The Blessings

by Elise Juska

Overview

"Bursting with wise observations." -- J. Courtney Sullivan, author of The Engagements and Maine

"Gleams like a jewel." -- The Philadelphia Inquirer

"Stunning. . . Unique and unforgettable." -- Glamour

Hailed as one of the best books of 2014 by The Philadelphia Inquirer, Elise Juska's The Blessings is a moving novel about a tight-knit Irish Catholic clan over the course of twenty years.

The Blessings rally around one another in times of celebration and those of sorrow, coming together for departures and arrivals, while its members harbor private struggles and moments of personal joy. College student Abby ponders homesickness in her first semester away from her Philadelphia home, while her cousin Stephen commits a petty act of violence that takes a surprising turn, and their aunt Lauren faces a crisis in her storybook marriage she could never have foreseen. Through the lens of one unforgettable family, this beautifully moving novel explores how our families define us and how we shape them in return.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781455574018
Publisher:	Grand Central Publishing
Publication date:	05/06/2014
Sold by:	Hachette Digital, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	288,186
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Elise Juska's fiction and nonfiction have appeared in Ploughshares, Gettysburg Review, The Missouri Review, Good Housekeeping, the Hudson Review, and many other publications. She is the recipient of the Alice Hoffman Prize for Fiction from Ploughshares and her work has been cited in the Best American Short Stories. She lives in Philadelphia, where she is the director of the undergraduate creative writing program at the University of the Arts.

Interviews

A Conversation with Elise Juska, Author of The Blessings

The Blessings is a look inside a large, close Irish Catholic family in Philadelphia. What drew you to writing about this particular clan?

I've been trying to tell this story, or some version of this story, for quite a long time. I grew up in a big Philadelphia family (six aunts and uncles, sixteen cousins) and although the book is not strictly autobiographical, there are aspects of this family that are very familiar to me: the sense of ritual, the rhythms of the frequent family get-togethers, the constancy, the loyalty, the emphasis on tradition. In my own family, two uncles died young, with young children; in the novel, the death of John Blessing is the event that shapes the family and reverberates, in various ways, over the next twenty years. For me, finally understanding how to write this book was a matter of, first, getting older and gaining some insight about what it means to be part of a big family and, second, figuring out the novel's form.

Each chapter is told from the point of view of a different member of the family—aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews. Why did you decide to structure the book this way?

One of the dynamics that interests me in big families, and one of the things I wanted the book to explore, is the relationship between the individual and the clan. The big family functions as a whole—built on traditions, foods, rituals, shared joys and losses—but in fact, everyone in it maintains a life outside it. This may not sound like a groundbreaking revelation, but when I was younger it shook me to realize that there were parts of my life that my family didn't know—and that, if true for me, that was likely true for all of us. So the structure, the use of multiple narrators, was a way of embodying that dynamic: all these family members are, in a sense, telling one shared story—framed by John's death—but they are also telling separate stories, private stories, known only to them.

The range of characters and experiences is diverse—a troubled teenage nephew, a grandmother confronting dementia, a father realizing his daughter is suffering from an eating disorder. Was it difficult to get into the heads of such different people? Were some more challenging to write? More fun?

I think what I like most about writing fiction is that very thing: getting into the heads of people who are not myself, trying to cultivate some empathy and understanding as I imagine what their lives are like. It may be fitting, then, that the characters I most enjoyed writing were the ones whose lives deviated most from my own—like Patrick, John's surviving brother, an eye doctor who ends up contemplating infidelity. Or Stephen, John's nephew, who at sixteen starts down a bad path. These characters were challenging to write but also very surprising, especially Stephen, for whom I developed a real soft spot. Maybe that's because, unlike some of the others, whose struggles are more internal, Stephen's problems are so visible. In a big family—especially one populated by other, seemingly more well-adjusted siblings and cousins—being the one whose struggles are so public can be a difficult role.

Several early readers have commented that the book feels like it could generate a sequel. Is that something you've considered?

