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Liz D. (East Falmouth, MA)
The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls
All families are in some way dysfunctional. Anissa Gray's debut novel portrays one such family. A family of three sisters and a brother struggle with the loss of a structured home life since an early age. As a consequence they make questionable choices in their lives.
The story is told through the eyes of the three daughters, each having their stories told in various chapters. Each has a hunger she is trying to satisfy in the context of their siblings. They all find that they need to accept and take responsibility for their own lives and to accept the love and support of each other.
This book speaks so much to
…more the ordinary lives many broken families experience. the family rises to the occasion and is stronger as a result.
There are many ways to experience the book from a personal viewpoint so much fruitful discussion could ensue.
I recommend The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls because the women characters are well written strong and loving. Characters we want to know and care about. This is a strong start for Anissa Gray and I look forward to and hope to read more about her strong very human characters. (less)This book gets right into the lives of 4 adult siblings who are living with the scars of their mother's death as a young mother and an abusive father. For me the question at the center of the story is this: If you suffer from a childhood of neglect and abuse and a parent's undiagnosed mental illness does that excuse you from making grave mistakes and behaving badly as an adult? Each member of this family suffers differently from the childhood they endured but in the end each has to take responsibility for their actions. The author keeps the story moving constantly and the dialogue real. I read it in 2 sittings.
…more This book would be a very good source of a variety of topics for a book club. Each character is strong and believable and relatable. The ending is hopeful but not neatly wrapped up and a sequel would be awesome. (less)This book was excellent. If you like a book more character-driven than plot-driven, this book is for you. The character development was expertly written. The characters were extremely relatable and I was invested to see what would happen next. I think this is going to be an instant hit!
Suzanne G. (Tucson, AZ)
First-rate Writing
This is such a significant story. The author is destined for a great writing future. These characters are so vivid from the very first paragraph and they never fade as the book progresses. The plot is unique and kept me reading. I thought I could figure out each turn, but I was almost always wrong. The title is pertinent, deliciously evident when finished with the book. I laughed and cried—and then when I finished I spent awhile—just thinking of the people I'd met along each page.
Joan V. (Miller Place, NY)
Family Relationships
A really good book is satisfying but leaves you wanting more. Although the ending does bring closure, I would really like to know what the future will be for this family. I like to think that they went through an amazing period of soul searching and came out better for it.
The book explores many relatable family relationships. The secrets we keep, the lies we tell each other (and ourselves), all eventually come to the surface and the characters have to deal with them. Ms. Gray writes about marital relationships, birth order in families and how that affects us and also heartbreaking parent and child relationships
…more through generations.
Although each chapter is told by different characters, it flows smoothly. When characters speak of past events it does not interrupt the flow of the narrative like some books do which can make them jarring or hard to follow.
I think this would make a great book club choice. It grabs your attention from the first page. There is a lot to discuss. This is Ms. Gray's first book and I look forward to her next one. (less)With so many female names I sometimes had to remind myself who was the ‘speaker’ in each chapter. This is a story of love, siblings, a dysfunctional family. In the end Nai Nai grabbed my heart. I wish I could meet her. Thorougly enjoyed reading this novel with the twists abd urns throughout. Readable in one day.
Catherine O. (Altavista, VA)
Fate, Choices and Consequences
The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls was so readable, it grabs you from the very start and takes you on a journey with some unforgettable characters. The early death of Mama Butler thrusts Althea into the role of caregiver and shifts the family dynamics. The way the sisters react to a new family crisis reflects their early roles. The novel is a reminder that good people can make bad choices. I will be recommending this book to my book club, they are many themes to discuss in this very enjoyable novel.
Lani
Absorbing family dynamics
An amazing debut with such authenticity and well developed characters. I became so invested in their lives, feeling like I was in the middle of the turmoil, exquisitely feeling their heartache. The parents, Althea and Porter are upstanding citizens who run a restaurant, until they are charged with a scam and sentenced to prison. This becomes the pivotal nexus on which their sisters, brother and children deal with the complex issues that each of them face within the family structure. Having worked with women in an eating disorders treatment center, I found Olivia's internal dialogue and coping skills regarding
…more her bulimia very genuine, bringing me to tears. The shame of incarceration, the struggle to define oneself within a family covered with warts and all, and the bond that underlines it all made this novel destined to be put on a keeper shelf. (less)
