Synopsis (from GoodReads): 1963, Mexico, Maine. The Wood family is much like its close, Catholic, immigrant neighbors, all dependent on a father’s wages from the Oxford Paper Company. Until the sudden death of Dad, when Mum and the four closely connected Wood girls are set adrift. Funny and to-the-bone moving, When We Were the Kennedys is the story of how this family saves itself, at first by depending on Father Bob, Mum’s youngest brother, a charismatic Catholic priest who feels his new responsibilities deeply. And then, as the nation is shocked by the loss of its handsome Catholic president, the televised grace of Jackie Kennedy—she too a Catholic widow with young children—galvanizes Mum to set off on an unprecedented family road trip to Washington, D.C., to do some rescuing of her own. An indelible story of how family and nation, each shocked by the unimaginable, exchange one identity for another.
My Thoughts:
I had really high expectations for this book to be a lot all at once: a tear jerker, laugh out loud funny, a sort of coming-of-age book all rolled into one. After all, the description makes it sound like this is exactly what it is! While it wasn't as funny as I had hoped, I did find myself consistently wanting to read on to find out what would happen next.
The story is told from middle-sister Monica's perspective. The Wood family has some unique dynamics that made their [mis]adventures more interesting: a special needs sister, a priest uncle who desperately wants to fill the "dad" void but who takes up drink, and distant relatives from Prince Edward Island who seem straight-from-the-fairy-tales.
The death of a family member, particularly a parent or spouse, is earth shattering in its own. However, once the story moved beyond that (the even happened in the first couple chapters), nothing truly astounding happens for the rest of the book. Sure, there are a few surprises here and there that make you want to jump up and cheer (or run and give someone a hug), but overall it was a fairly mundane story with a few cute anecdotes. I particularly enjoyed the parts about the Nuns in Monica's school.
I did have an overall feeling of "too much Oxford!" As someone from a small town, I can completely understand the feeling that a single business can be the lifeblood of the community. However, after Dad dies and things start to settle, I felt it rather tedious to keep coming back to the state of the Oxford throughout the story. Not until the very end did I see the point the author was making; to me, this is not particularly stellar writing. I should be able to follow the line of thought continuously, not flounder along until things click at the end.
Overall, I'd say this is a Good Read! Particularly recommended if you have lost a parent recently. You will probably find more humor and heartbreak in this story than I because it will be more relatable. But even if you have not lost a loved one, this is still a pleasant read with a few twists and turns that will keep you interested throughout.
Final Word: B-