I love that reader feedback (I loved writing these people and would happily go on doing it!) and think I understand where it's coming from. We're introduced to numerous characters in the course of the novel, so there are plenty of people to check in with and return to. Also, because the book spans two decades—in the final chapter, the babies from chapter one are in college—we watch a generation of this family grow up, but its core stays the same. In a way, the book is about that very dichotomy: the change, the sameness. I too find myself wondering how the dynamic shifts as the next generation gets older—the cousins have kids of their own, the aunts and uncles become grandparents, the larger world undergoes some dramatic shifts—and the ways the family does and does not change.

Who have you discovered lately?

I'm always most drawn to short stories, both writing them and reading them. I recently discovered Joan Wickersham's The News From Spain, an expertly knitted collection of short stories, all of them love stories of a kind. The individual stories are linked in lovely, subtle ways; the structure is like music. I also loved Asali Solomon's collection of Philadelphia-set stories, Get Down, which manages to be both funny and heartbreaking and also wincingly realistic in its depiction of adolescents struggling to fit in.

Editorial Reviews

03/15/2014
This family saga explores the ups and downs of a close-knit extended Irish American clan in Philadelphia over a couple of decades. Like so many people, the Blessings discover that life often doesn't turn out to be what they had hoped. Among their trials are unhappy marriages, divorce, and teenagers who go badly off the rails. Most poignantly, the novel centers on the death of John Blessing, a young husband and father, and the effect this tragedy has on his widow, children, and entire family. In the wrong hands, a family story such as this could be either too sentimental or too much of a soap opera, but we are in good hands with award-winning short story author Juska. She is a shrewd observer of human nature and has an outstanding ability to bring her characters to life on the page. The author's wise decision to focus on a different relative in each chapter also makes the novel stand out. VERDICT This wonderfully readable work about family life will have you eagerly turning pages to find out what happens to characters about whom you really care. [See Prepub Alert, 11/18/13.]—Leslie Patterson, Rehoboth, MA

Library Journal

★ 02/10/2014
Several generations of the Blessings, a Philadelphia-based, Irish-American family, come beautifully to life in a deceptively simple tale that examines the foibles, disappointments and passions that tie family members together. Juska (One for Sorrow, Two for Joy) traces the trajectory of several family members’ lives over a 15-year period, starting with college student Abby, who comes to understand her family’s supportive and close-knit nature only after leaving for college. The novel goes on to introduce the other Blessings, including Abby’s siblings, Alex and Meghan; her parents, Ann and Dave; and many cousins, aunts, and uncles. The author brings a depth of understanding to the human condition, including in her descriptions of Abby’s cousin Stephen, on the road to becoming a ne’er-do-well; her uncle Patrick, a successful eye doctor, contemplating infidelity; and Meghan coming to terms with her eating disorder. Abby’s grandmother Helen’s dementia is among the more difficult family issues raised. Despite these challenges, the Blessings rally round each other—whether that attention is wanted or not—and the reader leaves feeling lucky to have spent some time in their presence. Agent: Katherine Fausset, Curtis Brown. (May)

Publishers Weekly

"#1 . . . A stunning wide-angle snapshot of the Blessing family of Northeast Philadelphia. . . They could be any family-and yet, in Juska's capable hands, they're unique and unforgettable."—Glamour, "The 10 Best Books to Add to Your Summer Reading List Right This Second"

"[A] bighearted novel. . . . Juska's moving, multifaceted portrait of the Blessing family gleams like a jewel."—Philadelphia Inquirer

"Takes us into the heart of one of Philadelphia's large Irish-Catholic families . . . the storytelling is confident and Juska writes movingly about the emotional life of individuals within a close social unit."—The Toronto Star

"I loved this book. . . . At its core, "The Blessings" is ultimately about family: the people you are tied to by blood and birth, the people you celebrate your victories with and who support you during times of sorrow, the people who will always be there for you no matter what. This is a beautifully complex and thoughtful novel that is perfect for summer reading, whether you're on the beach or lying in a hammock."— The Times Leader

"Beautifully crafted. . . Juska draws the characters so fully, with thoughts and feelings so real, the reader can't help but become emotionally invested."—All You

