Sean Desmond (1) (1973–)

In 1987 in suburban Dallas, the Malone family struggles to stay afloat both individually and as a uniit. The father, Pat, has MS and is an alcoholic. The mother, Anne, has her hands full keeping everyone and everything afloat as her own dreams diminish, particularly when she is selected for jury duty in a highly-publicized criminal trial. Their only child, Dan, is a sophomore as the story opens. His life is full with friends, school and the duties of the elected newspaper editor; however, his home life is chaos with the unrelenting battle waged between his parents and his witnessing of his father's physical decline. His talents are recognized by an unusual English teacher, who realizes and encourages Kevin's aspirations. Their downward spiral is exacerbated when Pat loses his job and his drinking accelerates. Pat has an interesting interview with Frank Borman, the former astronaut and head of Eastern Airlines at that time. The depiction of Borman is not flattering, to say the least. The ending provides a glimmer of hope for this family.… (mere)

It's 1987 and the Malone family is falling apart. Pat has MS and is intent on drinking himself to death. When he is laid off, he has time to really devote himself to drinking. Dan is fifteen and working hard to fly under the radar when he is inspired by an English teacher with unusual teaching methods to excel. He's got a solid group of friends and he really likes this one girl. While his home life is not great, his focus is elsewhere. And then there's Anne, who is doing everything to keep her family going. She works as a substitute teacher and all of the housework, childcare and cooking fall on her, even when her husband sits home all day. When her non-communicative husband loses his job, she works harder, clipping coupons and switching to cheaper brands. When she is called to serve as a juror for a high-profile murder trial, Anne's mental energies are focused on that, and while a juror has a responsibility to do a thorough job, she may have crossed a line when she begins to drive through the Dallas neighborhood where the crime took place late at night.

I found this novel to be a frustrating book to read. His suburban Dallas setting is well-depicted. It's very well-written and Desmond really nails the world of a sullen teenager stuck in bland suburbia and longing for something more authentic. How wonderful it was to hang out with your friends and maybe even talk to that person you like. The simultaneous desire to be recognized and to not be noticed. And his portrayal of an alcoholic unable to look past himself to the family he's destroying is compassionate and nuanced. But the most interesting character in this novel is left one-dimensional. Anne is viewed not only by her family as a cold, nagging housekeeper, but also by the author. There was so much more to be said about this intelligent woman stuck in the role of the faithful and submissive Catholic wife and how being a juror might have changed her, had her character been afforded the same development as Pat and Dan.… (mere)