A Grana

by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney

Leo Plumb estava bêbado e drogado quando fugiu sorrateiramente da festa de casamento do primo, levando uma das garçonetes a tiracolo. No calor do momento, dirigindo para longe dali, os dois sofrem um acidente de carro com graves consequências. Para fazer com que seus problemas desaparecessem, Leo precisou usar o dinheiro de uma conta da família, um dinheiro sagrado: o pé-de-meia que garantiria o futuro dos irmãos Plumb.

Ansiosos para receberem sua parte e horrorizados ao descobrirem que a mãe permitiu que Leo torrasse aquela grana, eles marcam um encontro para deliberar quando e como o dinheiro será restituído. Melody, esposa e mãe de gêmeas adolescentes que mora num subúrbio luxuoso, tem uma hipoteca cara e duas mensalidades universitárias se aproximando no horizonte. Jack, um vendedor de antiguidades, escondeu do marido que, para sustentar seu negócio, empenhou uma das propriedades do casal. E Bea, que já foi considerada uma promessa da cena literária, não consegue mais escrever.

Reunidos novamente, como nunca estiveram, os irmãos terão que superar antigos ressentimentos e as escolhas erradas que fizeram na vida. Uma análise inteligente e afetuosa de como a expectativa desempenha um papel central em nossas vidas, A grana tem o ingrediente mais explosivo de qualquer boa briga de família: dinheiro.

“Tiranicamente engraçado.”The Guardian

“Não consegui parar de ler nem de pensar nos interessantes e disfuncionais irmãos Plumb.”Amy Poehler

Genres: Fiction, Book Club, Contemporary, Audiobook, Adult Fiction, Adult, Literary Fiction

410 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 22, 2016

About the author

Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney is the New York Times bestselling author of The Nest, which has been translated into more than 25 languages and optioned for film by Amazon Studios with Sweeney writing the adaptation. She has an MFA from the Bennington Writing Seminars and lives in Los Angeles with her husband and children.

Reviews

[Felice Laverne · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Nest by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney did absolutely nothing for me. (I clearly seem to be of the minority here, but I’m fine with that.) I had high hopes for this one going in—another brilliantly written cover flap did the trick—but my expectations were never met, and by mid-way, I stopped hoping and assuming that they eventually would be. In fact, this one almost didn’t get finished; sheer perseverance pushed me through.

The Nest is about the Plumb siblings, four middle-agers whose lives are thrown into tumult when the eldest, Leo, gets himself into trouble yet again—drugs, a Porsche and a pretty young thing complete the cliché—and their mother nearly depletes “the nest,” their trust fund, which they are all expecting to inherit soon, to get him out of this bind. His siblings, Jack, Bea, and Melody are outraged and anxiety-filled, worrying about their personal financial situations, which have escalated to the point of emergency because they assumed they’d have the nest to bail them out, and now it’s nearly gone. Leo and his siblings struggle to find a way out of the mess he started, and isn’t sure how to remedy, while dealing with the intricacies of their own lives.

The problem with The Nest is that this novel could’ve been written by ANYONE. I saw no extraordinary skill, no ambition, no originality, no nothing. Even the endings were all hastily done, formulaic bow ties fit for day-time TV. In short, I was not impressed. The Nest fell so flat for me that there was nearly an audible "splat" sound ringing in my ears throughout the entire reading process. The writing was mediocre, at times hitting on pithy narrative prose that occurred so infrequently that I have to believe they were flukes, one-offs:

"Maybe she would slip Melody some cash, enough for some Botox or a facial or something to brighten her pallor. She was the youngest and somehow the most faded, as if the Plumb DNA had thinned with each conception, strong and robust with Leo and each child after being—a little less.”

That was one of the better lines of this novel (in addition to the 9/11 nationalism sarcasm), but unfortunately it also sums up how I felt about this one—strong and robust packaging and selling of this novel only for each chapter to impress me less and less. The characters here were so uninteresting, so unremarkable, that I could hardly keep them straight. They were all either blah, like Melody, or cliché—oh, the clichés here!

I can’t even really fully discuss the glaring rudimentary stereotypes running rampant in this one. There was the drunken, ice queen of a matriarch who dressed in a sexy robe for her daughter’s 12th birthday (one of the more interesting characters, whom we hardly saw, but the cliché smacked me in the face). Then there was Matilda Rodriguez, the naïve Hispanic girl who “called everyone Mami or Papi” despite their age—cliché, yawn—and Simone, the supposedly cool, urban, street smart black girl (honestly, already the shallow cliché in this novel’s setting) who says, “That's tight” a lot. Tight? REALLY? Tight? What decade is this, please? This one was absolutely deserving of the eye-roll, that she would stake her novel on such underdeveloped outlines of overdone stereotypes (and that it would then be praised as great writing really confounded me). Then we shan’t forget the cliché of the gay sibling who wanted lots of random, casual sex in sleazy nightclubs (I literally forgot his name and had to look above to write it here, Jack) who marveled at his luck at dodging AIDS (really?), and the list actually does go on. There were so many clichés thrown into this one that it was like the literary equivalent of Scary Movie. This element in and of itself revealed that Sweeney is as out of touch with the real world as her characters are, and that made the read unenjoyable—in fact, a chore. It wasn’t nearly pushed far enough to be satire; this is really the world she wanted to paint, which would have been fine, possibly even funny, as a satire but nothing more than that.

The Nest also had too many superfluous characters and story lines! (I’m looking at you Robohook man, and the guy from the 9/11 towers--and his daughters, and his dog, and his deceased wife, oh my!) This one had the makings of a good read and it even had a few glimmers of entertainment value (but they weren't nearly enough to up the number of stars). This novel wasn't even really ABOUT "the nest." It stopped even being about that about 1/3 of the way through, and I nearly forgot what the commotion of the plot line was all about in the first place.

