Lily King‘s novel follows the turbulent father/daughter relationship of Gardiner and Daley Amory as it spans across 40 years. Nobody seems to think that perfectly WASPy Gardiner’s raging alcoholism is a problem, but it certainly takes a toll on Daley and all in close proximity to her father. The author tracks Daley as she tries to grow apart from her father during her youth and then as she is pulled back in when his downward spiral increases in speed. Her bond to her father is strong, but he has turned her world upside down more than once. They never reach a perfect, happy place, but I suppose sometimes it’s more about closure than anything else.
King has managed to depict a [relatively] functioning alcoholic perfectly. The always shifting balance between mania and violence, love and hate, and denial and acceptance are complicated. It is a balancing act no one wants to take on, but one that is impossible to refuse when it comes to family. I’m glad King was able to put it all in perspective. 3.5 out of 5 stars.
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