November 1, 2012 / Leslie

Review & Giveaway: The Shortest Way Home by Juliette Fay

Contemporary Fiction, FSB Associates, Women's Fiction

The Shortest Way Home
by Juliette Fay

Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Publisher: Penguin
Publish Date: October 30, 2012
Format: Paperback | 416 pages
Rating: 4½ of 5

Sean Doran has spent the last twenty years as a nurse living and working overseas in some of the poorest places imaginable. Leaving home as a young man, Sean never married fearing he was a carrier of the Huntington’s gene, the disease which caused the death of his mother.

Lately Sean has been suffering from chronic back pain and feeling burned out from the stress of the job. He decides to make a trip back to his childhood home in Belham, MA for a short rest and to take some time to decide where to go next. But when he arrives he finds that his elderly aunt, younger sister and quirky nephew are each having a crisis of their own and his sister expects him to step in and help out. She’s been taking care of their nephew and aunt for many years while he was away and now it’s his turn. She will be leaving home soon to pursue a career as an actress.

The story is told from Sean’s point of view, a little different from the usual women’s fiction as we instead see events through the eyes of a man. Throughout the novel Sean thinks back and fills us in on his family history and his feelings: His younger brother’s death 6 years ago, his nephew’s problems with a sensory disorder condition, his days back in high school, being raised by his Aunt Viv and his father abandoning the family. Eventually we realize that despite all his travels across many continents, Sean finally expands his horizons only after returning home.

These are well-developed, slightly flawed, but very likeable characters. Most, probably all, families are far from perfect and the Doran family has their share of problems. Add in a believable setting, a little romance and some conflict and we have a touching story and a very readable novel that flows from start to finish.

This truly is a “slice of life” story exposing the complex nature of family, life in general and of finding out after many years who you really are.

Win a Copy of The Shortest Way Home

The publisher has generously offered a copy to give away to one of my readers. If you would like to be entered in the drawing let me know in the comments. US/Canada only, no PO Boxes. Enter through midnight, CST, Sunday, November 11th. One random winner will be chosen and notified by email and will have 48 hours to respond with a mailing address.