Family Baggage: A Novel [Paperback]

Monica McInerney (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 20, 2006

“An endearing and humane story about a family and its sticky web of secrets and misunderstandings . . . one of those rare books you could recommend to anyone and know that they’ll love it.”
–The Australian Women’s Weekly

Harriet Turner knows all about journeys. She’s arranged hundreds of them for her family’s travel agency. Now Harriet is joining her adopted sister, Lara, to lead a group through the Cornish countryside. But when Lara fails to appear at the airport as planned, Harriet finds herself in uncharted territory and suddenly alone with a busload of eccentric seniors. As the tour wends its way through the picturesque landscape, Harriet must uncover her sister’s whereabouts and confront long-held family secrets involving Lara’s arrival twenty-five years ago . . . not to mention keeping track of more baggage–real and emotional–than she ever expected.

“With every book, Monica McInerney becomes more skilled at juggling plot complexities and giving depth to her characters. . . . Perfect [for] weekend reading.”
–Marie Claire (Australia)

“A book to treasure that is clever, amusing and heart-warmingly touching.”
–Woman’s Day (Australia)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Turner Travel specializes in themed tours that take Merryn Bay, Australia, locals abroad. The natural deaths, two months apart, of patriarch and matriarch Neil and Penny Turner leave the family business in the hands of their three children, Harriet, James and Austin; foster daughter Lara; and a handful of family friends. The book opens as Harriet, still recovering from her mother's death, leads 12 tourists through the Cornwall countryside in the footsteps of British TV detective Willoughby, but flashes back to the family's past and various coping strategies: James hides behind his domineering wife, Melissa; Austin parties; Lara, taken in by the family under mysterious circumstances nearly 25 years earlier, is the model of efficiency. Meanwhile Lara, who was to aid Harriet on the Cornwall tour, has disappeared, and Patrick Shawcross, the actor who played Willoughby and who has been hired to accompany the tour has mistaken it for a where-are-they-now media opportunity. The mystery of Lara's family and Melissa's nefariousness come to light, and Harriet's love life heats up. McInerney (The Alphabet Sisters), who lives in Ireland, offers a light look at a complicated family. (July)
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About the Author

Monica McInerney was born in the Clare Valley of South Australia and has lived in Australia, Ireland and England. Her first four novels, A Taste for It, Upside Down Inside Out, Spin the Bottle and The Alphabet Sisters were bestsellers. She now lives just outside Dublin with her husband. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books (June 20, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345490126
• ISBN-13: 978-0345490124
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 1.1 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #985,985 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent pool side reading!, July 18, 2006

By 

Betty L. Murphydwoske "book-a-holic" (boston, ma) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Family Baggage: A Novel (Paperback)

i picked this up in a used book store although i was not familiar with the author. the cover looked interesting. i was surprised at how much i enjoyed reading the book and how caught up i got into the character's lives. i was sad when it ended and i wanted it to go on.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Family Baggage Packs Some Punches, December 13, 2006

By 

Carolyn "Author of Every Little Step She Take... (Sherrill's Ford, NC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Family Baggage: A Novel (Paperback)

Never having read any of Monica McInerney's books before, I didn't know what to expect with Family Baggage. I have to say, the first chapter kept me only mildly interested. However, the further I read, the more I enjoyed the story. For anyone interested in the dynamics of a large extended family, this book will provide a fun, interesting read. The characters really grew on me - none were stereotypes and I particularly enjoyed the Patrick Shawcross character. Although I suspected the truth about the main area of conflict pretty early on, that didn't diminish my enjoyment of the story and how it unfolded. Any book that can make me both laugh out loud and get teary-eyed certainly gets my appreciation. My only complaint - no hospital would have kept James there for so many days!!!

I will certainly be checking out Ms. McInerney's other books.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Drawn out baggage, July 2, 2006

By 

Mrs. Janine K. Kimberley "jaykkay" (Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Family Baggage: A Novel (Paperback)

I have read all of Monica Mcinerneys novels and I found that this one and the Alphabet Sisters have been hard work to read.

Her first three novels were fantastic - kept you interested from the first to the last page with a funny, believable storyline.

This one (Family Baggage) was such a chore, its not a small book (482 pages)and to be quite honest could have been written in about 300 pages without missing anything. I hope she realises that her reading audience is basically, the chick lit audience, that are cash rich and time poor - so either keep the novel more interesting or shorten the size. I'll think twice before reading another one.