Throwback Thursday – Every Last One by Anna Quindlen

Throwback Thursday is a meme created by Renee at It’s Book Talk to share old favorite books rather than just the new shiny ones. This is a great idea to bring back to life some much-loved books. Please feel free to join in.

My choice for this week is: 

Every Last One by Anna Quindlen

I read this book at least five years ago but it is still a favorite.  A very emotional read. When I finished reading this book, it was all I could think about for days….

Mary Beth Latham is a devoted mother of three. Lately she finds herself thinking more and more about how fast life goes. She feels like her children have grown into teenagers almost overnight.

Told from Mary Beth’s point of view, the first half of novel is about the Latham family. We learn about each family member and what happens in their daily lives. I know that some people found the first half really slow but I feel that the author wanted the reader to really know this family……before

When I first started reading this novel, the only thing I knew was that is was about a family tragedy. I didn’t even read the description on the back of the book.

Honestly I don’t think there’s much more I can say about it as I don’t want to spoil it. However, I will say that I was gutted by the events in the book. I was an emotional mess. Some people may find it too upsetting but I’m still glad I read it. It’s a book that will make you cry, make you angry and make you think….

This novel made me question the way I parent and also parenting in general. How and when to discipline, when to intervene, when to let go and about a thousand other questions that came to mind in regards to the different ways in which we all parent. Now that I’m the parent of a teenager I question it even more.

A Quote from the book:

“I never thought anything really bad would happen. It was all the good things that seemed real to me — where they’d go off to college and where they’d live and what my grandchildren would call me.”

The writing is authentic, the characters so well-developed. I was completely engrossed in this book from beginning to end.  It is a tragic, emotional, and powerful read that you won’t soon forget.

View all my reviews