"Several generations of the Blessings, a Philadelphia-based, Irish-American family, come beautifully to life in a deceptively simple tale that examines the foibles, disappointments and passions that tie family members together. . . The author brings a depth of understanding to the human condition, including in her descriptions of Abby's cousin Stephen, on the road to becoming a ne'er-do-well; her uncle Patrick, a successful eye doctor, contemplating infidelity; and Meghan coming to terms with her eating disorder . . . Despite these challenges, the Blessings rally round each other-whether that attention is wanted or not-and the reader leaves feeling lucky to have spent some time in their presence."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Fans of writers like Anne Tyler, Alice McDermott and even Richard Yates will revel in Juska's resplendent novel detailing two decades in the life of the Blessing clan."—BookReporter.com

"With a keen eye for detail and character, Juska shows us that, Tolstoy notwithstanding, a happy family can be happy in its own way and make for great storytelling... An exquisite portrait of a large family."—Shelf Awareness

"Throughout the novel, right up until the affecting final scene, Juska explores the paradox of family-how it is the thing that both stifles and sustains you, how it can be simultaneously predictable and unexpected, stable and fragile... the result is the best kind of family portrait-one in which you know each member's foibles and flaws and yet love them anyway."—BookBrowse, Editor's Choice

"It takes a writer with voice and depth to tell the story of a large Irish Catholic family's travails and make it feel fresh. Elise Juska succeeds with this novel set in Northeast Philly."—Philadelphia Magazine

"Juska explores the collective experiences, traditions and loyalties of a close-knit family . . . a multilayered, sympathetic account of its members' lives."—Kirkus Reviews

"This heartfelt tribute to the ups and downs of a large, devoted family is warm, uplifting, and recommended for readers from families of all sizes."—Booklist

"We are in good hands with award-winning short story author Juska. She is a shrewd observer of human nature and has an outstanding ability to bring her characters to life on the page . . . this wonderfully readable work about family life will have you eagerly turning pages."—Library Journal

"Juska's emotionally resonant storytelling will stay with you long after turning the last page."—Irish America

"It is the ordinary details that define the Blessings. The pickles wrapped in ham, well-worn seats in front of the TV, Mass at St. Bonaventure's and casserole dishes provide a predictable backdrop to the unexpected-making the unexpected that much sharper."—Portland Press Herald

"This family can feel so real, the prose almost aches."—Philadelphia City Paper

"The Blessings are a family so real in all their sorrow, joy and complexity that they could be yours or mine. Juska's portrait of this close-knit clan is bursting with wise observations about the nature of love and belonging. I enjoyed every page."—J. Courtney Sullivan, New York Times-bestselling author of The Engagements and Maine

"In the tradition of Elizabeth Berg's and Alice McDermott's work, The Blessings is a knowing portrait of a sprawling Irish-American family in Philly across the last thirty years, in all their shared strength and separate weaknesses. Elise Juska is deft and tender, letting us get close to her characters in their most vulnerable moments. The ties that bind are never simple, and often painful, but as one daughter acknowledges, 'these are the hidden intimacies, the private exchanges, on which she builds her life.'"—Stewart O'Nan, author of Songs for the Missing and Emily, Alone

"In this absorbing novel, Elise Juska moves effortlessly among family members and across decades, covering tragedy and triumph, love and loyalty. I adored everything about this book and raced to finish it, only to turn the last page and long for more time with this large, complicated, close-knit family."—Jennifer Close, author of Girls in White Dresses and The Smart One

"Elise Juska, with a sharp and generous eye, charts the duality of family life in her novel-in-stories, The Blessings. Juska's characters, in their all-too-real efforts at self-discovery, remain home or travel the world, dabble with temptation or stay committed, reveal secrets or keep them; the one constant is their shared blood and history. Each exquisitely layered story builds on top of the other, leaving the reader with a lasting portrait of what it means to be a part of a family in today's fractured world."—Siobhan Fallon, author of You Know When the Men Are Gone

"Elise Juska is so good at describing people, places, and moments that you not only picture them, you feel them."—Curtis Sittenfeld

From the Publisher

"Elise Juska, with a sharp and generous eye, charts the duality of family life in her novel-in-stories, The Blessings. Juska's characters, in their all-too-real efforts at self-discovery, remain home or travel the world, dabble with temptation or stay committed, reveal secrets or keep them; the one constant is their shared blood and history. Each exquisitely layered story builds on top of the other, leaving the reader with a lasting portrait of what it means to be a part of a family in today's fractured world."

