Every Last One

Every Last One - Anna Quindlen

There are two books that cause me to sob like a baby. There is one that won't let me put it down - I have to read through my tears, and cuddle up with a box of Kleenex. Don't forget the Kleenex when you read this. You'll need it - and try to remember to get the kind with lotion ingrained in the tissue. That's how much you'll need it.

The book started off with a general look into a family. Yeah, they're a nice family. A normal family - dysfunctional and lovable. The story is told by the mother, a fractured woman doing all she can for her family. Anyone who has loved someone can relate to her - she pulls you in, demanding your attention to her children. And you love every minute of it. The children are incredibly real - Ruby, Alex, and Max are people that we've all known. It's fascinating to look into their lives from their mother's point of view.

Quindlen's mesmerizing prose kept me reading until three am. The night before a nine am final. I'm a dedicated student, but I had to force myself to close off the life of the Lathams. "One last chapter.." but then three more pass, and you wonder where the time went to. But you've gained so much insight into the family, and then --

Wham. It happens. The book takes on a different tone, and you manage to glimpse the very soul of the character of Mary Beth. Yes, she has a soul. The prose makes her so very real; you feel every emotion that she does, even begin to understand. This novel led me to a greater understanding of human life.

Everyone. Should. Read. It.