Book Review: The Family Way - Tony Parsons

This book was billed as Tony Parson's best book since Man and Boy, so I was sufficiently impressed into buying it. It's the story of three sisters, who were abandoned by their mother, an ex-beauty who looks out for herself first. The girls are: Cat - the eldest, who stepped in to be mother when her real mother left. Having done it all before, she suppresses feelings for having her own children; Jessica - the beautiful middle child, the one most upset by her mother's departure, and the one most desperate to have a child of her own, despite many months of trying; Megan, the curvy younger sister; makes up for looks with brains, and takes a neutral view on family.

And my problem with this book begins there. Tony has to tick all of the beauty/brains/desire-for-family boxes for each of his three main characters, in order to create counterpoints between them. This means that he doesn't have to present too much real insight to get a dynamic going. Not that he doesn't try. It is a Parson's standard to present clever insights to each of his characters - it is also the reader's identification with these inner thoughts that bond us to them. All the real insight in this book is from the women. The men seem rather 2-dimensional; plus, it does make me wonder what women readers make of his all-too-knowing familiarity with the feminine psyche. Does it ring true, I wonder?

It's certainly a departure for Parsons, who has previously written from a man's perspective. That's not to say that this book is without merit. He knows how to pace a book, and writes in an engaging charming way that makes it very easy to read. Not only that, but not all the perceptive pearls of wisdom are awry - many still ring true, and he still can create a surprise to bring a lump to the throat (now that's definitely a Parsons trademark). But the ending is cheesy, and with the lack of 'realness' in the characters (there's an obsession with the sisters' looks .. constantly .. repeatedly!), it smacks as pop fiction. It wouldn't feel like a work-in-progress if Parsons was a bit clearer on what he is trying to say.

An easy read; a holiday book; but no better, and a disappointment from an author who normally makes you feel as if he is in part describing you. 5/10.

you can buy this book here.