The Misfortunes of Family, Meg Little Reilly
The Misfortunes of Family, Meg Little Reilly
2 Rating(s)
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The Misfortunes of Family

Author: Meg Little Reilly

Narrator: Cassandra Campbell

Unabridged: 10 hr 8 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 02/04/2020

Synopsis

The Nest meets The Vacationers in this novel of family dysfunction in which, for the Brights, normal has become whatever their crazy family says it is.When the four adult sons of recently retired senator John Bright, and their significant others, join their parents at the family’s Berkshire compound for their mandatory summer vacation, the matriarch Patty decides to hire a documentary filmmaker to memorialize their time together. The Brights, a family of outsized pride, are beautiful, competitive, athletic, and terrible. They have everything they need, except the ability to see themselves clearly. Naturally, they let their guard down.Caught up in the news of the day, the senator misses being in the limelight and so he floats, at least on camera, another political run, this time for governor. That is, until one by one family secrets start coming to light. And keep coming.

About Meg Little Reilly

Meg Little Reilly is a former Treasury spokesperson under President Obama, deputy communications director for the Office of Management and Budget, communicator for the Environmental Defense Fund, and producer for Vermont Public Radio. A native of Vermont, she is an UVM graduate with deep ties around the state. She currently lives in Boston with her husband and two daughters.

About Cassandra Campbell

Original bio sent from Cassandra: Cassandra Campbell began doing voice overs as the voice for Calvin Klein’s Italian commercials. This was followed by commercial and documentary recording in both English and Italian. She has recorded many audiobooks and has received several AudioFile Earphones Awards as well as an Audie® Award nomination. As an actress and director, she has worked at the Public, the Mint, the Berkshire Theatre Festival, Stagewest, Theatreworks, the Baltimore Shakespeare Festival, Millmountain Theatre, the National Shakespeare Company, and the New York Fringe Festival.  

Reviews

Goodreads review by Lori L on January 28, 2020

The Misfortunes of Family by Meg Little Reilly is a recommended family drama. The Bright family is a political family. Newly retired senator John Bright and his wife Patty have four sons: JJ (John Junior), Spencer, Charlie, and Phillip. Every summer they have the sons and their partners for a family......more

Goodreads review by Susan on January 31, 2020

This book was great. I loved the family dynamics and how the story was told from the point of view of the “extras.” It’s also a reminder that a life in a political family would be DREADFUL. This was a book about a lot of people who aren’t so very nice but you find yourself rooting for them anyway. I......more

Goodreads review by Natalie on December 11, 2019

The Bright family is the personification of the political dynasties we know. During a trip to the home of the Bright patriarchs all four of their sons become involved in the unraveling of years of parental machinations and lies. This was really a great read with interesting characters. I was totally......more

Goodreads review by Stephen on June 12, 2020

This book is a pleasant, vivid, thorough evisceration of privilege, wealth and power. It is done deftly, and unapologetically, as a wealthy US senator and his family enjoy their annual summer vacation retreat -- only this year allow a journalist to film them the whole time. Oddly, evil smiles throug......more

Goodreads review by Morgan on October 14, 2019

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review Very well crafted. Was five star 90% of the way but the ending was a smidge too dramatic, hence the four. Hubris never gets to be its own reward.......more

Quotes

“[A] character-driven study of American privilege.” Seven Days

“There’s plenty of intrigue around the Brights who, while servants to the people, in many ways are slaves to themselves…The tension rises, exposing the human frailty inherent in us all.” Bennington Banner (Vermont)

“Reilly’s family creation is all too real and, ultimately, sympathetic. Recommended for all fiction collections.” Booklist

“Meg Little Reilly is a masterful storyteller, moving seamlessly with honesty, humor, and cringing familiarity. I was enchanted.” Lisa Carey, author of The Stolen Child

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