If you want to read about WASPy yacht problems (1st world problems that no one cares about other than the self-absorbed people experiencing them), endless whining about not receiving a large, undeserved amount of money, and story lines that suffered because of the sheer number of them squeezed in here, you’ve come to the right place. I definitely would not recommend this novel to anyone who would even remotely consider themselves a Millennial (whether by age or by temperament). I started to give this one 2 stars, because I finished it, but then realized that that was my own accomplishment, not this novel’s. 1 star. *

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[Diane S ☔ · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Once again my reception of this book will have me swimming upstream from most of my friends on this site whom have already read this book and loved it.. I have given it three stars for the writing alone but the characters and the story I did not care for. Self absorbed, unlikable, selfish is how I found these four siblings. I occasionally felt a slight interest in Bea, but not for long. Too many side characters, which occasioned constant breaks in the narrative did not help matters. The ending was clinched and predictable. Did, however, learn a valuable lesson, never promise your children a large sum of money while you are still alive.

[karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

congratulations! semifinalist in goodreads' best fiction category 2016!



each dysfunctional family is dysfunctional in its own way...

the only word to describe this book is "breezy." and that's not to imply it is "unchallenging" or "unsophisticated," just that reading it is a truly pleasurable experience and it both carries you away and sucks you in until you look up and it's four in the morning and you've forgotten to eat dinner and you don't even care.

it's a multiple POV novel revolving around family money, new york, society, and disappointment - an updated edith wharton novel but with more disastrous hand jobs. here we are joining the charmingly flawed plumb family at a moment of crisis - three of the adult siblings; melody, jack, and bea, in varying degrees of estrangement from each other, are coming together to discuss a shared catastrophe - their not-insignificant joint trust fund, which each of them has been complacently anticipating and spending against for years, was nearly in their clutches (for some just in the nick of financial time), when it is suddenly liquidated by their mother to smooth over the spectacularly bad consequences of their eldest brother leo's mess.

i.e. - the disastrous hand job.

leo has always enjoyed the benefits of his charm and charisma, coasting through life and work and relationships, making bad choices but still being indulged and coddled by everyone he knew. but with this latest episode, he finds that the shine might have been bruised off his apple for good.

the story unfolds not only through the perspectives of leo and his increasingly frantic siblings, but also their children, lovers, colleagues, neighbors, and the woman whose hand performed the job.

it's a family story, it's a new york story, it's a social satire targeting the wealthy, the nearly wealthy, the literary scene, the art world, activists, mommy culture, etc but don't be fooled into thinking this is some funny, frivolous book. it's a frequently funny book that's willing to kick a person when they're down, but still has heart and depth and character growth and so many wonderful new york winks. it's just …great. i don't know what else to say about this book; i don't wanna risk reducing its appeal with some dry regurgitation of plot that wouldn't convey the juicy gossipy fun of it, so i'm gonna be lazy with this review and just say "here's a fun breezy book that odds are good you'd enjoy."

***********************************************

oh, man - i stayed up until four in the morning reading this last night. SUCH bookcrack.

review to come, but know that this is super fun and you should look into it.

come to my blog!

[Will Byrnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

He hesitated. Above him, an ear-splitting screech. He looked up to see three enormous crows, perched on the bare branches of one of the few trees that had already dropped its leaves. They were all squawking at once, as if they were arguing about his next move. Directly beneath, in the midst of the stark and barren branches and at the base of a forked limb, a mud-brown leafy mass. A nest. Jesus.

Leo checked the time and started walking.

When Leo Plumb, 46, and very unhappily married, enjoying the benefits of booze, cocaine, and Welbutrin, picks up 19-year-old waitress, Matilda Rodriguez, at a wedding, it’s business as usual. But the joys of the moment come to a crashing halt when the Porsche in which Leo is spiriting her away, the car in which she is putting her hand to good use, is T-boned by an SUV, and Matilda is seriously injured. It’s gonna take mucho dinero to put the lid on this one.

I have good news and bad news. Which do you want first? Good news? OK. The good news, for Leo anyway, is that there is a considerable family inheritance left by his late father, which can be raided for emergencies. Staying out of jail counts, so how much should we make this check out for? The bad news is that the inheritance was intended for four siblings and Leo’s indiscretion has slashed the total considerably. They are very interested in knowing when Leo is going to re-feather the nest he had just raided like a raccoon in the night.


Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney - From her Twitter pages

Leo Tolstoy famously said All happy families resemble each other, each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. The Plumb family is unhappy in diverse ways. Sweeney measures their depths. The family refers to their inheritance as The Nest, and their relationship to it, with Leo’s raiding of it, constitutes the core around which this family tale is woven. His charm and skill at manipulation will not be enough to get Leo out of this mess. He may have bought his way out of a jail sentence, but he still needs to come up with some serious cash to make The Nest whole again. He hasn’t exactly been working in the many years since he sold his on-line media business. And there is his bitch of a trophy wife to keep up. She is very fond of spending.

The Plumbs, despite their father’s financial success, are not wildly wealthy. Melody, nearing 40, is a suburban housewife, struggling to make ends meet in a place where she is very much on the lower economic rungs. She has twin daughters on the verge of college and could really use the money she has been expecting. Beatrice had some success as a writer years ago, but it has been a long time since she produced any writing of quality. She lives in an Upper West Side apartment, a love nest given to her by a late lover, which ain’t nuthin’, especially in NYC, but it’s not like she can sit home and clip coupons either. She has remained in a low-end job long after she should have grown to something more. Finally, Jack has been in a couple with Walker for many years. He runs an antiques shop that specializes in losing money. Walker is the breadwinner of the pair, but Jack would like to be depositing instead of constantly withdrawing. He is in debt up to his eyeballs. The potential absence of his bailout money from The Nest is a blow, so when a shady opportunity presents itself, he has to decide where he is willing to draw the line.

In this ensemble cast, we follow the siblings, along with a smattering of others, through their travails, and see them come to grips, or not, with the possible loss of a nest egg they had all been counting on for a long time. The issues they face are not merely how to cope with a cash flow shortfall. Sweeney has larger targets in her sights. The characters here are faced with moral choices. How would you have managed, given the situation? How would any of us? It is certainly the case, for all but the most blessed (and we hate them) that our hopes and dreams for this or that, whether a relationship, a career direction, parenthood, something, go all to hell. Sometimes, what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger. Which is nice if you are fond of aphorisms. Sometimes, what doesn’t kill us leaves us frightened, damaged, and scarred. (I mean, they don't call it Post Traumatic Stress Improvement, do they?) Sometimes it can open a door to a new appreciation, offer a new path, uncover an unseen possibility. Or it closes all available doors, locks the windows and drops a match on a kerosene covered floor. I’m just sayin’. Two paths, at least for each of the sibs. Which will they take? What sorts of people do they want to be? And how will they emerge, battered or better?

