The Cast by Amy Blumenfeld – 300 pages
Book Blurb:
Twenty-five years ago, a group of ninth graders produced a Saturday Night Live-style videotape to cheer up their ailing friend. The show’s running time was only ninety minutes, but it had a lasting impact: Becca laughed her way through recovery, and the group—Jordana, Seth, Holly, and Lex—became her supporting cast for life. On the silver anniversary of Becca Night Live, the friends reunite over the Fourth of July to celebrate Becca’s good health—but nothing goes as planned. The happy holiday card facades everyone’s been hiding behind quickly crumble and give way to an unforgettable three days filled with complex moral dilemmas and life-altering choices.
My Review: 4 stars – Guest Review
The Cast was not a book at the top of my To Read list – the synopses I read didn’t really “speak to me.” But the further I read, the more I fell in love with this book, and the more invested I became in the story and characters.
I loved the structure of this novel – alternating perspectives from each of the cast member’s POV (though sometimes I had to flip back to the beginning of the chapter to remind myself whose POV it was!). The author deftly crafted a variety of unique and interesting voices and backstories – in fact, I could read entire separate novels about Lex, Jordana, Holly and Seth (I’m hoping that’s to come from Blumenfeld!). There were so many themes criss-crossing this multi-dimensional story: how does a childhood illness affect those who love you? How do marriages, even the strongest, weather crises? How does one react when when life tosses you around like a rag doll, as it inevitably will? Do we follow a dedicated, well-thought out plan, or throw caution to the wind and live as though there won’t be a tomorrow? How do we stay true to ourselves if it goes against what someone we love might want?
For a book that was fast paced and quick read, this smart novel addressed a variety of complex, thought-provoking issues and while it doesn’t give a neatly tied-up ending, it ultimately celebrated the power of friendship. As a Highland Park, IL native and resident, I loved the fun shout outs to the area, and the descriptions of New York City made me feel as though I’d actually been there. Blumenfeld writes in a clear, contemporary voice, effortlessly blending humor with darkness, has developed some of the most realistic characters I’ve come across, and throws in an 11th hour plot-twist that stunned me. A great read! Review by Guest Fairy Stephanie H.
Quotes I liked:
There is so little to do when a friend is ill. Opportunities to really help don’t always present themselves. Sometimes you need to create them.”
– “…sometimes the right thing doesn’t always present itself in the most traditional or obvious way. Sometimes you just have to wing it.”
– “But what do you do when honesty and supporting the person you love contradict each other?”
– “…if there was one lesson I learned from my experience as a kid, it was that laughter was powerful medicine.”
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