We Only Know So Much (Elizabeth Crane)

What would we do without the ill functioning family as we know it today? We'd certainly have much less material to draw from to create fanstastically entertaining stories that might just make you feel better about your own, or at least not feel like you are the only one.

Meet the Copelands. We have four generations of characters here ranging from matriarch, Vivian and her son, Theodore to his son, Gordon, and his wife Jean, and then their kids, Priscilla and youngest Otis.
 
Elizabeth Crane takes us on an insight trip via short chapters through the minds of each character and their inner musings of their life and what is going on with it. It also seems that although they are the expert of their own life, they don't much know about the other family members. It is like they are all strangers living in the same house but oblivious to anything or anyone but themselves. 

There is a complete breakdown of communication between all the members of the house. Immediately I understood, despite it being seemingly strange to have this happening. because don't I know the dynamics of a household where small talk is is king and separate kitchen times a necessity. I could go on, but this is not a review of my  life, but the glowing review of a fantastic work of fiction (maybe based on some reality??) 

So we have Gordon, who does make up the bulk of the story and he is a guy who isn't so much likable but not unlikable either. He talks a lot and likes to impress on the other person who may or may not be listening, on how much he knows; he's a regular wikipedia sort of fellow. So  he thinks he may be losing his mind when at his work (he's a manager of a grocery story) a woman comes up to him who knows him and and asks how has he been? Gordon is confused because he doesn't know her name and then she says eludes to them having dated in college. He later does a search via "social network" that a pic reveals that they did date. He has no recollection and now thinks he's losing his mind!. It doesn't help that his father, Theodore also has issues with his mind (alzheimers). SO Gordon is quite distracted with Gordon and although he's a provider for his family he's really not paying much attention to them, least of all his wife. 

Now his wife, Jean, due to said negligence begins and sustains an affair with a man named James who ends up (quite near the beginning of the story) killing himself. Jean has to endure the grieving process in secret. We don't feel bad for her but perhaps we can empathize. 

Then there is Priscilla who, is named aptly in the first page of the book, a bitch. She's graduated high school and not doing much with her life (junior college, first year) and has been approached and passed on, for a reality show that is now her life's goal. Her friend gets a few call backs and as you can imagine this doesn't go down well for Priscilla. 

Then there is Otis who at 9 years old is in love with a girl in his class (Caterina) who eats jelly beans each one in three separate bites. They do become boyfriend and girlfriend for a short period of time and we get to see the thoughts of an enamored boy and how he goes about handling a budding relationship.
 
Last but not least the matriarch, Vivian. Vivian is a woman who is all about Vivian. She directs conversations (there aren't many as the family hardly interacts) to herself and we get to see how a 98 year old woman who is mostly functioning on her own handles life and the younger people in it.

I love Elizabeth Cranes voice and enjoyed this book immensely. It was funny and had no lulls in it where I almost want to skip parts (as has happened in the last few books I've read).  She has been noted to be more of a short story writer so I'm going to check out her three other books to see if they're as good as this one.  I love a good family centered book and if you do too this is one to get! It almost reminded me of Freedom by Jonathan Franzan but less pretentious (thus, entirely more enjoyable.)