TGIF! Today I have a review of a new family saga, The Distance Home, by debut author, Paula Sanders.
My Thoughts:
I am drawn to family sagas, and I never tire of them. The dynamics and character analysis always have great potential. The Distance Home is a moving story of family set in 1960s rural South Dakota.
I was struck first by the atmospheric setting: cattle farms and the natural beauty of the west in South Dakota in contrast with the grittier aspects of this family’s home life. Included in the family of five are the mother, father, older son, and two daughters.
The parents each have their preferred child as family dynamics sometimes predict. The difference is that the preferences result in psychological turmoil. The son wants to be a ballet dancer, and the father wants no part in that, while he is pleased one of his daughters is a dancer. The mother is more protective of the son in response and is harsh and critical towards one of the daughters. Both children are deeply affected by the treatment of their parents, positive and negative, and develop negative coping strategies to escape.
Paula Saunders writes beautifully, and the characters are fully-developed, except for the youngest daughter. She is present in the book, but did not add or detract from it. The Distance Home revolves around the day-to-day life of this family at a time when gender roles and American culture were drastically changing. There is a somber tone within these pages without the book being heavily emotional.
Overall, The Distance Home is a story about what could be anyone’s family. It is at times funny while equally tragic, and although there is intense tumult in this family, there is also love, and in striking that shifty, shaky balance, there is honesty in this portrayal.
Thank you to Random House for the complimentary copy. My opinions are my own. The Distance Home will be published on August 7, 2018.
Synopsis:
A “riveting family saga” (Mary Karr) set in the American West, about sibling rivalry, dark secrets, and a young girl’s struggle with freedom and artistic desire.
This moving debut novel is a profoundly American story. Set in a circa-1960s rural South Dakota–a hardscrabble place of cattle buyers, homegrown ballet studios, casual drug abuse, and unmitigated pressure to conform, all amid the great natural beauty of the region–the book portrays a loving but struggling young family in turmoil, and two siblings, Rene and Leon, who opt for different but equally extreme means of escaping the burdens of home. By turns funny and tragic, lyrical and terse, Paula Saunders’ debut examines the classic American questions: What is to become of the vulnerable in a culture of striving and power? And what is the effect of this striving and power on both those who dominate and those who are overrun? It is an affecting novel, in which the author’s compassionate narration allows us to sympathize, in turn, with everyone involved.
Crux is arriving today. Thankyou for your review. Feeling excited..
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You are so welcome! I really hope you find it a worthy read. Please let me know what you think! 😊 Hope you are having a great Friday!
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And you too. Have a wonderful weekend.
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Sounds pretty good, but maybe sad to read at times. Wonderful review! 🧡😘
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Thanks, favorite M! It had a sad tone to it, but it was a wonderfully written, thoughtful book. Happy Friday! Xo 😘
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Awesome review, Jennifer ❤
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Thanks, Dee! 💗
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Sounds fabulous!! Wonderful job on the review!
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Thanks, Reeca! I hope you have a great weekend with some reading time! 💕
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This sounds pretty interesting, Jennifer. I’m half-and-half when it comes to family sagas, mostly because I’m not much for heavy drama, but you said this one has light moments so I’ll check this out 😀
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Thanks, Rachel! To me, this one wasn’t too heavy on the drama because it was realistic. But I may get that line between drama and melodrama confused sometimes! This one definitely has some humor, and even with its sad tone, it wasn’t super heavy to me. Happy Friday, Rachel!
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Matter of fact I just finished Crux this morning…talk about a family saga! Glad you enjoyed this one.
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Thanks, Marialyce! I hope you enjoyed Crux!
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Love picture. Great review. I have added this 60’s family saga to my tbr list. Enjoy reading this weekend.💕
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Thanks, Virginia! I hope you enjoy it, and I hope you have a great reading weekend, too! 💗
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Terrific review Jennifer! I don’t read a lot of family dramas, but this sounds like something I might want to try.☺️
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Thanks, Kim! I was mentioning above to Rachel that I didn’t find it too dramatic, just because it was so realistic? But then again, I think I get fuzzy on the line between drama and melodrama, and I really don’t like melodrama! 😊 I hope you have an amazing weekend with some great reads! 💕
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You have a wonderful weekend too Jennifer!🤗
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Fabulous review, looks good but emotional!💕
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Thanks, Berit! Lots of emotion, but not too overall heavy, at least for me. I hope you have a wonderful weekend- so exciting! ♥️
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I don’t read many family sagas, but this one sounds interesting with its ’60s setting – a time when things they were a-changing, as the song said. Always blame the parents, that’s my motto! 😉
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Yes, the 60s really added something to this one! The times were definitely changing! 😊
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Oh wow!!! Awesome review Jen! I really want to read this one! Sorry I’m so late responding…I got a new phone today and after spending four hours at the AT and T store(we got four new phones) I came home and played on the stupid thing!! Lol Have a great weekend!😊💖📚☕
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Aw, thanks, Sus! I am just grateful you stopped by whenever you stop by! ♥️ This was a great book. The writing was truly beautiful. What kind of phone did you get? I bet you ahve it all figured out now! 💗 I hope you have a great weekend, too! Xo
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Yeah my husband and I got Samsung Galaxy S9s and my girls got iPhone 8s……..so much money it’s disgusting but my phone was five years old and when I took it out the salesman just started laughing so it became quite the joke while we were there!😂😂💖💖
Happy Saturday!!😊📚☕💖
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I am pretty sure mine is an S8, and I got it back in the fall! I am a Samsung person too, and I will keep it a couple years, so I’m not that far off from you! People laugh at me! I have to pay full price because I go with a cheaper all inclusive plan (Boost), so I really feel your pain on the prices. Ugh. I love this phone though. I do find my apps a little buggy, but I probably need to restart more often than I do. Love the infinity screen. Haven’t scratched or broken it yet! I hope you love yours, Sus! Such a fun new toy! 💗 xo
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I love my new phone!! I had my last Samsung for five years!!! It was starting to restart itself and dying and trying not to turn back on so I knew it was time!😊💖📱📱
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Great review Jen. This sounds like a great read. I like the sound of the character development and the realistic feel to the story. Definitely a book that I’d love to read 🙂
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Thank you, Diana! These really were three-dimensional characters. I hope you enjoy this one if you get a chance to read it.
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Wonderful review Jen as always. I do enjoy a family saga. I’ve heard Anne Tyler does it really well but I’ve only read one of hers. Enjoyed it though! Are you a fan? 😊
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Thanks, Beth! I am an Anne Tyler fan! Her stories are simple, not much going on, ordinary people and families, and I devour them. I’m hearing mixed things about her latest, but I don’t have it yet to read. I’m happy to hear you enjoyed one of her books! 😊
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Great review Jennifer! I’m usually more drawn to the juicier dramas sorting through the secrets myself. 🙂
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Thanks, Carrie! Sometimes I can do high drama if I’m in the right mood for it! 😊
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You’re welcome!
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This book sounds very real! I can understand that it would be hard for these children to deal with and that, although parents shouldn’t have favourites, sometimes you can see their leanings through their actions! This sounds great!! 💖🍻
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Yes, so true on all counts, Nicole! It felt real for sure, and as I was reading, I was thinking that many families have a dynamic where parents favor certain kids for whatever reason, and then that can have an impact on those same kids.
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