I received this book in a holiday book exchange for my book club. I started to read this book three times, actually finishing it on the third attempt. I hate to leave books unfinished, and yet, I was very tempted to, even with this third and final try.
This is essentially an upper class family memoir. Lots of name dropping, vacations, second homes, marriages and money. Also, a great deal of dysfunction.
Just as with any family, there are some very funny stories, drama and scandals. It was the promise of that which kept me turning the pages. Unfortunately, the author drowns a great deal of it in pretentious language, requiring constant referral to a dictionary (my Nook would have been helpful for this).
I would also have preferred a more linear history than the tack chosen by the author, but that is my personal choice.
All-in-all, not a book that I would recommend, unless you knew the author or his family.
Catherine Schmidt's review
Read from October 18 to 24, 2011
