The Burgess Boys, By Elizabeth Strout

 

The Burgess Boys, By Elizabeth Strout.  The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout.  Rather dreary, plodding story of three siblings from a small town in Maine.  When they were children, their father died in an accident that leaves a cloud over their lives.  The two boys are able to go to law school and escape the small town for the big city.  Their mother and sister remain in their hometown.  When the sister’s son gets into big legal trouble, she calls on her law smart brothers for help.  Thus the family is back together and there are no smooth roads there, for any of them.  The way the mother and siblings interact is depressing.  Super successful big brother’s verbal treatment of less successful little brother is downright distressing.  As it is meant to be.  Sister’s whole life is depressing.  Her son has a very unusual personality and their home runs unlike any I’ve heard about.   I guessed the big reveal from the beginning, wanted to see more sizzle when it came.  But the novel just plodded along.  Some vague sunshine and hope at the end, thank goodness.  6.5/10.  Weird ranking for me, but it fits.  More reviews: http://queenbeewritings.blogspot.com/