Friday

Author Spotlight: Jennifer Haigh

I had the opportunity of sitting in for a reading of The Condition by Author Jennifer Haigh. Jennifer did a great job and I was once again pleased with myself for buying her book months ago. Sadly, I haven't had the opportunity of reading it yet, but I definitely bumped it up on the TBR pile.
Here are some pictures of Vanessa from Book ♥ Soulmates (4th picture down) and I with Jennifer. She was sweet as pie and took pictures with us as well as authographed my copy of The Condition.

Here is a quick synopsis of The Condition:

"The Condition" tells the story of the McKotches, a proper New England family that comes apart during one fateful summer. The year is 1976, and the family--Frank McKotch, an eminent scientist; his pedigreed wife, Paulette; and their three beautiful children--has embarked on its annual vacation at the Captain's House, the grand old family retreat on Cape Cod. One day on the beach, Frank is struck by an image he cannot forget: his thirteen-year-old daughter, Gwen, strangely infantile in her child-sized bikini, standing a full head shorter than her younger cousin Charlotte. At that moment he knows a truth that he can never again unknow--something is terribly wrong with his only daughter. The McKotch family will never be the same.

Twenty years after Gwen's diagnosis with Turner's syndrome--a genetic condition that has prevented her from maturing, trapping her forever in the body of a child--all five family members are still dealing with the fallout. Each believes himself crippled by some secret pathology; each feels responsible for the family's demise. Frank and Paulette are acrimoniously divorced. Billy, the eldest son, is dutiful but distant--a handsome Manhattan cardiologist with a life built on compromise. His brother, Scott, awakens from a pot-addled adolescence to a soul-killing job, a regrettable marriage, and a vinyl-sided tract house in the suburbs. And Gwen is silent and emotionally aloof, a bright, accomplished woman who spurns any interaction with those around her. She makes peace with the hermetic life she's constructed--until, well into her thirties, she falls in love for the first time. And suddenly, once again, the family's world is tilted on its axis.

Compassionate yet unflinchingly honest, witty and almost painfully astute, "The Condition" explores the power of family mythologies--the self-delusions, denials, and inescapable truths that forever bind fathers and mothers and siblings.

I can't wait to read it!

7 comments:

Book Soulmates said...

I love this!! I'm so glad you guys were able to go...sorry I couldn't join you!

However, next Thursday 7/30, Sarah Dunant will be there and count me in for that one :)

XoXo
♥ Isalys

kalea_kane said...

Sounds awesome. Looks like you had a wonderful time and how cool to have her sign your book. I will definitely be on the lookout. :)

Kailana said...

I think I read an earlier book by her, but I haven't read anything since. I should see if the library has more from her because I liked what I have read. Thanks for the reminder!

Jess said...

Book Club Girl is doing a Blog Radio Interview with this author next month. You should check it out!

Beth F said...

I have this on my MP3 player. I really need to to read it too.

Sheila DeChantal said...

This looks great - the book, the pictures - all of it!

Serena said...

I love the pictures and looks like you both had a great time. I think she's one of those authors that loves to meet her readers.

I have this book on my shelf for the mid-August Book Club Girl show.

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