Family Tree

I am a huge Barbara Delinsky fan, and always look forward to her new releases. This book did not have me at hello, and I found myself trudging through the story hoping it would get better. Sadly, it didn't, and I couldn't wait for it to end - but not in the usual way when one can't put a book down.

Everything about this book was a disappointment. So much so, that I didn't even circulate it among the women readers in my family - and there's only one other book where I ever felt that way (Creed for the 3rd Millenium by Colleen McCullough).

I found the characters weak and loaded with stereotypes. . Rich kid marries common girl, an elitist father with a secret, a politician with a child out of wedlock, a snobby woman whose image is nothing like reality, a gaggle of gossipy women.

With all the story lines, it seemed like a mish-mash of ideas that never really gelled into a cohesive story. I felt like the plot went in circles, the whole knitting scene was boring, and the biology of two white parents producing a black baby just stretched credibility.

This one is a pass - but if you want to read a great Delinsky book, I highly recommend the Vineyard. That's one I was sad to see end, in a good way.

2008-10-28

This book was written with a truly unlikely premise. It's about families who are shocked that there's mixed blood among them. Gimme a break, humans haven't been around for thousands of years without mating with "other" paramours. People next door, people in another tribe etc.

And for you religious nuts, we're all related anyway, aren't we? The Adam and Eve story comes to mind. So then, why the shock, nobody can be pure anything.

I was surprised to see some good reviews for this book. Surely you jest.

I picked this up while enduring a long wait in an airport. I was intrigued by the plot and settled in for what I thought would be a thought provocking and interesting read.

Boy was I wrong.

Before I was half way through the book, I could tell the author hadn't spent much time with black people. It really bothered me that all the black characters were mixed, living in a relatively white community. The characters seemed paper thin and I never got attached or had feelings for any of them. They just seemed fake. The sub plots seemed forced and there never was a nice blend with the main story line. It was highly predicatable with a sugary sweet ending.

I was at the mercy of the airport shops when I bought this, but if you want a quick read, borrow it from the library, a friend or get it used.

It really is an interesing topic, but I think it deserves more depth.

Barbara Delinsky had a very interesting idea for a book. Take a young couple who deliver a child with obvious different racial features. How would they react, interact, and respond? How would they examine any hidden racial discrimination? The author attempted to answer these questions in Family Tree, but came up short. The characters irritated me too much with forced dialog and artificial behavior. Thin character development was a problem. The good premise faded fast. This potential five star book has been mishandled. Because the issue was thought provoking, I felt it still deserved three stars.

Excellent book by Barbara Delinsky. Loved the story line. If you're into Family History, you'll love this book.