Title: GRACE'S TABLE
Expected publication: out now
My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟
Book Description:
Grace had not had twelve people at her table for a while.
This wasn’t the kind of family who shared regular Sunday meals. But you don’t
turn 70 every day.
As her friends and family arrive for lunch, memories are rekindled but not all of them are welcome. As the meal is served, it becomes clear that events of the past have left their mark on everyone at the table in vastly different ways. Grace is reminded that age is no guarantee of wisdom and there is much still to learn from the young at heart. As the family finally confront a shocking event in their past, Grace is forced to face her own shortcomings as a parent and wife and left to contemplate the ways in which grief and regret have resonated through her life.
This moving and often funny novel dissects the lives of women over three generations, explores the pull and power of memory and celebrates the triumph of endurance.
As her friends and family arrive for lunch, memories are rekindled but not all of them are welcome. As the meal is served, it becomes clear that events of the past have left their mark on everyone at the table in vastly different ways. Grace is reminded that age is no guarantee of wisdom and there is much still to learn from the young at heart. As the family finally confront a shocking event in their past, Grace is forced to face her own shortcomings as a parent and wife and left to contemplate the ways in which grief and regret have resonated through her life.
This moving and often funny novel dissects the lives of women over three generations, explores the pull and power of memory and celebrates the triumph of endurance.
My musings:
I’m not going to lie, it took me several attempts at this
book until I got into it, as I initially found it off to a really slow start.
Sometimes that’s ok, and other times I need an instant attention grabber to
keep me interested. But I am so glad I persevered, because GRACE’S TABLE turned
out to be a deeply reflective journey for me that made me ponder family,
marriage and life in general.
Basically, GRACE’S TABLE revolves around Grace, who is
celebrating her 70th birthday by hosting a dinner for her family in
her home. As the blurb states:”This wasn’t the kind of family who shared
regular Sunday meals.” Interesting - why? As her children, grandchildren and
closest friends come together, some old family memories come to the surface
that may explain the rift between Grace and her adult children.
As I close this book and reflect on its message, I still feel
deeply saddened for Grace. She knew passion once, but as a young woman growing
up in conservative small-town Australia, she ended up with the sort of husband everyone
approved of but who ultimately did not make her happy. In fact, reading about
Grace’s marriage awakened a rage in me that obviously touched some raw spot,
and I was instantly grateful that my generation enjoyed so much more freedom of
choice when it came to choosing a life partner. As Grace reflects back on her
life, I could see the confident and passionate young woman and nurse becoming
stifled by an ill-suited partner who would soon suffocate any sense of hope and
dreams she had ever had, turning her into a dutiful but unhappy mother and wife.
On the other hand, Des, Grace’s husband, was probably as much of a product of
his time as Grace was, and in a way I could see my grandparents’ roles
reflected in both characters, living up to the expectations of their era
dutifully, losing a little bit of themselves along the way. I am not excusing
Des’ constant bullying, from dictating what foods Grace was allowed to cook to
expecting her to bow to his every wish, but sadly, this too often was the
reality women found themselves in during that era. It was through Grace’s fond memories
of her Dad that we saw how much Grace suffered, even though she may have seen
him through the rose-tinted glasses of a daughter rather than a wife.
When Grace’s life is derailed by a terrible tragedy, it is
little surprise that it fragments the family for good. It was at this point in
the book that I felt like letting out a scream of raw pain, because Piper
brings to life one of the most horrific things a woman would ever have to
endure. I’m not about to give spoilers, but be prepared! At this point, I felt
truly invested in Grace’s story, and it will be an image that will stay with me
in all its horror.
Also interesting was Grace’s relationship with her daughter
Susan. Susan was close to her father, and still resents her mother for not
loving him (children can always tell), and for her emotional absence after the
trauma she suffered. These were such complex family relationships, and I felt
that I would have loved to discuss it all with another reader! Through Grace’s
relationships with the different members of her family and her closest friends,
we become privy to the real Grace, and it was this aspect of the book that
ultimately made me glad I finished it.
Summary:
If you like stories exploring the complexities of family
relationships, then this one should definitely be on your list. It is a slow,
character-driven story that takes a bit to get going, but once you are in Grace’s
head you will appreciate the foundations Piper has laid here for her story. My
only regret is not having read this with a book buddy so we could discuss it,
as there was much to reflect upon. Which is the very reason I would recommend GRACE’S
TABLE as a book club or buddy read. Beautifully written and very reflective!
Thank
you to Netgalley and Legend Press for the free electronic copy of this novel and
for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.
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