Siobhan Fallon

"In this absorbing novel, Elise Juska moves effortlessly among family members and across decades, covering tragedy and triumph, love and loyalty. I adored everything about this book and raced to finish it, only to turn the last page and long for more time with this large, complicated, close-knit family."

Jennifer Close

"In the tradition of Elizabeth Berg's and Alice McDermott's work, The Blessings is a knowing portrait of a sprawling Irish-American family in Philly across the last thirty years, in all their shared strength and separate weaknesses. Elise Juska is deft and tender, letting us get close to her characters in their most vulnerable moments. The ties that bind are never simple, and often painful, but as one daughter acknowledges, 'these are the hidden intimacies, the private exchanges, on which she builds her life.'"

Stewart O'Nan

"The Blessings are a family so real in all their sorrow, joy and complexity that they could be yours or mine. Juska's portrait of this close-knit clan is bursting with wise observations about the nature of love and belonging. I enjoyed every page."

J. Courtney Sullivan

Thérèse Plummer brings a large Irish-Catholic family from Philadelphia to life with an accomplished narration. This touching novel is about the journey rather than the destination, being formed from a series of stories, each focusing on a different family member. Each story presents an important part of the whole. While the Blessings family comprises a large cast, each vignette generally focuses on smaller groups of characters, with Plummer's easy characterizations drawing the listener into each thread. Listeners will have no trouble recognizing and connecting with the characters. Plummer provides a sympathetic delivery that, despite tragedies that rock the family to the core, ensures that the life-affirming message of this novel stays front and center. K.J.P. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine

JULY 2014 - AudioFile

Thérèse Plummer brings a large Irish-Catholic family from Philadelphia to life with an accomplished narration. This touching novel is about the journey rather than the destination, being formed from a series of stories, each focusing on a different family member. Each story presents an important part of the whole. While the Blessings family comprises a large cast, each vignette generally focuses on smaller groups of characters, with Plummer's easy characterizations drawing the listener into each thread. Listeners will have no trouble recognizing and connecting with the characters. Plummer provides a sympathetic delivery that, despite tragedies that rock the family to the core, ensures that the life-affirming message of this novel stays front and center. K.J.P. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine

JULY 2014 - AudioFile

2014-03-06
Juska explores the collective experiences, traditions and loyalties of a close-knit family and the perspectives of individual members as they journey through a span of 30 years. Like many other middle-class Philadelphia Irish-Catholic clans, the Blessings are tight. They celebrate every holiday in time-honored fashion (men in front of the television or tending the grill; women preparing side dishes and cleaning up), rally together during crises and proudly acknowledge important milestones. It's not surprising, then, that when oldest brother John succumbs to cancer shortly after his father's fatal heart attack, his illness and death become the definitive reference points in the Blessings' lives. Widow Lauren, the mother of two young children, is an only child and relied on John to help her feel comfortable among the Blessings. She faces the death of her husband as many widows do—by withdrawing from others—but as time passes, she helps another family member and becomes an integral part of the clan. Her sister-in-law Kate is married to the youngest Blessing, Patrick, and blames his grief over his brother's death for her initial failure to conceive; later, Patrick evaluates the direction his life has taken. John's sisters cope privately with problems as their children grow older and the family continues to commemorate John's life on the anniversary of his death. Ann and her husband, Dave, become increasingly alienated and finally divorce; their eldest daughter pursues life and love in NYC, their academically gifted son does the unexpected, and their youngest daughter battles an eating disorder. Sister Margie has tried to stifle anxiety over a confession her husband made years ago, but now her eldest son is in trouble, and although she knows taking certain actions will only cause her more pain, she insists that her husband unbury the past and help him. Juska's story is like leafing through an old family photo album, where typically unremarkable moments are captured in black and white. What makes the album unique isn't its contents but the way each photo abuts or overlays the next. The author (One for Sorrow, Two for Joy, 2007, etc.) has created an ordinary fictitious family and stitched together a multilayered, sympathetic account of its members' lives.

Kirkus Reviews