"The Latecomers" by Helen Klein Ross

The Latecomers by Helen Klein Ross
Call Number: FICTION Ross
From the bestselling author of What Was Mine -a deeply moving family drama about a young Irish immigrant, an ancestral home in New England and a dark secret that lay hidden in its walls for five generations. In 1908, sixteen-year-old Bridey runs away from her small town in Ireland with her same-age sweetheart Thom. But when Thom dies suddenly of ship fever on their ocean crossing, Bridey finds herself alone and pregnant in a strange new world. Forced by circumstance to give up the baby for adoption, Bridey finds work as a maid for the Hollingworth family at a lavish, sprawling estate. It's the dawn of a new century: innovative technologies are emerging, women's roles are changing, and Bridey is emboldened by the promise of a fresh start. She cares for the Hollingworth children as if they were her own, until a mysterious death changes Bridey and the household forever. For decades, the terrible secrets of Bridey's past continue to haunt the family. And in the present day, the youngest Hollingworth makes a connection that finally brings these dark ghost stories into the light.

Family Dynamics: How does the structure of the Babcock family evolve over the course of the novel? Discuss the relationships between the various family members and the impact of family secrets on their interactions.
Identity and Belonging: The novel explores the concept of identity through the lens of adoption and genealogy. How do characters like Peter and Julia grapple with questions of identity and belonging? How do their discoveries about their ancestry shape their sense of self?
The Search for Truth: Both Julia and Peter embark on journeys to uncover the truth about their family history. How do their quests for truth differ, and what do they ultimately learn about themselves and their family?
Memory and Legacy: Discuss the role of memory and legacy in shaping the Babcock family's history. How do past events and decisions reverberate through the generations, influencing the characters' present-day lives?
The Setting: How does the setting of Cape Cod contribute to the atmosphere and themes of the novel? Discuss the significance of the physical landscape and its connection to the characters' emotional landscapes.
Parenting and Parenthood: Explore the theme of parenting in "The Latecomers." How do characters like George and Julia navigate the challenges of parenthood, and how do their own experiences with family shape their parenting styles?
Secrets and Lies: Secrets and lies play a significant role in the novel, affecting multiple generations of the Babcock family. Discuss the consequences of keeping secrets and the impact of revelation on the characters' relationships.
Forgiveness and Redemption: How do characters in the novel grapple with forgiveness and redemption? Discuss the ways in which characters seek to reconcile their past mistakes and find redemption in the present.
The Role of Art: Art and creativity are woven throughout the novel, particularly in the character of George as a photographer. How does art serve as a means of expression and healing for the characters, and what does it reveal about their inner lives?
Cultural and Historical Context: The novel spans several decades, touching on significant historical events such as World War II and the Vietnam War. How does the historical context shape the characters' experiences and choices?
The Meaning of Family: What does "family" mean to the characters in "The Latecomers"? How do they define and redefine family throughout the novel, and what does this exploration reveal about the nature of familial bonds?
Closure and Resolution: Discuss the ending of the novel and whether you found it satisfying in terms of closure for the characters and their story arcs. Were there any loose ends you wished had been tied up differently?

Early Life and Education: Helen Klein Ross was born and raised in New York City. She graduated from Cornell University with a degree in English Literature and later earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts.

Career in Advertising: Ross had a successful career in advertising, working as a copywriter and creative director for various agencies in New York City. She worked on advertising campaigns for major brands before transitioning to her career as a novelist and poet.

Literary Career: Helen Klein Ross is the author of several novels and poetry collections. She made her literary debut with the publication of "Making It: A Novel of Madison Avenue" in 2013, a novel inspired by her experiences in the advertising industry. The novel received praise for its insider perspective on the world of advertising and its exploration of ambition and identity.

She is also the author of "What Was Mine" (2016), a novel that explores the aftermath of a kidnapping from multiple perspectives, and "The Latecomers" (2018), a multi-generational family saga that delves into themes of identity and belonging.

In addition to her novels, Ross has published poetry in literary journals and anthologies. Her poetry collections include "Drift" (2018) and "Slash Pine Press" (2018).

Other Work: Ross has also written essays and articles for various publications, including The New York Times, The New Yorker, and The Atlantic. She is known for her insightful commentary on topics ranging from literature to culture and advertising.

