The GoodBook Club discussion

Hi all - welcome to the Amy Jones discussion. Hope everyone is enjoying the book so far! What are everyone's first impressions? And what did you think of the Parker family? Were they truly dysfunctional or were they simply a portrayal of some of the things modern day families deal with?

First impressions - Interesting characters, funny yet tragic, multifaceted story.

Parker family - Dysfunctional, with regular modern day issues (choosing between work and family, marital problems) thrown in to make the story more relatable.

I'm enjoying it very much. It's funny, touching and tragic. The Parkers do seem dysfunctional, but I think we can probably all relate to them on some level.

I find Kate quite fascinating.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I think the Parkers are pretty representative of how families are now - not dysfunctional at all, just doing the best they can to keep everything together.

I'm not usually a fan of multi storyline books but this one worked for me.

I read it on an e-reader and the legend to the different symbols (and who they represent) was at the end which I found silly. It didn't take me very long to work out who was which symbol but it would have been even better to have the info up front.

Just finished this book, I had a few tears close to the end as well as a wee chuckle. All the characters were easy to relate to. I really liked Kate.

I read an ARC of this book around the time when it first came out. I liked it well enough, but I have to say, I found Shawn and Katriina's family dynamic more interesting than the Parker's themselves. I would have loved to see their story, and the Parker's issues as a side storyline.

A lot of the book was Finn trying to get things back to normal, but I think, and Nicki at one point comes out and says it, dysfunctional IS normal for the family. While that does make them more relatable (every family has some dysfunction) I almost felt like at some points, it was a bit much and exaggerated. Every single character had a problem that just had to be solved at the same time, or at least that's how it felt to me.

I loved this book so much I put it on my "favorites" shelf! The Parker's were a hot mess but I think the issues that they dealt with were ones many families deal with, just not all at once! It was definitely an exaggerated version of reality but that's what made it so dramatic and interesting.

I did enjoy this book and the different characters in it. They were all relatable and the problems they have are ones that any family can have. I could see this being turned into an Independent film. At first I thought that the story was going to centre solely around Finn and was pleasantly surprised that all characters in the family were featured equally.

I really enjoyed this book! Kate was by far one of my favourite characters/storylines to follow. I found all of them relatable in some sense and there family problems are things i am sure alot of families actually go through.

I've now started ready about another dysfunctional family in The Nest. Hope it's just as good but so far there problems are not really relatable as they were in We're all in this together.

Once again great job penguin random house for the book club pick. Can't wait to see what the surprise participation gift is this month and also to find out what next month's book club pick is.

I really enjoyed reading this book right from the first page. Gave it a ***** and recommended it to my daughters.

Ashley, I read The Nest a month or so ago and although I enjoyed it, I'm finding this book more interesting - perhaps because of Kate's story. The Nest seems a little more one-dimensional after having read most of We're All In This Together.

Ashley and Anita, I just finished The Nest too and I didn't like it half as much as I liked We're All in this Together. The Nest was definitely less relatable and a lot less interesting too! I struggled a bit with how boring it was while WAITT kept me turning the pages and was hard to put down! I agree that Kate's story was the most compelling. She was so fascinating!

I really enjoyed reading this book and was quite happy when it was announced as the book for this month because it had been on my TBR list! I loved all the different family members and their storylines so it's difficult for me to really pick out which one I liked the best but I do agree that Kate's was one of the more interesting ones.

I think that the Parker family was dysfunctional, but given the circumstances that they were all faced with it was understandable. Most families will go through turmoil and rough patches at some point in time and everyone handles things differently. I think this was evident in the way the different family members dealt with their issues i.e Katrina, Finn, Nikki, Walter,.

I think Kate's incident brought the family closer together because even though it was dysfunctional, everyone rallied together and was there to support one another not only with the Parker family crisis as a whole, but for their own individual crisis' as well.

I haven't had the chance to read it yet. Still waiting on a copy at my local library

There's still plenty of time, Chantale!

SO glad everyone is enjoying it. The book definitely has a lot going for it.

With so many complex characters in the novel, which one stood out to you the most?