In addition to the choices having to do with facing up to identity crises, and coping with losses real or theoretical, there are some other items here that are very well handled. Sweeney has painted a portrait of some elements of NYC at a particular place and time. These include a bit of a look at the local literary scene, whether one is doing well or struggling, in on the dot.com or killed by it, mean Glitterary Girl or faded sparkle. Authors, wannabes, publishers of paper and on-line magazines, trip through the pages. Some are more about appearance than substance.

She’d been hiding in a corner of Celia’s enormous living room, pretending to examine the bookshelves, which were full of what she thought of as “fake” books—the books were real enough but if Celia Baxter had read Thomas Pynchon or Samuel Beckett or even all—any!—of the Philip Roths and Saul Bellows lined in a row, she’d eat her mittens. In a far upper corner of the bookcase, she noticed a lurid purple book spine, a celebrity weight-loss book. Ha. That was more like it. She stood on tiptoe, slid the book out, and examined the well-thumbed, stained pages. She returned it to shelf front and center, between Mythologies and Cloud Atlas.

There is a walk through several places in the city, each offering a taste. The Oyster Bar in Grand Central Station, a brownstone in Prospect Heights in Brooklyn, a bit of Central Park, a Westchester suburb. 9/11 is a part of the story as well, as is, although to a lesser degree, the insanity that is the NY real estate market.

The Nest is, ultimately, about stepping off the edge of safety into the air, and either finding out you can fly or flapping uselessly to a sudden end. And, of course, considering whether or not to simply hitch a ride on a passing pigeon.

None of it would mean a lick if the characters were merely raucous chicks, lobbying for the next worm. Sweeney has put together more of an aviary, with each main member of her ensemble fully feathered and flight-worthy. Even a teen-age twin must consider separating from the intense co-nesting of sisterhood, and finding her own flight path. While not all the main characters are people you would care to know, they are all fully realized. Hell, even some of the secondary characters are presented in 3D. Their motivations and actions make sense, whether you agree or not with their decisions. There is nuance and depth even to the more morally challenged. I expect that you will find situations and/or conditions in here that resonate with challenges and decisions you have faced in your own life. The economic downturn has hit many of us, even if we need not look to our own reckless personal behavior as a cause. No need to wonder how most of us will behave when faced with some of the problems raised here. We have already adjusted our expectations. But there is value in seeing how others react.

Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney’s last book was slightly different from this one, Country Living Easy Transformations: Kitchen With this book. Sweeney takes a step into the open air of literary accomplishment. She has spread her wings and caught a rising thermal. The Nest has not only succeeded in feathering Sweeney’s nest quite nicely, it offers a smart, funny, engaging, and insightful read that will accommodate your peepers quite nicely, and is sure to settle comfortably in many top ten nests lists when those finally begin appearing.


Review first posted – 11/27/15

Publication date – 3/22/16

=============================EXTRA STUFF

Links to the author’s Twitter and FB pages

Please do check out Ron Charles's review in the Washington Post

Thanks to GR friend Christine who, in comment #24, let us know that Sweeney did an interview with Seth Meyers. I am not sure how long it will be available, but you can find it here, for now. - As of November 2019, that one seems to have vanished, but you might want to check out this video from The Center for Fiction- Family Frictions: Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney and Jami Attenberg

[BookOfCinz · Rating 2 out of 5]

If I had to describe this book in one word it would be "shallow". There was no depth to the characters, the plot, the problem the characters faced- just pure surface level, mind-numbing, shallow reading.

I really hesitated in reading this book because the blurb didn't appeal to me. I wasn't enthused about reading about these four siblings who are just sitting waiting for their inheritance. I decided to give it a go because if the ratings- really wish I didn't.

I didn't feel anything for these characters. I think Sweeney made a huge mistake by having so many different POVs- this took away from the main story and really did nothing for plot progression and character development. A lot of the smaller plots could have been left out to make room for the bigger stories.

Also, the ending was so cliché and eye-rolling, I barely made it through. If you are looking for a shallow read, this book might help.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute. Usually I’m the curmudgeon who doesn’t like a book that everyone else is cuckoo over. I usually have a complaint board full to the gills. I spend a lot of time ducking and feeling like a weirdo. This time, I’ll be damned. I really liked The Nest! In fact, this book grabbed me and didn’t let me go until the end.

I went into it with low expectations. A family full of greedy people, arguing over their fair share? Sounded awful. I pictured loud arguments and plenty of meanness, and I wasn’t up for that. Privileged, entitled siblings definitely aren’t high on my list of want-to-read-abouts. They WERE privileged and entitled, but I didn’t care. I was hooked on their dilemmas and couldn’t wait to find out what they’d do or not do next. Yes, the characters are ordinary but they are also believable and even interesting, which drew me in.

The thing about siblings is that there is this built-in attachment (after all, you usually live together for the first 18 years of your life), but the connection isn’t necessarily strong. I thought the author did the sibling thing really well. We feel that primal sibling tension. The insecurities, resentments, trust issues, secret criticisms. Who were pals? Who were foes? I’m making the book sound deeper than it really is. We only barely get inside the character’s heads, but the author is so insightful, I felt like I knew what made the characters tick. And the author made me care about these rather mundane people.

I especially liked the opening, when all four siblings are heading for a heavy meeting in a restaurant. The author zeroes in on each sibling as they make their way there. I felt like I was getting little peeks into their real selves, getting to know secrets. Of course when they met, they put on their social selves and acted like they had it all together.

I wasn’t just happy with the characters, I was happy with the setting too. I completely idolize and idealize New York, so the fact that the story takes place there made me putty in its hands. The book really had the New York feel down pat. In luscious New-York-ness, it reminded me of Thirteen Ways of Looking and Florence Gordon, two books I loved.

