Strangers at the Feast

I tend not to remember a lot of what I read in much detail. I’m not sure if this is the result of aging or reading too much or paying too little attention or a combination of all three. There was something about Jennifer Vanderbes’ novel, Strangers at the Feast, that vaguely reminded me of Jonathan Franzen’s The Corrections and although my lousy memory doen’t provide much detail for that feeling, I suspect it is the novel’s depiction of one family’s dysfunctions and interrelationships. I have to confess that my feelings about the two books are diametrically opposed, however. While I absolutely loathed The Corrections and found I had neither sympathy nor empathy for a single one of his characters, I could embrace every member show more of the Olson family chronicled in Strangers. This tale of a Thanksgiving Day family dinner and the thoughts and life sketches of each member of the family resonated with me from first page to last. The writing is clear and fluid; the innermost thoughts of each character are as real to me as my own or as thoughts of people I know.

One of the things that is ultimately telling about a book being really good or not so much is whether or not I would recommend it. Well, I can easily recommend this book to all of my reading friends but one – the one who only likes happy endings. show less

It’s Thanksgiving day. Ginny, has invited her parents, her brother, his wife and their three kids to enjoy dinner in her new home. Ginny, single and an academic sort at that, is not well-versed in the kitchen, but is excited about hosting such an important meal. The others are excited about the prospect of seeing her new home, but they have their doubts over how successful the dinner will be.

While waiting for dinner, each character has time to reflect on the past. The story is told through alternating points of view, whereas each chapter is dedicated to a character in the story. As the story progresses, it’s clear that the meal is anything but traditional and that there are larger issues to consider.

The mere mention of show more Thanksgiving brings many images to mind. The glistening bird, the mounds of mashed potatoes, the gravy boats and…the drama. You know what I am talking about. Where Aunt Jolene drank a little bit too much wine and ended up out by the trash cans, or how that bird may have looked perfectly roasted on the outside, but really wasn’t. It happens. As much as I love Thanksgiving, there is also a little piece of me that dreads it as well. Vanderbes has written a novel that somehow encapsulates that exact feeling of dread. Family dynamics, intimate secrets, it’s all here.

As the tension mounts, you know something is going to happen, but what? Well, I won’t share anything else because I want you to read it for yourself but Vanderbes does not disappoint. The writing is tight, the pace is gripping, and the characters are worth remembering. I was very excited to receive this book and once I cracked it open, I could not put it down.

What I especially admire is that this isn’t JUST a page-turner, this is a book with a message. If you’re a fan of well-constructed stories, ones that unfold like a three-act play, are page-turners and include well-developed, conflicted characters, then there is no doubt in my mind that you will enjoy Strangers at the Feast. show less

I liked this book a lot, although I avoided reading it for quite awhile. I expected something a lot more crime fictionish and lot gorier. Instead I got very nuanced literary fiction that contains a crime, although the question of victims and criminals is ambiguous at best.

In a sense this is a story of suburban family angst. Plus it's Thanksgiving. As the family moves its way through all the Thanksgiving rituals (the cooking, arguing over who is doing the cooking and whose will host, the football games, the drinking, the fights, the teary moments where everyone comes together, saying grace, eating too much, etc.) the story unfolds around them.

Shifting points of view, beautifully handled. Sharp, complex characterization. Elegant, precise show more writing. Mordant wit. Simple and complex tragedies. All of these elements combine to make this a book worth reading. That Vanderbes manages to address Thanksgiving and what it means to Americans (those who took the land and those whose land was taken) in examining this family and their encounter is a deeper, richer bonus. Restrained, delicate, and one of the best books I've read so far this year. show less

The Olsons are a "normal" family with their share of financial, emotional, and psychological problems. Each one of the five adults has a story, told in alternating chapters. The large issues involve the effects of war, the ethics of eminent domain, the financial collapse of 2007, racism, and feminism. At the end, it's hard to feel anything but sadness, especially for the children. I did not love this novel, but it will haunt me for a long time. Vanderbes has a gripping way with words.

I am not sure I would have picked it up to read on my own. I received it from Simon and Schuster as a giveaway and I am really grateful for that opportunity because I really enjoyed the book.
The author skillfully shines a light on so many issues facing society today. Throughout the book, the author’s use of comments by the characters, to foreshadow the last scene, is very effective. In one day, many of their insecurities and fears are revealed, almost casually, and often with humor. Without being overbearing or seeming contrived, the tension builds slowly towards the final scene, and the impact of it, is explosive.
Through the use of character named chapters, the author fully develops the players and explores their lives, opening show more their wounds and illustrating that their past and present decisions all have consequences, some minor, some major. The contrast between the behavior of the men and women is stark. Devotion, loneliness, loyalty and regret, injustice, greed and envy are major components of the story. I liked the fact that Priya was mute since so many of the issues in the families were unspoken and hidden.
My daughter told me she was told that books are windows into the lives of some readers and mirrors for others. For me, this book was a mirror reflecting back my own world, in many respects, with all of the issues I have faced raising my family and it opened a clearer window into my children’s. Likewise, if my children read it, they will find it to be a mirror of theirs and a window into mine. I remember reading Water For Elephants shortly after my mother passed away. I wished I had read it sooner so I would have had the insights it provided, before she died. I hope my children read this so that they come to better understand the conflicts their parent faced, the choices and sacrifices they made, as they brought them up and tried to provide a better life for them while trying to instill moral values that would lead them down life’s path in a successful, healthy way. Perhaps, after reading it, they will take a little less for granted and become a little less obsessed with the material things in life.
Many of the thoughts and emotions that the characters experienced seemed almost too familiar. Who has not agonized over personal safety, finances, security, children’s futures and the well being of the family? Who does not know someone who has been scarred by the Viet Nam war, who has watched in horror as the events of 9/11 unfolded, or been touched by a bitter divorce, hurt by the financial scandals, or faced crime in their neighborhoods?
The author did a marvelous job of exposing all of life’s frailties and the dangers to which we are exposed. I highly recommend it for reader’s of all ages and all backgrounds. It is a Thanksgiving Day no one will soon forget. show less

I read Vanderbes Easter Island and loved it so I looked forward to her latest and it did not disappoint. She uses a family gathering to explore the hidden and fractured pasts of each member. Juxtaposed against the Thanksgiving dinner is the story of another broken family from the other side of the tracks who are destroyed by the "urban renewal" which takes away their home. Vanderbes is an elegant writer and handles the dual story lines and time shifting with ease. The flow and tension within the novel makes this a compelling, well written read.

My Thanksgiving theme read was terrific.
The character development was very interesting, done differently than I'm used to, as each "chapter" is another insight into that character.
Some of the topics explored were obvious and some were subtle, which made me think this would be a good book club book.
Anyone who has ever been part of a family that had a holiday dinner will easily identify with the dynamics.
My favorite line, "As the bowls and platters commenced their orbit around the table, the clank of cutlery filled the room", I think sums up Thanksgiving dinner as well as anything I've read or heard before.