The Year We Left Home

Book #1: The Year We Left Home

Author: Jean Thompson
Rating: Quick read, but no real plot. (2.5 stars)

I'm not sure where this book even came from. I think my husband may have bought it, although after reading it, I doubt he would have any interest in reading it himself. The Year We Left Home was a quick read but lacked any sort of plot or resolve. Although you follow the characters through their life from 1973-2003 you only learn about them on a superficial level. It appears to highlight the dysfunction most families have, but are often unwilling to talk about; a father who is an alcoholic, a son with little direction who ends up divorced with two children, and two grandchildren whose lives are discussed perhaps only to show how the dysfunction has been passed down. I was hopeful that the last twenty pages would have some sort of plot twist to make the 325 page book worthwhile, but, unfortunately, I was waiting for nothing. I'm even confused why the title is The Year We Left Home considering the book lasts 30 years.

What I did like about this book is that it was honest. Every family has its issues, but in the end family is family and you'll do whatever it takes to support them. And, most importantly, sometimes the ones who don't appear to care, actually care the most. 

Goodreads Reviews

"Pretentious piece of crap. Supposed to be the summer darling of the intellectual elitists. The whole book is nothing but a series of vignettes about being miserable. The whole family takes a turn on the misery train where I get to be in the caboose. The name of this book should have been My Life Sucks More Than Yours." -Amy July 21, 2011 (1 star)

"This book wasn't terrible, but there was no point to it and no ah-ha moment. If the author had a message to send, it was lost in the fragmented stories within." -Cheryl January 5, 2015 (2 stars)

"Insightful and informative regarding the life of a typical Midwest family." -Joyce June 2, 2013 (3 stars)

"Family, country, happiness, tragedy, and just plain life all work together to tell the story, no the history, of this family. From its beginning on the farm to the computer era, change is inevitable - some positive some not. What is special about these characters is there ordinariness. This family could be yours or mine." -Susan March 26, 2013 (4 stars) 

"If you need fairy tales with happy characters and happy ending, best leave this book on the shelf. But if you understand that people are flawed but still have interesting stories worth paying attention to, you'll probably enjoy it. I did. Will surely read it again." -Susan November 20, 2015 (5 stars)