The plot moves along at a good pace (meaning I couldn’t put it down). I felt like the writer was conducting a symphony—a little bit of horn here, a little bit of percussion there, then all together now, play!

There were a couple of grammar errors, typos, and clichéd phrases, but not enough to really turn me off. The first eternally long sentence made me a little worried at first, but surprisingly I ended up thinking it was cool.

The story is told from various points of views, which overall worked. Besides the family, there are several side characters, and it was fun to see what was happening through their eyes. However, there were times when the point of view changed within a paragraph! This is such a no-no for writers! I couldn’t decide if the author was really being brave and adventurous with language, or if she was being careless. The jury is still out—the in-paragraph point-of-view switches did make me stop, but not quite stumble.

This book reminded me a bit of Tropper’s This is Where I Leave You (a favorite of mine), except it didn’t crack me up like Tropper’s book did. In fact, I really don’t get all the reviews that say The Nest is funny; I don’t remember laughing once. The book didn’t have a super serious tone either, but I just didn’t find funny.

The buzz is that the author got a million dollars for this book. A million dollars?? Are you kidding? Though I liked the book a lot, it’s just not a million-dollar baby. But what do I know.

Although this isn’t a morality tale, I found two morals: Parents, for godssake, don’t promise your kids the farm. Siblings, don’t ever believe you’re getting the farm.

I do recommend this one. It’s not a profound novel, but it is fast and satisfying. I’ll definitely be checking out the author’s next book.

[Always Pouting · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Nest centers around four adult siblings fighting over an inheritance that has been spent after one of them is involved in an accident. I can see why people may be disappointed with this book, the characters all have multiple flaws but for me that made the book more interesting. I enjoy having characters that make me feel conflicted. The writing was excellent also. There were way too many characters and I felt that the ending was anti climatic but I still enjoyed it. Might be because I really just liked the authors writing style and complex characters though because the plot wasn't anything fantastic.

[Canadian Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the Nest 'egg' was more of a goose egg. A dysfunctional family relying on an inheritance that has been depleted by a brother who was in an accident. The dynamics of siblings, greed, entitlement and downright spoiled adult kids.
The writing flowed well but the story consisted of too much whining, selfish, and shallow characters. It actually started to get better at page 300 but by that point I was ticked off having invested 5 days with these unlikeable characters. I did not feel any emotional connection with any of them. I knew there was a reason I wasn't eager to pick this one up - need to listen more to my gut. 3⭐️

[Elyse Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

A teen boy getting caught with his pants down, by the girls religious father,
might have consequences and be embarrassing...
such as what happened in the book "For the Love of Money", by Christopher Meades,
but a 46 year old married man who has been avoiding his wife, who was barely
speaking to him....( and who could blame her ...after catching Leo fondling the babysitter weeks earlier?), is beyond embarrassing and beyond a slap on the face from his wife Victoria. Many people in this novel will suffer the consequences from one night's cheating of hanky-panky. But I sit with the question...would these characters
have struggled anyway? Is it possible Leo just got a head start?

Leo, is in hot water within the first few pages of this book. While at a cousin's wedding with his wife Victoria, Leo starts seducing a waitress by the name Matilda Rodiquez. She's an aspiring singer ( mistake to tell Leo). Leo tells her he has connections to 'Columbia Records'. Of course Matilda had a demo with her. Leo maneuvers Matilda to his car. It didn't take long for Leo to take her hand and place it in
his lap. ( she always remembered how he never stopped looking at her). Leo was high as a kite behind the wheel on drugs and booze. He never saw the SUV that crashed into his new Porsche with his pants unzipped.

Problems are not just affecting Leo - his wife -child - and his personal punishment ( forced into rehab), ...but Leo is 1 of 4 siblings that is waiting their share of their inheritance. A trust fund was set by their father which was to be divided between the 4
siblings once the youngest sibling turns 40 years old.
The siblings mother, executor of the will, ( The Nest), takes a chunk of the inheritance money to pay for Leo's rehab and pay off Matilda Rodriquez. Are you thinking..."what the f*#ck?"
What kind of mother makes this decision without consulting the others? (whom also have children and needy issues). Melody has two twin daughters about to start college. Jack lives with his husband Walter ...and needs the money to get out of a financial jam he has hidden from Walter. Beatrice is also in financial need - struggling to finish a novel.

Beatrice, Jack, and Melody, were each 'counting' on the amount of their money coming in -- the $500, 000 which they had prior knowledge of....was down to $50,000. The siblings got together to figure out ways to ha e Leo pay them all back.
The longer I read this novel...I began thinking ... "Wow, Leo's 'pants down - accident -
boo-boo' - was a VERY INTERESTING choice-accident. ALL the siblings had an edge of desperation to them. That old saying ...'don't put all your eggs in one basket' was
a lesson that kept coming to the surface.
It wasn't only Leo who made a bad choice. Each sibling had a weakness - and they also each had strengths.
Over a years period of time -we see each of the different siblings points of views.

I found this especially exciting and engaging - PAGE TURNING- as my first cousins are a family of 4 siblings. I'm very close to them. They grew up in mansion in Piedmont, California.
I witness some similar drama that took place in this story from my cousins lives. Much in this novel feels very realistic.
I went through some of these same feelings with - the 4 siblings- in Ann Packer's
book, "The Children's Crusade". ( different story)...but also a family involving 4 adult siblings also dealing with issues needing to be solved together.

Each of the characters in 'The Nest', were Multi dimensional. We get to know all the siblings and their lives equally. Cynthia D' Aprix Sweeney's novel is equally
plot driven as it is character driven....making the perfect ingredients for a fabulous family fiction novel.

Deeply affecting. At least one or more of these characters will resemble somebody in our own lives if not ourself directly. Their struggles- choices to face - are handled with
complicated emotions- moral dilemmas- that make up our human experience.

Sooooo Terrific!!! (I love family- complex novels- and "THE NEST", is TOP BANANAS!!)

Thank You Harper Collins Publishing, and Cynthia D' Aprix Sweeney. ( great, great, great!)

