A review by cmq22
The Unfortunates by Sophie McManus

4.0

Personally, I think this book deserves a better rating than it currently has on Goodreads. As other reviewers have noted, this book can be a tough one if you're not amply prepared for the themes it explores. I really enjoyed this book mainly I think because I waited to read it at a time when I was craving really beautifully written fiction set somewhere gorgeous - a family compound in CT along the Long Island sound - and was open to some darker themes and heavy focus on character development. I loved that each chapter held a different voice/perspective. McManus paints a rich picture with her writing, and through her storytelling, addresses some legitimately profound topics:
- What are the limitations of wealth? What can/cannot be fixed with money?
- Despite our best intentions, how much of our life remains out of our control?
- How do we react to failure?
- In the face of illness, death, and old age, how do we reflect on the life we've made and the legacy we've created?