Olivia Somerville seems to have a perfect life along with
her husband, Harry and their three young sons. That is, until they were all vacationing
in Vermont when tragedy strikes. This is how The
Ones We Keep by Bobbie Jean Huff starts. Olivia reaction to the
disaster is unbelievable – very uncharacteristic for the person the reader may
assume Olivia is. I can't help but wonder what's really going on here. I'm
curious. I search carefully for clues in the narrative. So, I want to keep
reading.
What I find is a very sad saga about what happens to a family after shattering losses. It’s also about what happens when a person can't face the realities of their own life.
To tell this story, the author uses simple language
that’s full of descriptive details, particularly at the end – a dragged out
ending that is extremely incomplete. However, she writes thoughtfully about the
complexities of humanity in regard to self-blame, grief, mental
health, abandonment and forgiveness. The Ones We Keep would be a suitable
book club selection because it would engender meaningful conversations on these
topics. Even though it’s not a happy tale with a less-than-perfect
conclusion, that shouldn’t discourage anyone from delving into this novel. The
characters, their actions and attitudes give the reader a lot to ponder,
which is what a good book should do.
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