Katrina stood out the most for me on the outside she is a very successful woman a people pleaser, a perfectionist., but deep down she is very insecure. In the end she has a break down trying to be perfect in every way.

Kate stood out for me the most. I loved the descriptions of her youth - she had spunk and fire and these characteristics continued to be present in her later life. She made me laugh and root for her.

Thanks to Penguin Random House Canada for the copy of this book.
It started off grabbing my attention right away. The mixed up family, the drama put on them by their mother Kate's stunt, the media grabbing this story, I wanted to keep reading.
Half way through, I found the author kept adding in new characters that I did not care about and thought it should have kept to the true core of the family.
It also became unbelievable, that everyone person in this family had an extreme issue, they lacked communication, it just seemed to far fetch. Everyone deals with work, marriage, kids, some sort of turmoil in their lives but this family seemed to have everything at once. Kate character was the best and so true for someone with dementia.

As I said in my review, this is a great read. Jones kept us engaged and created depth in the characters, not always there in an superficially "light" read. This novel makes one think.
I think that she leaves us with a functional family - "dysfunction" seems to be a trait most families share in one way or another. There is movement in this book towards a larger understanding of the world and the family as a whole by the end. There is no pat answer, but interesting questions that resonate.
I also valued her depiction of Thunder Bay. It really came alive.

I am about half way through and so far my impression is that the Parker family has challenges and relationship dynamics that are present in many Canadian families. The negative aspects of their behaviours and "dysfunctional" relationships are brought to the forefront when faced with an unexpected event. Life would be boring without family drama... I am enjoying getting to know the characters and getting into the heart of their individual and collective complexities.

As for which one is standing out for me the most, at this time it is Katriina with her underlying anxiety, lack of self-confidence and overwhelming desire for improvement.

Penguin Random House Canada wrote:

With so many complex characters in the novel, which one stood out to you the..."

Kristiina is my standout character as well. I was really excited whenever I saw the next chapter was marked with a house and therefore was going to be about her. I could read a whole book about her character I think.

Just picked up on this thread. The book sounds interesting. I put a hold on it at the library but there are 170 ahead of me LOL. Will check out Indigo.

I agree that Katriina was fascinating, probably the most intriguing. I wanted to know more about her issues and how it all would play out. Same with Finn. Can't say more until all have read it.

I just started the book. I'm glad to read that so many of you have enjoyed it.

I like the start and am intrigued to find out more about this family. There are so many questions running through my head already:
1. Why did Finn leave? That incident on the patio doesn't seem like the complete story; more like a "straw that broke the camel's back".
2. Why did Kate take Shawn in? Seems like quite a chance to take with young children in the house and a husband that isn't home a lot.
3. Why is Katriina so insecure?
These are just starters. I'm not looking for answers; I'll find out as I read. I'm really looking forward to the coming week and reading this story to find out the answers.

I like the writing style as well. It's humorous, yet has an element of sadness as well.

Looking forward to the coming few days and making good progress on this book.

I'm only a bit through the book so far but my first impression is that they are not truly dysfunctional. The whole viral video incident seems to be an exaggerated example of a traumatic family event. I think it's a clever way to explore a family's reaction to something traumatic and serious happening, even though it's a silly event that puts the plot into motion.

Katriina definitely stood out the most to me, she was trying so hard to live up to the wonderful matriarch that Shawn saw Kate to be, but it soon becomes quite clear that she can't. Not necessarily because Kate embodies something unattainable, but because Katriina finally sees that if you have to bend and mold yourself into something so different from what you really are, you have to start asking yourself it is really worth it. I think she showed such strength in the end, that you have to be true to yourself, first, in order to be anything to anybody else.

I'm really liking this book so far. I think my favourite part is how each of the characters are so well-developed and different from one another. I think that's really rare for an author to do. Also, I thought that the mix of wild and weird characters would be annoying or jarring, but that's not the case at all!

All families are dysfunctional to a certain extent, but this was a really unique situation and it didn't feel silly or overdone.

