The Arrivals by Meg Mitchell Moore

I truly enjoyed reading The Arrivals by Meg Mitchell Moore, and I took my time with it.  Perhaps it wouldn't have meant so much to me had I not been the mother of a grown child.  Perhaps it wouldn't have been so poignant and funny and satisfying if I hadn't recently returned from a vacation spot that I had visited with my late parents, that last time alone with them, just Mom and Dad and me.  The Arrivals was a very good read, perfect for me.

Isn't it funny how returning to your parents' home takes you back to your childhood in unexpected ways?  I spent some time with my folks a few years ago, taking them to a yearly vacation spot they loved after my Dad was no longer able to drive long distances.  It didn't take long for me to slip back into some childhood feelings that I had long forgotten.  Not necessarily bad feelings, although there was some exasperation, but also feeling loved and watched over in a way.

On the other hand, once a parent always a parent.  I just got back from a trip with my grown daughter and I found myself falling into old patterns, offering her the best seat, letting her sleep a little later, making sure all was well in her little world and being a mom in a more tangible way. 

I laughed many times while reading The Arrivals, which is this author's debut novel.  I felt for the parents who had their three kids come home unexpectedly, crowding everyone into a house that had felt large enough when the children were young, but felt a little close when grandkids and in-laws were added.  There were some scenes in which Ginny, the mother, is up late at night and she realizes that she has missed closing up a house when all her children are safe under her roof.  William, the father, goes through a kind of claustrophobic episode, lamenting that the clutter and mess of their household has gotten out of hand.  There is drama and situations to be resolved with each of the kids.  They all are selfish at times, reverting back to the way children will be, even though they are grown-ups.  There is also a lot of love shown and understanding and finally, contentment. 

Oh, one other thing, the setting is Vermont, a state I have never visited.  In The Arrivals, there is a field trip taken to the Ben & Jerry's Factory, which apparently has a Flavor Graveyard section, along with lots of other good stuff to see and eat.  I'd love to take a trip there.  For me, Cherry Garcia is a separate food group! 

I look forward to seeing what Meg Mitchell Moore will share with all of us next.  This book is recommended.
   

From the author's website:

It's early summer when Ginny and William's peaceful life in Burlington, Vermont, comes to an abrupt halt. First, their daughter Lillian arrives, two children in tow, to escape her crumbling marriage. Next, their son Stephen and his pregnant wife Jane show up for a weekend visit, which extends indefinitely. When their youngest daughter Rachel appears, fleeing her difficult life in New York, Ginny and William find themselves consumed again by the chaos of parenthood—only this time around, their children are facing adult problems. By summer's end, the family gains new ideas of loyalty and responsibility, exposing the challenges of surviving the modern family. And the old adage, once a parent, always a parent, has never rung so true.

For some other opinions, check out these blogs:

Lesa's Book Critiques
Letters From a Hill Farm
Devourer of Books
BookNAround