Homecoming [Mass Market Paperback]

Belva Plain (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 13, 1998

With unerring insight and emotional power, Belva Plain, in her extraordinary novel, tells the story of a family divided and of the proud matriarch who takes a bold last stand to unite her warring children in what may be their last Homecoming.

It is a crisp December day when Annette Byrne walks to the end of her long, curving driveway and drops five sealed envelopes into the mailbox, quickly, before second thoughts stay her hand.  Shortly thereafter, with the holidays approaching, her estranged family will be gathered at her country estate for the first time in years.

The sons. . . two brothers embittered by a breach of ethics, honor, and trust.  The grandchildren. . . one young couple on the verge of divorce; another, lovingly united against the parents who have tarnished their lives.  As the ill-fated meeting hurtles toward a bitter and abrupt conclusion, not even Annette Byrne's indomitable will can heal the rift--until a shattering event alters the landscape forever.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Determined to unite all the members of her estranged family, Byrne family matriarch Annette invites them for a weekend. Will her two sons, haunted by a divisive court case in which one testified against the other, resume speaking to each other? Will Annette's granddaughter Cynthia let go of her bitterness toward the unfaithful husband she plans to divorce? And will Ellen's interfaith marriage to Mark finally be accepted?by both their families? It takes more than good intentions to bring this divided clan back together in this uplifting little novel, which is quite different from Plain's (Secrecy, LJ 3/15/97) long family sagas and perfect reading for the holiday season. Recommended for public libraries.?Elizabeth Mary Mellett, Brookline P.L.,. Mass.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

There's a certain amount of post-trauma misery and marital conflict here (featured in Plain's Secrecy, p. 748, and Promises, 1996), but that's just one element in this cockle-warming yarn about the efforts of an elderly widow to round up--and shape up-- her fragmented, warring family. Annette Byrne, 85, sends invitations to a snarling pack of descendants and their in-laws to join her on her estate in upper New York State. Among those not speaking or simply out-of-sync: sons Lewis and Gene, former partners, whose business was destroyed by corruption, for which each blames the other; Lewis's wife Daisy, whose cold manner antagonizes many; and Gene's nice daughter Ellen, who is married to Mark Sachs--none of the parents of the happy couple are thrilled with the Wasp/Jewish union. But a true tragedy blasted the marriage and lives of Lewis's daughter Cynthia and husband Andrew when their twin babies were killed in an accident. The terrible prolonged grief finally forced the couple apart-- Andrew was driven to a seedy sexual episode, and Cynthia began divorce proceedings. Now all of Annette's edgy guests have arrived, loving or respecting Annette but appalled by her plan when they realize the identity of the other guests. Will Annette bring them together? Well, yes and no. Yes, the grand, roomy old house, the handsomely appointed table, and yummo food (a Plain specialty) offer the background to peace talks, but Annette is finally reduced to tears. A chance event, potentially tragic, along with a lecture from Annette's neighborhood friend Marion, does bring them together. Cynthia is the last holdout, but sweetness and light prevail. It's all set in a winter landscape, with sleet underlining the central drama, but by the end the emotional thermostat is up and good feeling is spread all around. A small, warming holiday gift for Plain fans. (Literary Guild main selection; author tour) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Dell; 1st Printing, November 1998 edition (October 13, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440225272
• ISBN-13: 978-0440225270
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.8 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,236,831 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:

3.0 out of 5 stars Belva Plain, this time, misses the mark!, January 17, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Chicago, Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Homecoming (Hardcover)

I have been an admirer of Belva Plain for many years - her novels are like watching a Sunday television movie on a snowy afternoon. However, her latest effort, "Homecoming" is a disappointment. The story is stereotypical and trite: A well-to-do matriarch gathers her troubled family together at her country estate for a homecoming in hopes all will resolve their family difficulties which include a troubled marriage and a rivalry between 2 brothers. A tragedy occurs at the home which brings everyone closer together and, like magic, by the end all have resolved their differences. It is all very neat and clean and, quite frankly, a bit of a disappointment. "Homecoming" is a small novel, almost a short story - still, I wish the characters were more developed and that their lives contained more than the usual "baggage" we all are used to reading about. The book is easy to read and can be finished in a few hours and, yes, it is enjoyable to read. I just wish this book would have been more interesting and not so contrived. I will continue to read Belva Plain and will await her next work which, hopefully, will be a more in-depth novel for, as I said before, I like to nest on a Sunday afternoon and sink myself in a comforting and soothing story.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A satisfying, well told story, January 7, 2007

By 

Mary Chrapliwy (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Homecoming (Mass Market Paperback)

First, I'm shocked that this book got any negative reviews. Had I read those reviews before I picked up this book I probably wouldn't have read it, and that would have been quite a shame.

This is a heart-wrenching tale of a family of adult children who are at war with each other. That war was brought on by tragedy. These were all good people who just couldn't seem to connect anymore. Hence the matriarch of the family, Annette Byrne, engineers a plan to bring all those family members together to help mend the giant divide that separates them.

This book was well written, well plotted, told from each family member's point of view, and a very satisfying story. This book was definitely worth my time, and I assure you that it is worth yours.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Is this the same author?, November 4, 2000

By 

M. Yehezkel "auraflora" (Israel) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Homecoming (Hardcover)

Is this the same author who wrote the literary gem "Evergreen"? If I wouldn't have seen Belva Plain's name on the cover flap, then I wouldn't have believed that the such an established author could produce such a trite, unimaginative, immature piece. Dare I call it literature. Quality is so much more important than quantity and I would suggest that instead of producing the "annual-quota" of fiction, Ms. Plain hibernate with her thoughts so as to present a better storyline. This was truly disappointing.