This novel would be perfect for discussion groups. Highly recommended for teen, new adult, and adult readers. Each character expresses their grief differently, and Guest did a superb job tackling a tough subject. Guest has an innate understanding of the internal dialogue people experience when faced with personal loss, grief, and depression. It's a quick read that immediately connects and stays with the reader. The Bottom Line: Although first published in 1976, this novel still deserves a place on your bookshelf. Will they be able to find the support they need to heal as a family or will the aftermath of tragedy be too much for the Jarretts? Whether you are reading this book for the first time or the tenth time, the ending will haunt you. As Conrad returns to high school and tries to navigate his classes, Cal & Beth are at odds with how to help. The aftermath of this second tragedy is an even bigger struggle for Cal and Beth as they continue to deal with the loss of Buck. Without the support and attention of his parents, Conrad, the remaining son, attempts to take his life. After a tragedy leaves the family with only one son, the Jarretts must learn to move forward, but how? The loss of their oldest, Buck, is too much for them to process as each turns inwards. Unfortunately, life can change in an instant. With successful careers and two outstanding teen sons, the Jarretts are comfortable in their lives. ( )Ĭal and Beth Jarrett are the All-American dream couple. he never would have said some of the things he said (that he thought of con as a friend, for example) and in a book where everything else felt very real, this took me out of the story a couple of times. the only real complaint i have is the way the therapist spoke with conrad. I liked this and found myself very much within the story. this reflects what's going on with him, though, so it makes sense. con's sections are often a little hard to follow, as well, because he is going through a mental health crisis and the writing can feel unmoored. the style can be a bit tough, as it's told from the perspective of both conrad (the son) and cal (the father) and it goes back and forth between them in a way that is kind of jarring. it's really kind of a meditation on grief and living after devastating loss, and the different ways different people handle that and cope with it. from the outside, they seem to be "ordinary people" but a lot is going on inside the family that others can't see. This is a really nice look at what seems to be a typical wealthy american family.
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