I'm not far into this book yet but am absolutely loving it so far. I have a hunch this is going to be one of my favourites -- I'm a sucker for books with vivid characters and dysfunctional families.

Kate stands out the most to me by default at the beginning of the book because she's a daredevil! Even though much hasn't been written about her so far where I am in the story, her crazy stunt makes her the most intriguing character.

Just finished and I loved it, a lot! All those characters are so well defined, they feel so real. The style is great and just brings out the emotions in the reader. I almost cried... almost.

One of the things I really liked is how the books seems to focus on Finn, but really use her as an entryway for the reader, an outsider member of the family coming back to it to introduce the complete outsider the reader is. Then you meet all those other characters and you already care about them somehow.

Kate's parts were the most vivid and fascinating to read, although I personally related a lot more with Finn and Katriina, but to each his own. Kate made me feel sad, reminding me of my own grandmother who's slowly losing her grip on reality. I also loved London, who acts exactly like a teenaged girl does, even though she's self-conscious about it.

A really great read, Can't wait to see what's coming next month.

Penguin Random House Canada wrote: "Hi all - welcome to the Amy Jones discussion. Hope everyone is enjoying the book so far! What are everyone's first impressions? And what did you think of the Parker family? Were they truly dysfunct..."

I'm only about 15% into the story (Saturday) and I would say that yes, they are a dysfunctional family. Twins are usually close so I'm a bit surprised at the hostile relationship between Finn and Nicki (whom I really dislike). Personally if I was in Finn's shoes I would have stayed away as well.

I just finished Chapter 11.
The more Katriina is mentioned, the less I like her and the more irritating I find her. She just seems to get deeper and deeper into bad situations and thought lines without trying to help herself in any way. She doesn't give thought to why she's feeling as she is, how to change her situation or what is truly happening to her.
These situations happen slowly, with the "victim" not realizing the subtle changes in one's life & situation. However, in Katriina's case, she is realizing that things are escalating in her inner turmoil, her thoughts aren't logical, her actions insane......and for what purpose? To have people like her? None of her actions will entice people to like and/or accept her; just the opposite.
I hope she starts to get things together. At the moment, I find her irritating. She's a sad case but one that I feel could help herself more than she is.

I'm enjoying this story. The flow is good, the characters interesting and their situations intriguing.
Walter is so removed. He seems to have always been like that. He cares, he's involved but only in an observational way (he doesn't seem to interact), he loves but I wonder if anyone knows that.
What we don't know (at least not yet) is Walter & Kate's upbringing. What made them that way they are? Walter observing, Kate acting (out?). Whatever baggage they had/have they seem to have brought to their kids.

I just finished this. What a wonderful reading experience. Great characters and a beautiful story. I didn't want it to end.

So far, Katriina is the one who's standing out the most to me. There's something about the elastic band snapping and the repeated "be a better mother/daughter-in-law" thing that affected me. She's holding herself to such a lofty standard, and I know it can't possibly end well.

Also... Can I say that Thunder Bay really stands out to me as a character? I've never been, but I do live in Northern Ontario, and there's so much that feels familiar in the descriptions and cultural references. There's such a vivid sense of place. And I think that Thunder Bay, its influence on the characters, and how they perceive their feelings towards the city... it's more than just a background onto which the story is set or an atmosphere.

Sarah, I love your comments about the role of Thunder Bay in the story - I completely agree.

Penguin Random House Canada wrote: "Were they truly dysfunctional or were they simply a portrayal of some of the things modern day families deal with?.."

Truly dysfunctional with some mental illness thrown in.

I'm only at chapter 20 but I am surprised how the family seemed to ignore Kate's growing dementia. Is this whole family living in denial?

I don't really have a favorite character but I have one that I despise. Nicky. I wouldn't want her as my sister, nor my friend, not my neighbour or colleague and not even as an acquaintance. She is as trashy as one can get.

Louise wrote: "I'm only at chapter 20 but I am surprised how the family seemed to ignore Kate's growing dementia. Is this whole family living in denial?"

I'm just at Chapter 15 but this thought keeps running through my head, too.
Kate was having problems, some of which the family noticed. Yet no one did anything or reacted to it in any way. It seems odd.

