5 Family Relationship Books You Should Read
We often have a choice when it comes to forming friendships or business relationships, but family is inescapable. Unique in their own ways, every family, fictional or real, brings to the table a set of quirks that makes reading about them a little unusual and sometimes enjoyable. Here are five books on family relationships that play around with mixed sentiments that are part and parcel of being bound by blood.
1. The Floating Feldmans by Elyssa Friedland
If there’s one thing we’ve learned from studying human nature over centuries is that we don’t put an entire family in a claustrophobic situation with no place to escape. When Annette and her family decide to celebrate her 70th birthday, they do so on a cruise ship. What should have been a pleasant vacation soon turns into a classic thanksgiving-esq family escapade wherein every member of the Feldman’s group has a secret they are hiding from the others. The only one privy to this information is the reader. Funny, full of relatable instances, thought-provoking, and a look at family affairs in the modern age, The Floating Feldmans will leave you in two minds about heading out into the open seas with your loved ones.
2. Alfie and Everybody by S. Claus
Alfie is on a journey to reconnect with his family, loved ones he had lost along the way in life. As he searches through the corners of his memories, Alfie comes to a startling realization that family, in the end, is everything, and life’s too short to hold grudges against the ones you love. An absorbing, yet breezy read that looks at the rollercoaster of a ride that is family dynamics, Alfie and Everybody is a tale about redemption and second chances. Packed with flashes of happiness, tragedy, euphoria, sexual encounters, and downright madness, it will make you pick up the phone and call a long-lost friend or loved one.
3. The Film Club by David Gilmour
A beautiful story about a developing father-son relationship that blooms over movies, The Film Club isn’t so much about cinema as it is about an unconventional way of forming a trusting friendship. When David’s teenage son seems distant than usual, not interested in school, he lets Jesse take a break from it. In exchange, Jesse must watch three films a week with him. Over the next few months, both father and son go through some of the most influential movies ever. However, their conversations soon shift from what they’ve watched to Jesse’s life. A motivating concept, the book does focus more on David, helping Jesse through his girlfriend issues, but for a teenager, everything begins and ends with romance. The Film Club is a touching read about building family relationships one step at a time.
4. The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler
A classic read focusing on attachment and eccentric relationships, The Accidental Tourist was in the running for the Pulitzer Prize when first released in 1985. Anne Tyler’s brilliant study of middle-class America is an understanding of the internal bond that exists between dysfunctional families. The book is about Macon Leary, a travel writer suffering through unimaginable grief after the sudden death of his son, and resulting separation from his wife. When Macon moves back in with his brothers and sister, in the hope of companionship, his life takes on an unexpected turn. Over time, he re-discovers himself and manages to find love in the form of his dog’s trainer. There’s a charming subtlety to the story, and Tyler’s use of moving family moments and loveable yet scarred characters combined with humour makes The Accidental Tourist a remarkably insightful read.
5. Brother and Sister: A Memoir by Diane Keaton
Often, we forget that the people we see on the silver screen are as human as us, struggling with their own demons and damaged relationships. Brother and Sister is a poignant memoir by the much-loved Hollywood actress Diane Keaton. In the book, she talks about her relationship with Randy, her younger brother, and how over time, their bond goes through a fair share of trials and tribulations as he gets engulfed in mental and health problems. Brother and Sister come across as a personal tribute from Keaton to her brother. She shares anecdotes, memories, photographs, letters, poems, and introspects about her role as a sister openly, never held down by her fame. Emotionally impacting with a sense of belonging, and an omnipresent spirit of family, Brother and Sister will make you laugh, cry, and give a tight hug to your sibling.
