by Julia Glass
First published 2006
Paul McLeod owns a Scottish newspaper but seeks solitude in the Greek islands after his wife dies. His quietest son, Fenno, left Scotland years ago to build a new life in New York, where his homosexuality fits better in the diverse city. When Paul dies in Greece, Fenno returns home for the funeral alongside his twin brothers and their wives. The family gathering exposes hidden currents and buried emotions that have shaped their relationships. Fenno must navigate the complex dynamics between siblings who have grown apart over the years. The story reveals how people influence each other in both deliberate and accidental ways. Glass creates intricate characters set against varied backdrops, from Scottish family traditions to New York's urban landscape to the Mediterranean setting where Paul spent his final days. The novel explores human complexity through the lens of a fractured family forced to confront their shared past.
Genres: literary-fiction, contemporary, lgbt, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Greece, New York, Scotland
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
528 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Roca Editorial