The Gathering- Anne Enright

This is a serious book. It is not a romantic comedy, it is not chick lit, it is not some thrilling action adventure mystery. It is a book about serious, internal human struggles and triumphs. I rarely read books like these because I turn to books for entertainment and to learn about something I will never experience (like gay strip clubs in DC). However, I could not put this book down. Will I re-read it over and over again? No. But I was fascinated by how tightly wound up the family members and how cracks split open when they convened for their brother's funeral. Family dysfunction affects everyone involved in wildly different ways, and this is shown in abundant clarity here. By weaving in three generations of stories and half-truths, a picture emerges of a family clan that cannot move on from a few seminal events. This is the second book I have read by an Irish author, and I've come to the conclusion that I simply need to read more Irish literature.

3 1/2 bookworms