Friday, May 20, 2011

The Arrivals by Meg Mitchell Moore - Review


It's early summer when Ginny and William's peaceful life in Vermont comes to an abrupt halt.

First, their daughter Lillian arrives, with her two children in tow, to escape her crumbling marriage. Next, their son Stephen and his pregnant wife Jane show up for a weekend visit, which extends indefinitely when Jane ends up on bed rest. When their youngest daughter Rachel appears, fleeing her difficult life in New York, Ginny and William find themselves consumed again by the chaos of parenthood - only this time around, their children are facing adult problems.

By summer's end, the family gains new ideas of loyalty and responsibility, exposing the challenges of surviving the modern family - and the old adage, once a parent, always a parent, has never rung so true

What I Can Tell You: I loved it! The dialogue is very real. The problems very common. The question is simple, what does happen when your grown children return home? Ginny and William seemed very real! They are the parents we all wish we had. I couldn't imagine being able to run home to mommy and daddy as a mom of two at this point.

What the author does is weave a beautiful story where you understand all characters situations and are on their side.

Lillian showing up with her two very young children and not telling them what is happening in her life or why she is there. We feel bad and understand her need to get away and appreciate her parents letting her stay no questions asked but as the reader we know the truth of her problem and still feel bad that her parents have to allow her to stay.  The author does an amazing job of creating empathy, even for the "villains" of this book.


I got a few lessons from this book:
  • Once a parents, always a parent no matter how old your children are.
  • Enjoy life because things will  never be as simple and easy as they were when you were young, living in your parents house. You cannot recapture that time once you have responsibilities of your own life.
  • Just one ripple in a family, affects the lives of many. Imagine if you triple that ripple. Ahahaha...ok..just cracked myself up.  Anyway...really good read.


32 comments:

  1. My first book on my TBR list is full dark, no stars by stephen king.
    twoofakind12@yahoo.com

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  2. I am a email subscriber.
    twoofakind12@yahoo.com

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  3. I am a gfc follower.
    debbie
    twoofakind12@yahoo.com

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  4. I want to read "The Blind Assassin" by Margaret Atwood.

    urchiken at gmail dot com

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  5. i still want to read the girl with the dragon tatoo
    nannypanpan at gmail.com

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  6. Thanks so much for the lovely review of THE ARRIVALS, and for participating in the blog tour. I'm so glad you liked it!

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  7. I'm about to start a Jan Karon book called "A Light in the Window" which is a big change from the type of books I normally read!

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  8. entered Summer Fun Books giveaway

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  9. Buzz Chic subscriber

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  10. Commented on Mom Trust post.

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  11. Debbie Kennedy8:29 AM

    The first book on my to read list is The Butterfly's Daughter
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  12. Debbie Kennedy8:48 AM

    I entered the Are We there Yet My Name is-Aurora giveaway
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  13. Debbie Kennedy8:49 AM

    I entered the Endangerables giveaway
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  14. Debbie Kennedy8:53 AM

    I subscribe via email #1
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  15. Debbie Kennedy8:54 AM

    I subscribe via email #2

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  16. Anonymous3:56 PM

    I have yet to read "Wuthering Heights"
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  17. Anonymous3:57 PM

    I am a public GFC follower
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  18. Anonymous4:00 PM

    I subscribed to Buzz Chic via email

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  19. Anonymous12:21 PM

    I never thought of that ...that one little ripple in a family affects others...

    pattifritz2000 at yahoo dot com
    thanks

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  20. A Heart Most Worthy is on my list of reads.

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  21. 1 Email Subscriber!

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  25. 1 Follow with NW blogs!

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  27. A book on my read pile is Don't Say A Word by Barbara Freethy. Please enter me. Thanks!

    ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

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  28. Follow on GFC(Anita Yancey) #1.

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  29. Follow on GFC(Anita Yancey) #2.

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