I finished this book last night and I was completely blown away. The characterization was so perfect. Louise, I started off despising Nicki at the beginning too, but by the end, I actually felt a little sorry for her.

This whole book just goes to show how complex people are and how families can be brought together and become stronger through tragedies, even while everyone is expecting them to break apart. I'm going to read anything and everything Amy Jones writes. She has an amazing perspective of the world.

With people not acting on Kate's symptoms... I buy it, probably because my extended family did something very similar -- noticing but ignoring years of dementia symptoms until things got out of control.

I think it's a combination of denial, communication issues, resentment, exhaustion, and a sense of not wanting to embarass the person by acknowledging that something's wrong. The Parkers seem to have all of that in spades, and I see how that could get away from people and lead to a crisis.

So, I don't know, I get it. Not sure what that says about me, but hey. ;)

I'm at Chapter 20 now.
Sarah, I think I get that. The further I get in the book and the more we get to know about the family, the more I realize that they hide from the important things. They've spent lifetimes knowing that "something" wasn't right and not talking about it or facing it. Kate's situation would have just been another "something".

I just finished the book last night and I can't decide which character stood out for me the most. I could really identify with London from when I was a teenager, wanting to get out of a small town, fixating on a celebrity, feeling like the world doesn't understand her, and holding on to the one person she feels understands her even though that person is gone already. London is really the only person throughout the book who is realistic about Kate's condition and who doesn't think of it as a burden or as losing the person she loves. She accepts her as she is now, maybe because Kate has been like that for most of her life.

Chandni wrote: "I'm really liking this book so far. I think my favourite part is how each of the characters are so well-developed and different from one another. I think that's really rare for an author to do. Als..."

I agree with you that the author develops the characters really well. I just finished a book that was written in the same way, with each chapter from a different point of view, and the characters were all so different and far-fetched sometimes that I had troubles following the story. But these characters feel very real, and their points of view each add a layer to the story that made it all come together very logically at the end.

Louise wrote: "I'm only at chapter 20 but I am surprised how the family seemed to ignore Kate's growing dementia. Is this whole family living in denial?"

I think that was one of the most realistic parts of the book. When living with the one you love, it's hard to want to admit she has a disease and is getting worse. It also seems the husband never had great communication with the kids, was afraid of confrontation and preferred to just let things be.

I just finished it. I don't think I loved it as much as others here; to me it was just okay. I did like Kate and London, but none of the other characters were very likeable and some where downright despising (Nicki, Anasthasia, Tanya), and it seemed like a bandaid was placed on most of their dysfunctional issues, nothing was really solved. I think the book would have been stronger had it just dealt with Kate's dementia and on that fallout with the family instead of throwing everything else in there.

Deanna wrote: "I think that was one of the most realistic parts of the book. When living with the one you love, it's hard to want to admit she has a disease and is getting worse. It also seems the husband never had great communication with the kids, was afraid of confrontation and preferred to just let things be. ..."

I don't know. I can't imagine a family who knows the mother/grandmother has dementia, and who has been known to get lost and confused, would allow her to drive and do whatever she wants, whenever she wants. That's irresponsible.

I finished the book this weekend and it's a 4/5 for me. There was such diversity among the characters and I felt the author did them all justice by allowing their true colours to shine through in both an intimate and comical way. There was much crisis throughout the book and I do think it was primarily realistic in how families might function and react. Many families avoid, are in denial and do not face crisis or change well. The Parkers were not an exception. Dementia steals lives and forever changes families in the process. The author was able to show this ripple effect and how it creates multiple layers of crisis in the process. I felt Amy Jones' writing was akin to Miriam Toews' with the humour and collective craziness. I also loved the Thunder Bay setting, it did feel like it's own character in the book.

Hey everyone! I'm so glad to hear all the responses to We're All in this Together! Sounds like you're all enjoying it!

Do you feel that the characters tried to keep things from one another, such as Walter keeping the incident with Kate hushed up, or do you think that the issues were in plain sight and they willfully ignored them?