[Tina · Rating 1 out of 5]

Reading "The Nest" reminded me a lot of the experience I had with Lauren Groff's "Fates and Furies." Mainly just very perplexed. I don't understand all the hype and praise around this book but, like "Fates and Furies," I stuck with it in hope of some kind of redeeming ending that never came. I listened to the book on audio and maybe that made a difference, but I didn't find the characters or writing comic at all. Centered around the four Plumb siblings, the novel tells the story of what happens when a large inheritance ends up getting spent on one sibling's drunken mistake before its dispersal date, leaving the other three in a bit of a financial pickle. The main issue of this plot for me is that ultimately so little is really at stake. The horrific sacrifices needing to be made are the sales of a "dream house" in an expensive NYC suburb and a second summer home. And maybe the closing of an already underwater antiques store. Ok... It ends up making most of the siblings except Bea seem whiny, entitled, and super out-of-touch with reality. I got sick of them real quick. Also, instead of everyone being a horrible person in this book, the Plumb siblings are actually surrounded by other people who seem really nice and considerate, so then you just end up feeling really bad for those people. This is definitely a book that would go on my list of "Critically Acclaimed, Don't Get It."

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Stars.

I had my ups and downs with THE NEST. While the writing is fine and the prologue gets the reader off to a hell of a start, this story about a dysfunctional family and their individual personal reasons to procure funds from a promised trust turned out to be a slow and tedious read that just kind of fell flat (for me) all the way to the non-eventful end.

During the first half of the novel, we are slowly introduced to family members (and other players) that (for me) was almost like reading a collection of unrelated short stories; and just when I would start to get really interested, we would meet yet another unfamiliar character or revert back to one I could hardly remember.

Anyway, am sorry to say this debut was not what I expected and just flat out wore me down with too many players of which I felt zero emotional connection; but hey, what do I know.....

THE NEST made it to the semi-finals in the Goodread's Best Fiction category. Best of luck!

[Larry H · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is it about family dysfunction that makes it so upsetting and unappealing to experience, yet so compelling to read about?

Leo, Beatrice, Jack, and Melody Plumb are four siblings whose relationships with each other are, to put it mildly, strained and complex. They've spent much of their adult lives waiting for one pivotal moment: the day the youngest, Melody, turns 40, so they can take possession of "The Nest," a joint trust fund their father set up when they were younger. Melody and Jack, in particular, are relying upon their share of "The Nest" to end their financial struggles and help them move their lives in the direction they are hoping.

There's one challenge to this, however. Leo, the oldest, the flame to his siblings' moths, found himself in a bit of trouble a few months earlier. Trouble which caused a car accident that injured a 19-year-old waitress, who was not his wife. Trouble which sent him to rehab. And trouble which has put "The Nest" in danger just months before Melody's 40th birthday. The Plumb siblings are apoplectic at the thought they might not get the financial support they were counting on, and cannot believe that once again, Leo has let them down.

Leo promises to make good on the money, and asks for a few months to put together a plan. It isn't long before old resentments come to the surface again, while each of them has to deal with their own crises and the secrets each of them have tried to hide. Melody, the overprotective mother of twin teenage girls, has been counting on the money to send both girls to prominent colleges, as well as bail her family out of their financial woes. Jack, whose antiques shop has been struggling, has gotten himself into more debt, unbeknownst to his husband, which leads him to make even more foolish decisions. And Bea, once a successful writer with some promise, can't seem to get her long-awaited novel written.

As they wait for Leo to share his plans and right all of their lives, Leo is struggling with doing the same for himself. For a person who has always led a bit of a charmed life, watching people buy his ideas and fall in behind him, suddenly he finds himself at emotional and financial odds. And while he wants to help his siblings, he also wants to put his whole life behind him and start over, no matter who might get caught in the crossfire.

It's hard to believe that The Nest is Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney's debut novel, because it's written with tremendous self-assurance. These are fairly unappealing characters but Sweeney keeps them interesting even as they irritate you, even as you can't believe how horrible they are to each other and those they supposedly care about. And Leo is the worst of them all (although not by much).

I thought this book was really good, but in my opinion, what kept it from being great was that Sweeney added a few somewhat-related sub-plots that seemed unnecessary, and which distracted from the strength of the story at the book's core. When the book switched to the story of the waitress who was involved in Leo's accident, or a neighbor of Bea's former editor, I didn't feel as if these storylines added to the book in any way, and I became a bit frustrated.

But in the end, these are minor irritations. Most of us will never have concerns relative to when we're getting access to our trust fund, which may be why it's fun to live vicariously through this spoiled family. But even as the dysfunction and drama ratchets up, Sweeney never lets go of her characters' hearts, even if they're hard to find through all of their bad behavior.

See all of my reviews at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo....

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read about four adult siblings all awaiting their share of the NEST (inheritance from their father). They aren't really involved in each other's life but as things don't pan out as expected, they come to appreciate each other and become close. There are also many other stories within the main story that really give depth to this novel. It had a lot of humor and compassion and was a joy to read.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

3+ of 5 stars to The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney. I was excited to read this one because it fits right in with my own choice of writing: family dramas. And it doesn't disappoint. the family feels very real -- a little too much drama / secrets for one family, but then again, it did keep me interested. It has something for everyone, characters to love and characters to hate. I am disappointed in one of the 4 children especially since I don't feel we got a good ending for this person's post-book life. But still, this is a good read and I will look for more by the author. I didn't give it a higher mark only because I felt the story for the one character was a bit unfinished and the ending didn't seem to be the right one for me. That said, the pacing was good. The point of view and voice were strong. I enjoyed the differences among all the siblings and characters. I would have preferred it focused on just the 4 siblings, instead of some of the people they interacted with, as it threw a few curves balls for me. Plus some of the personalities were not likable... but that's when a book is good; it makes you dislike characters. Just above a good book, but not as stellar as I'd hoped.

About Me
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[Char]

I'm about 15% through this audio and I just can't. I've already backed up a few times because just as soon as I get used to one character, yet another is introduced. Perhaps if I cared about the ones I already met I would continue, but I do not.
DNF, no review, no rating-just my thoughts.

[Emily (Books with Emily Fox on Youtube) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Character driven contemporary. It wasn't memorable but not bad!

