The Ones We Keep

 

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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