Page 3 of 6
There are currently 36 member reviews
for Seven Days of Us
-
Joan V. (Miller Place, NY)
A house full of secrets
Seven days is not a very long time, but it was interminable for the Birch family. Everyone had a secret.
At first I feared the characters would be stereotypical the stiff journalist father, Andrew; the spoiled egocentric daughter Phoebe; Olivia, a doctor in an organization similar to Doctors without Borders who looked down on her family for taking creature comforts for granted and Emma, the mother, who kept quiet about all her years of pent up frustrations. Lack of communication was the theme and the cause of a lot of unnecessary pain.
The book is written from five different point of views, but it flows easily between the characters. I loved the descriptions that Ms. Hornak used: "...the horsehair mattress - so soft one longed for snorkel." was one of my favorites.
Within a very short time I became completely engaged in the book and wanted to know (and also hoped) for everything to be resolved. This would be very good choice for a book club and I sincerely hope Ms. Hornak is already writing her next novel.
-
Dawn C. (Meridian, ID)
Seven Days of Us
Oh my, I loved this book. I come from a large family and to be able to spend time as a family is unfathomable! I can only imagine what the Birches survived! Since the family is going to have Christmas together, really together now that Olivia has come home because she has to be in quarantine as she was treating an epidemic overseas. So now the entire Birch family is together whether they like it or not! This was fun, and the plot twist was perfect. Enjoy this family saga!
-
Charlene M. (Myrtle Beach, SC)
7 Days of Us
There are 2 types of dysfunctional family. One fights about everything and the other superficially talks with no feeling. I've lived in both. Francesca Hornak's "Seven Days of Us" is about a family who has grown up together but have never "talked". Secrets, sorrow, wish-I-hads. Ms Hornak's character development is superb and each of the family members tells the story from their perspective. "Hilariously funny" - no. Poignant with a little whimsy tossed in - yes. I enjoyed it immensely.
-
Jan P. (Sarasota, FL)
A Really Good Story
A really good story. The Birch Family (mom/dad/adult daughters Olivia and Phoebe) retire to their country estate to spend the week between Christmas and the New Year. They are actually quarantined there as Olivia as just returned from working in Monrovia as an M.D. treating patients of HAAG, a dangerous, communicable ebola like illness. Olivia has made a point of avoiding family holidays for years so you already know the week will be a trying one. And, in the midst of the immediate family dynamics, there are 3 other characters added to the mix: Phoebe's fiance George, Olivia's love interest Sean, and another guy named Jesse. It is a thoughtful book about relationships and family dynamics, with a bit of comic relief. I found my feelings for the characters changing as I got deeper into the book. The characters all had reason to reassess the meaning of their lives and discover that they can have a hand in how they choose to live. I think it would be a great read for a book club. I particularly enjoyed the book as it made me reflect on my own familial dysfunction and I compared the characters to my own family. It struck me that we often base our opinion of someone from our initial contact (in the case of an acquaintance) or how we interacted with someone (parent, sibling, etc.) during our formative years. The key is formative years and I think we do ourselves a disservice by not being able to see that we all change as we age and we need to be open to changes in our own family as well as our fellow man.
-
Marjorie W. (Bonita Springs, FL)
Seven Days of Us
Loved this book. It was one of those stories that you couldn't put down. Characters were well developed and real! As a member of a large family, I relate to the interactions that took place. I was able to laugh and to cry as I wound my way through this story.
-
Lucy S. (Westford, MA)
7 Days of Us Ended too Soon....
I enjoyed the book and the way the author created these multi-dimensional characters, each with layers of personalities and hidden secrets. I think most families have pieces of their personality that are hidden away and the author did a very good job of developing and exposing their personalities - it was evident to the reader what was happening even if the characters did not always immediately recognize. I was sorry to see the book end - realistically funny, sad, encouraging all at once.
-
Kay M. (Portland, ME)
Good read
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The author did such a great job developing the characters that I felt like I knew them. I was a bit apprehensive at first as I thought the story might be depressing. Although the author did deal with describing the deadly virus and its effects, the story was always about the family and how they related to each other. The book is not depressing at all and is actually funny in parts. Although the quarantine was for 7 days, much happens in that time and there are some twists in the story that keep it interesting.
The book is well written, with a good story and memorable characters.
Book Reviewed by:
.png)