[Ron Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Baby boomers are expected to play their part by succumbing to the looming wave of death — the Greatest Degeneration — and bequeathing some $16 trillion to their children over the next three decades. For princes and princesses of American aristocracy, these bittersweet transactions hold little suspense. But for upper-middle-class Americans balancing mortgage payments, tuition bills and retirement plans on a brittle tower of monthly paychecks, this bounty looms with the promise of salvation.

If you find yourself overanticipating such financial relief, take a break from the death watch to read Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney’s debut novel, “The Nest,” a comedy of filial greed and affection. Here, in scenes both witty and tragic is a warning about what comes of waiting for . . . .

To read the rest of this review, go to The Washington Post:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entert...

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

How had they raised children who were so impractical yet still so entitled?

"The Nest" is a trust fund, promised as a reward whenever the youngest of the four siblings turns forty. Each of the "children" expects to receive $500,000. That's a nice sum of money; enough for a college tuition or two, or perhaps a chance to pay off some risky investments that headed south. They've all been waiting, counting the days until they can relax, breathe freely and have their debts wiped away. So it's really too bad when most of the money goes to cover up an indiscretion by the oldest son.

Hey, whoever said life is fair?

While their mother insists the fund was meant to be only a "modest assist" and not a true inheritance, her children are at loose ends. They were counting on that money! Now what? Will they let this tear them apart, or will losing the nest somehow bring them closer together as a family?

This was a terrific book, full of interesting, though not necessarily likable characters; even the bit players were fascinating people. There's a wonderful mix of humor and pathos. It's hard to believe this is a first novel. Here's hoping Sweeney has a few more inside waiting to get out.

[Glenn Sumi · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Don’t count your chickens before they hatch”

If only someone had said this to the Plumb siblings in Cynthia d’Aprix Sweeney’s entertaining first novel, The Nest, the characters would have been spared a lot of anxiety and humiliation.

But then again, if they had heeded this advice, this highly readable book wouldn’t have been so gripping or cathartic.

“The Nest” refers to the modest nest egg provided by the patriarch of the Plumb family, to be dispersed to the children when the youngest, Melody, turns 40.

Because of some wise investments, the legacy has mushroomed in size, and, with the big date approaching soon, the adults – who all live in and around New York City – have been counting on the cash to get them out of their financial ruts.

Melody, a suburban soccer mom type, is over-mortgaged and worried about paying for her twin daughters’ upcoming college tuition; Jack runs a failing antiques store in the West Village, and he’s kept his mounting debt (he’s borrowed against the equity of their summer home) from his more responsible husband, Walker; older sister Bea, who lives on the Upper West Side, was once a promising young fiction writer, but she hasn’t written anything in years and she’s been flailing.

And then there’s Leo, the most glamorous, charismatic member of the family. He dabbled in publishing, made money with a magazine-cum-website venture, then ended up in a bad marriage.

In the book’s prologue, a very drunk Leo picks up a teenage caterer at a wedding, unwisely gets in the car with her for some inebriated fun, and then ends up in a tragic accident.

The result? The family has to hush up the news by paying off people, dipping into that nest egg and – surprise! – leaving the siblings with very little. Now they have to (excuse the pun but you knew it was coming) plumb the depths of their souls to examine their lives and see how they can get by with less.

Sure, this is a brilliant premise, especially for today’s post-economic downturn, aging baby boomer world.

It’s what Sweeney does with it that’s so impressive. Initially, her characters are all very unlikeable: entitled, spoiled, lazy. But the depletion of the nest forces them all to begin communicating with each other and confronting some brutal truths about their lives. They have a chance to redeem themselves. Will they rise to the challenge?

It took me a while to get used to the book’s shifting narration. We don’t just get the perspectives of the siblings, but occasionally see things through the eyes of other people, including Melody’s daughters, Leo’s ex, Stephanie, and even Stephanie’s lodger. Gradually I saw what the author was doing, and then I tore through the book, curious to see how the plot would evolve and where these people would end up.

The title of the long middle section of the novel (“The Kiss”) takes on lots of significance and weight as the book progresses, and made me admire Sweeney’s artistry. And there are some knockout scenes, including at least three parties (two birthday parties and one humiliating literary event) that I will never forget.

The prose is polished and full of witty observations and heart; but despite what you’ve heard, it isn’t a laugh-a-minute satire. Sweeney wants to go deeper than that, and I can see why people are comparing the book to Franzen’s The Corrections.

Still, there are some problems. The parents – especially the father – remain shadowy figures, although the mother occasionally pops in and there's a terrific flashback of her drunkenly presiding over one of her kids' birthday parties. And there's some bagginess to the writing, particularly near the end. Here, within two pages, are passages that essentially say the same thing:

If they knew about the statue, her death would become tainted by his actions, and he wouldn’t put his kids through another loss surrounding their mother.

But if he exposed himself – accidentally or on purpose – he’d harm her memory for his kids.

But that’s quibbling. This is a highly readable, absorbing novel, worth all the attention it’s getting.

And with Sweeney’s entertainment connections – her husband writes for Conan O’Brien’s show, she’s friends with Amy Poehler, who enthusiastically "blurbed" the book – you can bet your ass it’ll become a movie soon.

Read the book first.

[Ragan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though I am not the most well versed in adult contemporary, I knew from the first sentence of this book I would not be impressed. Though this book wasn't terrible, it certainly did not come close to wowing me.

The Nest is about a group of trust fund children who have grown up depending on the money they will receive on the youngest's 40th birthday, but these plans are complicated when the oldest son royally screws up and their funds are dramatically drained to cover his folly.

The true synopsis of this book had me very excited to read it, but the actual book had little to do with that. The Nest is more of a character study surrounding these 4 siblings who are each despicable in their own way. The plot of the "the nest" fund was on the back burner the entire novel. I've read books with very character driven writing, but this just did not work. While a few of the characters did grow, it felt like we ended where the story began.

Also, the ending. Predictable and cliche. I was so ready to love this, but it fell flat of all the praise I've been reading about it. Sorry this was just not a winner for me.

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this dysfunctional family drama. Siblings counting on a promised family inheritance, called "The Nest," come unglued when it is revealed that the trust fund money has been depeleted to bail out their feckless older brother.

