This novel is a cauldron filled with a recipe for the examination of family life. The following ingredients give it volatile potential.
1. Three generations of women living under one roof (four if you count diary from a previous generation).
2. This living arrangement is new, caused by a recent death of grandfather and a visit home by a daughter who’s single.
3. A traditional style dairy farmer who learns that his daughter wants to go “organic/locally grown.”
4. An unexpected guest for Thanksgiving dinner, who’s an army veteran and the family is pacifist.
5. Differences of personality, priorities, expectations, religion and politics.
6. Family secrets and hidden problems, some that can be shared, others not.
7. Youngest son in family isn’t interested in farming, just wants to play basketball.
Combine the above with skilled literary writing that I choose to describe as chain-of-group-consciousness narrative that allows the reader to know the inner thoughts and actions of the three women (grandmother, mother and daughter). Before an event or encounter we learn what they anticipate or expect from each other, then there is the actual encounter and the ensuing interaction, and then after it’s all over there’s the reflection on what has been said or done. Plus, all the usual expressions of everyday life such as “pass the sugar” are sprinkled throughout the book’s narrative.
This is a perfect book for a book group interested in sparking conversation about family life and experiences. This is especially true for those with rural farming backgrounds. The family in the book also exemplifies differing religious expectations between the three generations. The family in this book is of Mennonite ancestry, but the grandmother is the only one in the family who attends a Mennonite church (if she has a ride). The family attends a community church, and the daughter would probably attend no church if she had a choice.
The following are some quotations from the book I found interesting (mostly humorous):
“Sometimes his family gets all googley-eyed about a cappella singing, like they’re having group sex or something.”
“Every time we talk about religion, we ruin any chance to be festive. What kind of pie would you like….”
“So why did the chicken cross the road?” … “To get to the other side, of course.” “That’s what chickens do.” “In my day we didn’t ask why.” “Yeah, the chickenness of the chicken.” “Huh?” “Some say, the road erupted, forcing the chicken to see from the other side.” “And God said, ‘Thou shalt cross.'”