Harmony by Carolyn Parkhurst –288 pages
Book Blurb:
How far will a mother go to save her family? The Hammond family is living in DC, where everything seems to be going just fine, until it becomes clear that the oldest daughter, Tilly, is developing abnormally–a mix of off-the-charts genius and social incompetence. Once Tilly–whose condition is deemed undiagnosable–is kicked out of the last school in the area, her mother Alexandra is out of ideas. The family turns to Camp Harmony and the wisdom of child behavior guru Scott Bean for a solution. But what they discover in the woods of New Hampshire will push them to the very limit.
My Review: 3.5
Harmony was an amazingly well written novel about permanent participants at a “family camp” and their before, during and after of this experience. The story grew with a sense that something sinister and overall terrifying was going to happen, but it never did. The author was able to create that fearful atmosphere, which kept the reader waiting.
Although the POVs were mostly from Iris, the “normal” child and Alexandra, the mother of sisters Iris and Tilly, there was a small peppering of Tilly’s POV as well. Each of these was so well done, that it was the writing that I most enjoyed from this book. The mom spoke of herself in the second person narrative, which really hit the reader emotionally. It allowed the reader to better relate to her. Iris was the most dependable narrator and I adored her. She was tough as nails with such inner vulnerability. Her dialogue, both internally and externally, was spot on.
Tilly was portrayed with such dimension that her character broke so many stereotypes on what a kid on the spectrum can be like. I adored her endless imagination and inquisitive nature. I thoroughly enjoyed the scene when she covered her walls with curse words, but Alexandra took solace in the fact that she spelled them all correctly. Way to find the silver lining.
I felt the story was missing the camp director’s POV. He was such a crucial character and I would’ve loved to know more about him. I think the story had the potential to be more rounded out had we learned his intent and back-story. It was easy to know something was off, but his off the charts charisma and his strings of hope led so many to trust him.
Several messages were shared in this book regarding parenting and marriage with the unforeseen loneliness that can come from both of them. Themes of acceptance, being different, fitting in and blame also run throughout the book. Overall, I enjoyed the story but loved the writing more.
Quotes I liked:
A hopeful mom can talk herself into anything.”
-“So easy to miss your children changing before your eyes.”
-“Happiness in he real world is mostly just resilience and a willingness to arch oneself toward optimism.”
-“Your only job is creating a life that contains a story worth telling.”
-“Like every parent, you have to teach your girl to live a contradiction, to be exceptional and ordinary, all at the same time.”
I totally agree with you! I couldn’t put it down and then found that the ending was a total disappointment. Had the promise of five stars, but it left me flat.
Glad we’re on the same page! But bummed about it too! Could’ve ended so much better.