In additional to the 4 siblings and their parents, there are interesting side characters that come into play to help reveal the true characters of the main players. While many of the main characters were weak, dishonest or just plain unlikeable, I could in some way relate to each of them. Money can divide a family like nothing else and can expose and deepen fractures that lie just below the surface.

I honestly had no idea how this would end, but I like how D'Aprix Sweeney wrapped things up at the end. It felt right to me.

If you enjoy well-written family dramas and aren't put off by unlikeable characters, give this one a shot - loved it!

[Britany · Rating 4 out of 5]

A much anticipated debut novel that I couldn't wait to get my hands on. This book follows four wealthy siblings fighting over "The Nest"-- an account with a significant amount of money to be split amongst them once the youngest turned 40. Right before this happens, Leo- the oldest and least responsible gets in an accident that rocks The Nest and the siblings' relationship.

I find myself really enjoying mini-sagas dealing with the relationships between groups of characters. It almost feels like I'm watching the whole story unfold from above. A book the develops the four main siblings and then encompasses their respective families. Mostly pretentious and exorbitant, the siblings suffer from #FirstWorldProblems but I still found myself turning the pages to eagerly find out what happened next. There were moments of pure genius, moments I wanted to throw the book across the room because I loathed Leo, and moments I found myself captivated by the small pieces that constricted my throat with emotion. Bea was my absolute favorite character and I found myself wishing to be friends with her in real life. She was humble and forgiving- the clear opposite of the leading man- Leo. I would recommend this one to those that enjoy a good family driven character study about a somewhat wealthy white family.

[Zoeytron · Rating 4 out of 5]

With almost 4000 reviews already posted for The Nest, I'm not going to have too many more feathers to add. A nest egg, set up by the Plumb family's father, is not meant to be hatched until the youngest of the brood turns 40. They are all chomping at the bit, resentful at having to wait that long in the first place for what is owed to them, by the gods! Projecting a feeling of entitlement is not very attractive, not here, and not anywhere else.

'... it was never about the money. Except that it was always, completely and totally, about the money.'

The amount of money in the nest turns out to be substantially less than what it should have been. The Plumb family, Leo, Jack, Bea, and Melody, are all ready to '... stake out their respective plots of neediness.' Learn of their fears, frailties, and grievances.

Thoroughly enjoyed the book with the exception of the ending. It didn't seem to fit with the tone of the rest of the story, and for me, it smacked of sap. Turned icky. It almost makes me want to lower my rating even now. But I won't, the rest of it was swell.

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first by this author and I enjoyed it very much. I became totally engrossed in the Plumb family and their partners. It was interesting how even the less important characters like Walker were still totally fleshed out and were charming enough that I wanted good things to happen to them.
Of course as in real life not just good things did happen. By the end I think everyone had adjusted to their lot and the family had drawn closer.
This was an absorbing and interesting read and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a well written family drama.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

The adult Plumb siblings - Leo, Jack, Beatrice, and Melody - are happily expecting to share the trust fund left by their deceased father, which they call 'The Nest.' The Nest is due to be dispersed when Melody, the youngest, turns forty.



Dad meant the fund to be 'a little something extra' for his children, but it's ballooned into the millions, and the heirs - who reside in and around New York City - have spent recklessly and/or made plans in anticipation of the bonanza.

Shortly before Melody's fortieth birthday however, Leo throws a spanner into the works. He foolishly seduces a 19-year-old waitress named Matilda Rodriguez, and takes her for a drive. The resulting wreck causes Matilda to lose a foot and Leo to lose his marriage.



The subsequent settlements are enormous, and the Plumb siblings' mother Francie - who abhors a scandal - lets Leo use the trust fund to pay off Matilda and his wife.

As the story continues, Jack, Beatrice, and Melody - all of whom are appalled by Leo's actions - meet their brother at Grand Central Oyster Bar to discuss reimbursement.



Leo, who previously founded and sold a magazine called SpeakEasy, promises to look for a new opportunity.....so he can pay his siblings back. The would-be inheritors are skeptical, but have no choice but to hope for the best.

From here we follow each of the Plumb siblings, observing their current situation and how they got here.

*****

Leo Plumb is a self-indulgent former editor who uses drugs and burned bridges with most of his colleagues - whom he now needs to re-establish his career.



Knowing he's expected to pay back his brother and sisters, Leo sneakily tries to inveigle himself into a good opportunity.



Leo is a weasel, always willing to screw someone for his own advantage.

*****

Jack Plumb is a middling antiques dealer.....



….who recently married his long-time boyfriend Walker, a successful attorney.



Anticipating a windfall from The Nest, Jack took out a mortgage on his and Walker's vacation home, which is now in danger of foreclosure.....and Walker knows nothing about it. Jack is desperate for money, and - when he sees the opportunity - tries to sweet-talk himself into a shady deal. Jack is more foolhardy than rotten, and can't seem to foresee the consequences of his actions.

****

Beatrice Plumb is a writer who works for an online magazine. She's previously had success with short stories, but stumbled when she tried to produce her great novel.



Forced to return her publisher's hefty book advance, Beatrice had to use most of her savings, and was counting on The Nest for a comfortable future. Beatrice is the most rational and clear-headed of the Plumb siblings, willing to go out of her way for her family.



****

Melody Plumb is a happily married housewife with twin teenage daughters, Nora and Louisa, who she dotes on.



Melody has scrimped and struggled to give her daughters nice things, and was planning to use The Nest to send them to expensive colleges.



Now Melody can barely afford the twins' costly SAT prep course, which they secretly ditch to hang out in Manhattan.

Melody is a helicopter mom with high hopes, who's probably recognizable to many parents.

****

As the story unfolds we also get to know some of the important secondary characters, including: Matilda Rodriguez - now a hobbled amputee in a family of illegal immigrants; Stephanie - Leo's old girlfriend, who's still willing to take him in; Nathan - Leo's former partner, whom he shafted; Paul - Beatrice's boss, who owns a literary magazine; and others.

The story is warm, humorous, and insightful, and provides a compelling picture of siblings who've endured a 'tragedy' and are struggling to cope. Along the way, they learn the value of family and friendship. This is an enjoyable literary novel, recommended to fans of the genre.

You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....

[Tooter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED THIS BOOK! Definitely on my top 10 best books ever.

