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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
This book was so interesting, in that it didn’t really have a central plot. It follows a family who runs a restaurant in Chicago, primarily focusing on three grandchildren of the couple who started it. It’s told mainly as just stories about what is happening in their lives. The lack of a plot might seem off-putting, but somehow it was kind of delightful! It is written in a post 2016 election world, so the disillusionment that came with that is a strong component of the book. Overall, it was a reminder that things can be broken and beautiful and ugly and terrible and wonderful all at once.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book mostly took place in Chicago and the nearby suburbs. I especially enjoyed it because I am from Chicago too, and I loved the Chicago references and the Chicago “feel”.
Marrying the Ketchups is a character-driven family drama about a large Catholic family from Chicago who own a restaurant called JP Sullivan’s. The book follows three members of the Sullivan family as they deal with the aftermath of three life-altering events in the fall of 2016, all within a few weeks of each other: the 2016 election; the Chicago Cubs finally wining the World Series; and the sudden death of Bud, the family patriarch and owner of Sullivan’s restaurant. The title refers to the practice of combining condiments from two half-empty bottles to make a full bottle and serves as a metaphor throughout the novel.
The story unfolds through the point of view of three 30-something cousins of the Sullivan clan: Gretchen, who sings in a band in NYC but starts to grow disillusioned with her life; her sister Jane, a stay-at-home mother of two whose marriage has hit a rough patch; and their cousin Teddy, who was recently dumped by his boyfriend and comes to work at Sullivan after Bud’s passing in hopes of one day running the restaurant himself.
In Marrying the Ketchups, Close created a character study of a family struggling with transition, uncertainty, and grief. The novel is well-written and readers will get a deep sense of who these characters are. However, I do wish there would have been a little more plot to carry the story along. Many of the characters are struggling in their relationships and their place in society. But I finished the book feeling like not much other than that happened. I am usually a fan of characters over plot but in this case, I was left wanting just a little more plot.
This was a fast read for me and I did enjoy meeting the Sullivans. I just wish there was more happening with each of them besides the three events that are the catalyst for the novel. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys character-driven family dramas like [b:We Are the Brennans|55169040|We Are the Brennans|Tracey Lange|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1628802754l/55169040._SY75_.jpg|82555352].
Special thanks to NetGalley and Knopf Doubleday Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
The story unfolds through the point of view of three 30-something cousins of the Sullivan clan: Gretchen, who sings in a band in NYC but starts to grow disillusioned with her life; her sister Jane, a stay-at-home mother of two whose marriage has hit a rough patch; and their cousin Teddy, who was recently dumped by his boyfriend and comes to work at Sullivan after Bud’s passing in hopes of one day running the restaurant himself.
In Marrying the Ketchups, Close created a character study of a family struggling with transition, uncertainty, and grief. The novel is well-written and readers will get a deep sense of who these characters are. However, I do wish there would have been a little more plot to carry the story along. Many of the characters are struggling in their relationships and their place in society. But I finished the book feeling like not much other than that happened. I am usually a fan of characters over plot but in this case, I was left wanting just a little more plot.
This was a fast read for me and I did enjoy meeting the Sullivans. I just wish there was more happening with each of them besides the three events that are the catalyst for the novel. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys character-driven family dramas like [b:We Are the Brennans|55169040|We Are the Brennans|Tracey Lange|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1628802754l/55169040._SY75_.jpg|82555352].
Special thanks to NetGalley and Knopf Doubleday Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This was a very solid family saga that you could just comfortably get lost in. I know some reviews here complain that it was "too political* which I don't even really think is possible. My only qualm is all the comments suggesting that it's weird the way they treat Riley like part of the family. Like wtf? She's absolutely part of the family. I found that very strange and kind of off-putting. Even thinking about it again is getting me annoyed. So it would be a really good book club pick.
Loved this book. It's a fast read and I really enjoyed all of the similarities between the Sullivan's and my own family. Highly recommend.
If you like the TV show The Bear, get yourself this book. It’s not connected in anyway, but there are some similarities. Namely, a family restaurant set in Chicago, with characters you will grow to love. The story unfolds around different members of the family (mostly the cousins), after the death of their grandfather. A feel-good, heart-filling read.