that covers about 30 years or so. The characters didn't seem to fit in anywhere and seemed to be searching for a place to belong. Our members either really liked it or really couldn't stand it, which always makes for a good discussion.
Our local library selected this for a book club read and since I hadn't had anything else picked out to read yet, I thought I would try it. I didn't care for the fact that every chapter - set in a different place and time - seemed to have a bad outcome for one of the characters in the book, a member of this family. I kept wondering when their LUCK would turn around. Halfway through the book, I contemplated quitting it, but I did eventually finish it. The last chapter of the book was the best, but perhaps I enjoyed that one the most because I was celebrating THE END. I did like the way it ended; there was HOPE for better luck in the future.
Book Club HQ to over 88,000+ book clubs and ready to welcome yours.
Get free weekly updates on top club picks, book giveaways, author events and more