Family Album (Platinum Readers Circle (Center Point)) - Hardcover

Lively, Penelope

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1602856036 ISBN 13: 9781602856035

Publisher: Center Point, 2009

Synopsis

A novel of family intrigue from aone of the most accomplished writers of fiction of our daya (The Washington Post)
All Alison ever wanted was a blissful childhood for her six children, with summers at the beach and birthday parties on the lawn at their family home. Together with Ingrid, the family au pair, she has worked hard to create a real aold-fashioned family life.a But beneath its postcard sheen, the picture is clouded by a distant father, Alisonas inexplicable emotional outbursts, and long-repressed secrets that no one dares mention. For years, Alisonas adult children have protected her illusion of domestic perfectionabut as each child confronts the effects of past choices on their current adult lives, it becomes evident that each must face the truth.
Penelope Livelyas novels of history, memory, and character have earned her a loyal readership. Like Ian McEwanas Atonement, this novel is a measured, thoughtful look at how events of the past, both small and large, seen and unseen, deeply inform character and the present. Quietly provocative and disturbing, Family Album is a highly nuanced work that showcases a master of her craft.

About this title

Review:

Lively immediately plunges us into an entirely convincing world of bustling family life...exceptionally well observed and gloriously enjoyable...this should be rated as one of her most impressive works (Guardian)

One of those ridiculously simple, ridiculously readable novels whose artistry only becomes apparent when you put it down with a sign of regret, having devoured it in one sitting...Lively still displays an economy and an elegance that put younger writers to shame (Sunday Telegraph)

Lively's brilliance is of the creeping kind. There is a sense of formality, which falls away as the novel gains pace and builds towards an unforeseen end. She is particularly good at bending language to make it fit her cool and clear voice...Lively succeeds brilliantly in getting a hold on the climate of family life. Slowly we absorb the details that get lost in the bluster and flurry until we are so drawn in, so tightly contained in the dynamics of this one, that the end, when it comes, is simply devastating (The Times)

A pleasure to read, hugely enjoyable, consistently absorbing, hilarious (Independent)

An involving emotional drama and an insightful examination of changing family values (Easy Living)

The complexities and silences of family life are intelligently and subtly explored...a very engaging novel, continuously interesting and often moving (Scotsman)

Gorgeous (David Vann Guardian Books of the Year)

Sympathetic and observant, Lively moves fluidly between present-tense set-piece scenes and silent monologues, placing the novel's revelations where they will be most effective, and allowing implications - about marriage, feminism and personal ambition - to blossom slowly (Sunday Times)

Penelope Lively at her best, sharp-eyed but sympathetic, deftly steering the reader from one point of view to another. This novel should delight her regular readers and ensnare new ones (Evening Standard)

A very readable, well-paced novel peopled with Lively's customary immaculately observed and impeccably rounded characters (Independent on Sunday)

From the Back Cover:

All Alison ever wanted was a blissful childhood for her six children, with summers at the beach and birthday parties on the lawn of their family home. Together with Ingrid, the family au pair, she has worked hard to create an "old-fashioned family life." But beneath the postcard sheen, a distant father, Alison's emotional outbursts, and long repressed secrets, cloud the picture. For years, Alison's children have protected her illusion of domestic bliss -- but as they confront the effects of past choices on their adult lives, it becomes evident that each must face certain truths.

About this edition

• Publisher: Center Point
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 1602856036
• ISBN 13: 9781602856035
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 358