Personal Life: Helen Klein Ross resides in New York City. In addition to her writing career, she is also an advocate for literacy and has been involved in various literary organizations and initiatives.

Helen Klein Ross's work is characterized by its lyrical prose, insightful exploration of complex themes, and keen observation of human behavior. She continues to write and contribute to the literary community through her novels, poetry, and essays.

The Wedding Veil by Kristy Woodson Harvey
Call Number: FICTION Harvey
Present day: Julia Baxter's wedding veil, bequeathed to her great-grandmother by a mysterious woman on a train in the 1930s, has passed through generations of her family as a symbol of a happy marriage. But something tells her that even the veil's good luck isn't enough to make her marriage last forever. Panicked, she escapes to the Virgin Islands to clear her head. Her grandmother Babs, still grieving her husband's death, decides to move into a retirement community-and runs into an old flame. 1914, Asheville, NC: Socialite Edith Vanderbilt is struggling to manage the luxurious Biltmore Estate after the untimely death of her cherished husband. She is determined to uphold the Vanderbilt legacy-- and prepare her daughter Cornelia to inherit it-- in spite of their deteriorating financial situation. As Cornelia explores the rapidly changing world around her, she is torn between upholding tradition and pursuing the exciting future that lies beyond Biltmore's gilded gates.
Bethlehem by Karen Kelly
Call Number: FICTION Kelly
A young woman arrives at the grand ancestral home of her husband's family, hoping to fortify her cracking marriage. But what she finds is not what she expected: tragedy haunts the hallways, whispering of heartache and a past she never knew existed. Inspired by the true titans of the steel-boom era, Bethlehem is a story of temptation and regret, a story of secrets and the cost of keeping them, a story of forgiveness. It is the story of two complex women--thrown together in the name of family--who, in coming to understand each other, come finally to understand themselves.
The Ninth Hour by Alice McDermott
Call Number: FICTION McDermott
On a dim winter afternoon in Catholic Brooklyn, a young Irish immigrant opens the gas taps in his Brooklyn tenement. In the aftermath of the fire that follows, Sister St. Savior, an aging nun appears, unbidden, to direct the way forward for his widow and his unborn child. His suicide reverberates over the decades as decorum, superstition and shame collude to erase the man's brief existence.
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
Call Number: FICTION Patchett
At the end of the Second World War, Cyril Conroy combines luck and a single canny investment to begin an enormous real estate empire, propelling his family from poverty to enormous wealth. His first order of business is to buy the Dutch House, a lavish estate in the suburbs outside of Philadelphia. Meant as a surprise for his wife, the house sets in motion the undoing of everyone he loves. Cyril's son Danny and his older sister Maeve are exiled from the house where they grew up by their stepmother. The two wealthy siblings are thrown back into the poverty their parents had escaped from and find that all they have to count on is one another.

*ebook & audiobook on Libby
*ebook & audiobook on hoopla
French Braid by Anne Tyler
Call Number: FICTION Tyler
A major new novel from the beloved Pulitzer Prize-winning author—a freshly observed, funny, joyful, brilliantly perceptive journey deep into one family's foibles, from the 1950s up to our pandemic present. The Garretts take their first and last family vacation in the summer of 1959. They hardly ever venture beyond Baltimore, but in some ways they have never been farther apart. Mercy has trouble resisting the siren call of her aspirations to be a painter, which means less time keeping house for her husband, Robin. Their teenage daughters, steady Alice and boy-crazy Lily, could not have less in common. Their youngest, David, is already intent on escaping his family's orbit, for reasons none of them understands. Yet, as these lives advance across decades, the Garretts' influences on one another ripple ineffably but unmistakably through each generation. Full of heartbreak and hilarity, French Braid is classic Anne Tyler: a stirring, uncannily insightful novel of tremendous warmth and humour that illuminates the kindnesses and cruelties of our daily lives, the impossibility of breaking free from those who love us, and how close—yet how unknowable—every family is to itself.

*ebook & audiobook on Libby

Helen Klein Ross

Islington Branch Book Club - Past Titles: "The Latecomers" by Helen Klein Ross

"The Latecomers" by Helen Klein Ross

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