stitchykitch's review against another edition
5.0
I am glad that I didn't read all of the top reviews here on Goodreads before I picked it up--I might not have tried it.The Vacationers is one of those books where nothing really happens but I loved it nonetheless. There is something about spying on a dysfunctional family that makes you feel better about your own life. I realize this sounds pretty petty, but I know I'm not the only one!
This book reminds me of Hermann Koch's The Dinner, where the whole story takes place over the course of a dinner. In The Vacationers , though, the story is told over the course of two weeks, with each day chronicling the Post family's vacation in Majorca. There are no flashbacks, but the narrator is privy to all of the characters' yearnings, disappointments, and pet peeves. No character is exempt from hang-ups, and there are plenty of issues to be hung up on. Franny is stoked to be reunited with her bestie, Charles, a married gay man in the process of adopting a baby with his husband Lawrence. Franny presents an icy front to her husband Jim, of 35 years, after discovering his dalliance with a young woman from work. Franny and Jim's daughter, Sylvia is on the cusp of adulthood, and is in the process of losing her faith in the infallibility of her parents and old brother. Bobby, the brother, several years older than Sylvia, is slightly out of the loop of the rest of the family strife, but brings along his share of drama and shortcomings, along with his long-term girlfriend, Carmen.
What keeps this book afloat is its beautiful setting on the island of Majorca, complete with a handsome young Spanish tutor to show the Post family the best sights and sounds of the island. There is a levity to the suffering of all of the characters, mainly because of the lack of real tragedy. Straub's narration is brilliant in that it seamlessly slips from one perspective to the next without unnecessary announcement.
There are thousand reasons to love The Vacationers, and I hope you do.
This book reminds me of Hermann Koch's The Dinner, where the whole story takes place over the course of a dinner. In The Vacationers , though, the story is told over the course of two weeks, with each day chronicling the Post family's vacation in Majorca. There are no flashbacks, but the narrator is privy to all of the characters' yearnings, disappointments, and pet peeves. No character is exempt from hang-ups, and there are plenty of issues to be hung up on. Franny is stoked to be reunited with her bestie, Charles, a married gay man in the process of adopting a baby with his husband Lawrence. Franny presents an icy front to her husband Jim, of 35 years, after discovering his dalliance with a young woman from work. Franny and Jim's daughter, Sylvia is on the cusp of adulthood, and is in the process of losing her faith in the infallibility of her parents and old brother. Bobby, the brother, several years older than Sylvia, is slightly out of the loop of the rest of the family strife, but brings along his share of drama and shortcomings, along with his long-term girlfriend, Carmen.
What keeps this book afloat is its beautiful setting on the island of Majorca, complete with a handsome young Spanish tutor to show the Post family the best sights and sounds of the island. There is a levity to the suffering of all of the characters, mainly because of the lack of real tragedy. Straub's narration is brilliant in that it seamlessly slips from one perspective to the next without unnecessary announcement.
There are thousand reasons to love The Vacationers, and I hope you do.
laurenqt's review against another edition
4.0
A fun quick read about a funny family dynamic. I loved all of the characters and related to each in some way. I like reading about flawed people who then have some mini redemptions. Would have been an excellent beach read but reading it in bed and dreaming of the beach was an okay substitute. Add Mallorca to the list of places to visit!
tsmacintyre's review against another edition
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
alyskarstark's review
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
offbalance80's review against another edition
5.0
There is nothing more gratifying in a story than when characters really earn their happy ending, other than, perhaps, when well-rounded, well-written characters earn their happy ending. Straub has created a group of complex, flawed, fascinating and at times frustrating group of characters that you find yourself genuinely caring about more and more with each glimpse into their inner lives. No one is exactly what you want to write them off as being. Every careful glimpse into the inner life of each of the residents of this vacation home peels off another, more relatable layer. It can be hard enough to create one three-dimensional character in a story, but to find seven in one go is a genuine treat. I may have found the author to truly fill the Tom Perrotta shaped hole in my life (write another freaking novel, already, will you??). Also, since we still have some summer left, I will say that this book is quite possibly the perfect beach read - light enough to relax with, smart enough to keep you engaged, and can easily be finished over the length of a trip. Easily one of the best books I've read this year.
kellyroberson's review against another edition
4.0
I expected this novel to be flimsy and happily it wasn't. A wee too tidy ending but lovingly crafted characters.
kittykornerlibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
And they all flew off to vacation in Mallorca... husband Jim, wife Franny, daughter Sylvia. They are set to meet with their son Bobby and his girlfriend Carmen, and Franny's closest friend, Charles, and his husband Lawrence. Everyone on this trip is thinking about what is to come: Jim is coming to terms with his career, Franny is thinking about her career and her role as a mother, and Sylvia has just graduated from high school and dreams of reinventing herself in college. I enjoyed the setting and the dynamic between the characters. I will read anything Emma Straub writes.
sabwashere's review against another edition
4.0
Reading the reviews, people hate this book but I think the mundaneness and how all the things kind of quietly solved itself is really realistic. Writing was nice and easy and the story was enjoyable.