[Jessica J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The four adult Plumb siblings have spent their whole lives waiting to receive the money from a trust fund, which will hit the day the youngest of them turns 40. Smart investing has caused the fund to balloon past their expectations and they’ve each, in their own way, remained in a bit of arrested development while waiting for their money.

Then Leo, the oldest brother, crashes his car while receiving a handy from a 19-year-old cocktail waitress and the Plumb matriarch uses 80% of the Nest to sweep the consequences under the rug. The remaining three siblings are bitter that Leo’s recklessness has cost them so much money, and they want him to either forfeit his share or pay them back pronto. The novel traces the effects of this bitterness on family connections and explores how their situation forces the four siblings to face hard truths about themselves.

Pros:

• the writing is solid, breezy and easy to read
• the characters actually learn and grow
• excellent use of multiple POV
• it strays from typical “1% Fiction” tropes

Cons:

• the characters are insufferable 90% of the time
• it’s largely rich-people problems that I didn't care about
• a few too many minor characters broke the focus a bit
• it doesn’t stray that far from the tropes

It’s a good book, perfect for readers who love complicated family dynamics, but it’s not a great one that’s going to stick with me. 3.5 stars.

[Margitte · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the blurb:

This is a story about the power of family, the possibilities of friendship, the ways we depend upon one another and the ways we let one another down. In this tender, entertaining, and deftly written debut, Sweeney brings a remarkable cast of characters to life to illuminate what money does to relationships, what happens to our ambitions over the course of time, and the fraught yet unbreakable ties we share with those we love.

It is truly one of the most outstanding debut novels in recent years. Perhaps the most funniest of all is to describe this particular New York family as dysfunctional. The word dysfunctional has become so overrated. It is used to pardon the majority of families in the world at dinner parties. We are all dysfunctional when it compared to perfection. What is the perfect family after all? We all have our moment and our eccentricities, yet we love to elevate ourselves above other people by declaring them dysfunctional. It takes one to know one!

A waitress named Matilda triggers the whole shebang. She becomes the shotgun pellets which hits every single member of the family, but also the glue that will bring together what belongs together. Matilda is taught to use a mirror to scratch her absent foot. By scratching the existing one, looking in the mirror, she teaches her brain to get rid of the itchiness in the other one. Fool the brain. Imagine that, and it actually works! Metaphorically it works like that in a family as well. It nurtures forgiveness and trust and love and bonding.

We all have our merry moments at family gatherings. We all have family members who demands explanation. Often with mirth, annoyance, embarrassment or all three. Yet, they are part of our make-up like an absent foot. The brain simply won't let go of them, and boy oh boy, do we miss them when they're gone. They become the most talked about member of the clan!

In birth order they were Leo, Jack, Bea, Melody. Their father, Leonard Plumb, predicted their future lives according to their most outstanding characteristics:
Melody, not the brightest of the four children;
Bea, the brightest;
Leo, the most charming;
Jack, the most resourceful.

Somewhere in their paths a touch of decorousness would sneak in behind the veneer of upper middle class perfection. Mother was a mean classy drunk. Father, a self-made man - made his little fortune with diapers. He was determined to not indulge them in abundance proffered to soon, which could lead to lassitude, indolence and a wandering dissatisfaction. Hence "The Nest" - the trust fund - the carrot banging against their noses, slightly out of reach, till Melody celebrated her fortieth birthday. They were all banking on it. "The Nest" will fix everything. But Mother had the final say and mother was, well, a teeny bit mean ...

This story is a realistic view on life. There's real challenges for real people with real solutions and in the end we become part of a perfect idiosyncratic family! And love every moment!

Frank Sinatra sang: "Love is a many splendored thing". When it comes to family, he got that so very right!

A brilliant book! RECOMMENDED!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Nest by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeny is a 2016 Ecco publication.

I became interested in this book when so many of my GR friends began posting reviews for it. So, although it didn’t sound like a book I would typically go out of my way to read, I decided to check it out of the library.


In the beginning, I was unsure about the story, watching in shock and horror as the four Plumb siblings proceed to jockey for position, and work every angle imaginable to make sure they received their share of the “The Nest”, a nickname they devised for their inheritance.

When the money is jeopardized by Leo, the other three siblings are left scrambling, since they had all been counting on that money. What follows is a sad set of morally questionable, spoiled adults, all in a state of arrested development, suddenly realizing they would have to sink or swim, walk the tightrope without a net, and as a result, they suddenly awake, as if from a long slumber, examining their lives, making monumental errors, some of which are out right criminal, pouting and whining, but in the end learning from their mistakes, and somehow manage to come out the other end as better, stronger, and more secure people.

This book is wickedly dark, very clever, and unique and I can see why so many people were attracted to it. These characters are not likeable, especially in the beginning, as they have no depth, and are spoiled by wealth, and feel an overwhelming sense of entitlement. Although, some attempts were made to succeed, the siblings have an ‘easy come, easy go’ attitude toward failure since they will never have to worry about paying bills once they come into their trust. So, watching these insane people respond to the possibility they will not receive the amount of money they were expecting is certainly…er… interesting.

Truly, I caught myself laughing a few times, but as the story moves along, it seems the one sibling causing all the turmoil now is responsible for much of the turmoil in the past, and would, it seems, continue on that path into the future. This raises some nice, thought provoking questions in the midst of the chaos, which gives the story some actual depth, despite the whimsical quality that took root towards the end.

For me, this book was a little off the beaten path, and I can’t say I loved it as much as others did, but it was a fascinating change of pace, and I’m happy I gave it a try.

3.5

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't often like the big "summer" novels but I loved this addictive story of the dysfunctional Plumb siblings. The characters are not always likeable they are mostly self absorbed but I couldn't stop caring about them.

Leo, the oldest brother, makes a really bad decision to get behind the wheel intoxicated and has a terrible car accident and ends up in rehab. The cost of this is paid for out of the "nest" which is the siblings trust fund that they don't receive until the youngest one turns 40 which is rapidly approaching. The problem is they are all in a mess and are counting on that money to make everything right in their own world.

I almost didn't read this but I'm so glad that I did. It was the perfect summer fun read.