Rating: 
Summary: Great Writer
Review: Within Arm's Reach is a great novel by a fantastic author. It is one of the most well written books I have picked up in a long time. Ann Napolitano masters the art of writing to the extent of making the words flow with ease from the pages into our lives. You can't avoid thinking of the particular situations that arise in the novel and how common they might be in one's life or someone else's. I highly recommend this novel. Regardless of the tough and sad situations that the characters face throughout the story, it will be a pleasure to read.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting multi-generational family saga
Review: Within Arm's Reach is a novel which centers around three generations of the McLaughlin family. The book opens with Gracie, a young, unmarried woman in her late 20s who has recently discovered that she is pregnant. Gracie's own pregnancy has made her interested in the history of her maternal grandmother, Catherine, who experienced multiple births as well as multiple tragedies over the course of her childbearing years. The stories of Gracie and Catherine are contrasted against that of Kelly, Catherine's daughter and Gracie's mother. Kelly is experiencing her own emotional turmoil based on her sense that she may have failed as a mother to Gracie and her sister, Lila, as well as failed as a wife to her husband, Louis. Each of the five McLaughlin family members weighs in on the story from their own perspective, and towards the end of the book, an additional character, Noreen Ballan, provides a viewpoint from outside of--but still connected to--the family.Ann Napolitano has written an interesting and engaging first novel, although the characters' motivations are not always easy to understand. In particular, it is difficult to comprehend why Gracie and Lila would repeatedly make poor choices concerning their lives, and both of their parents seem to be self-destructive as well. Furthermore, the story becomes plodding at some points, with little action despite the passage of time. However, I still found this book to be worthwhile, and I look forward to Napolitano's future offerings.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting multi-generational family saga
Review: Within Arm's Reach is a novel which centers around three generations of the McLaughlin family. The book opens with Gracie, a young, unmarried woman in her late 20s who has recently discovered that she is pregnant. Gracie's own pregnancy has made her interested in the history of her maternal grandmother, Catherine, who experienced multiple births as well as multiple tragedies over the course of her childbearing years. The stories of Gracie and Catherine are contrasted against that of Kelly, Catherine's daughter and Gracie's mother. Kelly is experiencing her own emotional turmoil based on her sense that she may have failed as a mother to Gracie and her sister, Lila, as well as failed as a wife to her husband, Louis. Each of the five McLaughlin family members weighs in on the story from their own perspective, and towards the end of the book, an additional character, Noreen Ballan, provides a viewpoint from outside of--but still connected to--the family. Ann Napolitano has written an interesting and engaging first novel, although the characters' motivations are not always easy to understand. In particular, it is difficult to comprehend why Gracie and Lila would repeatedly make poor choices concerning their lives, and both of their parents seem to be self-destructive as well. Furthermore, the story becomes plodding at some points, with little action despite the passage of time. However, I still found this book to be worthwhile, and I look forward to Napolitano's future offerings.
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