Run in the Fam'ly: A Novel [Paperback]

John J. McLaughlin (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Ambitious...beautifully and believably drawn...an example of a new American realism that pairs a longing for justice with an understanding of literary craft. The book's landscape, the Flatlands of Oakland, is described in keen and loving detail, giving the weight of a serious social document in the way of Emile Zola or John Updike in the Rabbit books. The work is at once a commentary on the limitations of the American welfare system and the deadening round of urban poverty, and a portrait of the universal psychodrama of fathers and sons, as well as a page-turner. [It] holds out a profound truth as necessary in our age as in any other: that through humility and suffering we meet God." -- Image Journal, January 1, 2008

"Jake's narrative crackles of the hard scrabble streets. There are moments of love, humor, and tenderness...The raw language that permeates this story intensifies the sense of rage, confusion, and desperation that pervades the lives of many poor and marginalized individuals. Jake's truculent journey is one that deserves attention." -- Real Change, December 26, 2007 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Inside Flap

A father's dark secret. A son's fateful choice.

In the traditions of Ralph Ellison's "Invisible Man" and William Styron's "Confessions of Nat Turner" comes a bold debut novel by a striking new voice in American literature. Set in the Flatlands of Oakland, over the Memorial Day weekend at the end of the Reagan-Bush, Sr. era, Run in the Fam'ly is a gripping tale of struggle, faith, and redemption. Jake Robertson, a young Black man snared in the welfare-to-work rut, longs to make a better way for his family. Piecing together minimum-wage jobs and drawing--illegally-- on public assistance simply to make ends meet, he hopes against hope for the chance to pull his girlfriend and asthmatic son out of grinding poverty. Upon his father's release from prison, he is tempted with a crime that could solve his economic woes, but which he fears may fate him to the same life as his father--a man whose past is dark indeed, and about whom Jake has yet to learn one deep, terrible secret.

Narrated in a voice that captures both the raw edginess of the street and the complex rhythms of jazz, Run in the Fam'ly is a stunning work of literary ventriloquism and social analysis. Richly-detailed and filled with vivid characterizations, it plumbs the dark, mysterious depths of the city and the soul, recalling the novels of Dickens, Zola, and Baldwin. It is a father-son story for our time, a riveting human drama that will leave readers, on the book's final page, both heartbroken and hopeful. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Univ Tennessee Press; 1 edition (March 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1572336455
• ISBN-13: 978-1572336452
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,331,961 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read for Social Justice!, February 18, 2008

By 

Annie loves to read great books "Annie" (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Run in the Fam'ly: A Novel (Peter Taylor Prize) (Hardcover)

For all those who acknowledge the systemic injustices upholding the harsh realities and daily struggles of the inner city poor in America and for those who dare to dream of a brighter, more hopeful, future, here is a brilliant novel written by a promising and talented young new writer, John McLaughlin.
I was greatly impressed not only by the author's lyrical and poignant style of writing, but also by the breadth of character analysis that lies at the heart of the novel's father-son plot. Jake Robertson's turbulent and complicated relationship with his father makes for a compelling and dramatic storyline.
The overall language and choice of diction conveys the author's intimate understanding and ground level relationship with the forgotten and often overlooked people of our society: the homeless, incarcerated, drunks, drug abusers and those stuck in the welfare rut. By choosing to voice the needs and concerns of the voiceless, McLaughlin proves to be both bold and compassionate.
While reading this novel, I gained a better appreciation and awareness of the difficult and often dangerous lives that many are forced to lead in order to survive. By vicariously entering into the lives of the poor and seeing through their eyes for a while, I witnessed their real humanity and vulnerability.
I greatly look forward to McLaughlin's next piece of work!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reality and redemption, February 11, 2008

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Mo reads a lot (Sacramento, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Run in the Fam'ly: A Novel (Peter Taylor Prize) (Hardcover)

The reader will never guess that this is McLaughlin's first novel, with the carefully and skillfully crafted voice of Jake Robertson, the young black man from Oakland who narrates this tale. Jake depicts what life is like for so many of our low income people, and the tortuous decisions that one frequently faces when living in poverty. The overarching moral dilemma that McLaughlin poses forces the reader to question his or her own values while Jake does the same.
We can all relate to the failures and suffering Jake and his family confront, regardless of our position in society. However, this novel also exposes the realities of living in poverty, on the margins, and McLaughlin beautifully gives these realities a powerful voice through Jake Robertson; a voice that demands to be heard.
Although there is no "Hollywood ending" to this novel, in the midst of brokenness, McLaughlin leaves the reader with a sense of reconciliation, hope and redemption. This is a novel that evokes a variety of emotions and makes the reader think reflectively and compassionately.
I eagerly anticipate McLaughlin's next novel.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great new author, unique and important book, February 9, 2008

By 

socialjustice4all (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Run in the Fam'ly: A Novel (Peter Taylor Prize) (Hardcover)

This novel was a fast read, a piece of fiction that aptly depicts the all too real and dire circumstances that so many people in our society face everyday as they struggle just to get by. This new author takes on a real challenge in telling the protagonist's story from a narrative perspective, and it really pays off, as Jake's voice comes right off the pages and into your head as you follow him through the tough choices and situations he faces at every turn. McLaughlin's use of analogy and metaphor is superb, allowing readers from any background to connect with the storyline. While fictional, the struggles faced by Jake and his girlfriend Noel in supporting themselves and trying to care for their infant son offer lessons in social justice and the systemic problems and suffering caused by poverty and homelessness. There is no clear sky and rainbow at the end of this story, though hope remains. This novel tackles topics not often presented in contemporary fiction, and is a terrific and wortwhile read.