We Shall Not All Sleep by Estep Nagy Reviews

Please Note:  I received an avant-garde reader's re-create of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  This did not influence the opinions of my review in whatever style.

Synopsis (From Goodreads):
1964. The Hillsingers and the Quicks accept shared the small Maine island of 7 for generations. Though technically family unit—Jim Hillsinger and Billy Quick married Park Avenue sisters Lila and Hannah Blackwell—they do not mix. Now, on the anniversary of Hannah'southward death, Lila feels grief pulling her toward Billy. Jim, a spy recently ousted from the CIA, decides to carry out the threat Lila explicitly foreclose: to banish their youngest son, twelve-year-sometime Catta, to the neighboring isle of Baffin for 20-iv hours in an attempt to make a human out of him.

Set during 3 summer days, Estep Nagy'south debut novel moves amongst the communities of 7 as longstanding tensions become tactical face-offs where annihilation is fair game for ammunition. Vividly capturing the rift betwixt the common cold warriors of Jim'south generation and the rebellious seekers of Catta'due south, We Shall Not All Slumber is a richly told story of American form, family unit, and manipulation—a compelling portrait of a unique and privileged WASP stronghold on the brink of dissolution.

Review:
Set in 1964, Nosotros All Shall Non Sleep, by Estep Nagy, brings forth both nostalgia and a sober reminder that our childhoods weren't as idyllic as we might recollect.  The setting for this novel is a private island in Maine where ii families spend their summers.  For the adults, information technology is an escape from the reality, only also a fertile playground to play complex mind games with each other.   The adults see themselves as creating a paradise where their children can frolic amongst nature.  But the children have their own cloak-and-dagger games to play.

Although disjointed at times, I enjoyed this book.  The story lured me in as I tried to understand entanglements that the adults created.  This children, many on the brink of machismo, too were fascinating.  One can get glimpses of the grown-ups they volition become.

What I Liked:

Setting:
I loved the dual nature of the island, a playground for some, and a hunting ground for others.

It's 1964, who wouldn't want to go to an isle for their summertime holiday?  The two families, the Quicks and the Hillsingers, jointly ain the island and bring their extended relations and friends to enjoy the fresh air, lovely accommodations, and be waited on hand and foot by a small regular army of servants.  It actually does seem perfect.

The children are mostly separated from their parents and are housed in a different abode known as The Cottage.  While the adults run into this arrangement as a way to give their kids some independence (and a mode to allow the parents have some space), a 'Lord Of The Flies' type of beingness develops.  So what seems so lovely to the grown-ups is actually rather scary for all but the oldest, and strongest of the kids.  Do the adults vaguely know this and feel information technology'due south a style to toughen upwards their progeny?

Characters:
Both Jim and Lila Hillsinger seem to feel trapped as events lead to accusations of communist sympathies. This is the top of the Common cold State of war, where even a hint of Soviet collaboration could get one fired from a job, or thrown in jail.  Even with his expertise on the KGB, Jim (who works at the CIA) falls into a trap and may face charges for treason.  Lila, still reeling from her sister's death, has an matter.  Both of these events involve Lila's brother-in-law, Billy Quick.

I liked how both of these characters were so layered.  They are at a point in their wedlock where they look at each other and remember "How did we current of air up here?" Nonetheless they know that they are better together than apart.  Only that doesn't finish them from making power plays to command their kids and each other.

Story:
I think the many layers of the story show how each member of the family is going through their own evolution.  I loved post-obit twelve year-former Catta'due south journey from being a coddled tween to having a budding awareness of the developed globe.  Jim (Catta's father) is prodded by his own father to drop Catta on some other (uninhabited) isle for 20-four hours and so he can toughen up.  While he thinks he has all the answers for surviving in the wild, Catta comes to empathise how woefully unprepared he is.

And is Jim being manipulated by his own father into doing this?  While he has some notion that this will benefit Catta, Jim knows that Lila will be furious at his decision.  Will Jim stop letting others dictate his actions and fight back?

What I Was Mixed Well-nigh:

Story Structure:
Some of the storytelling was confusing, especially at the beginning of the volume.  The book travels dorsum and forth between story lines , sometimes in the aforementioned paragraph.  I honestly don't know if this was due to this being an uncorrected reader'due south copy, or if the writer meant to do this.  But the manuscript that I had jumped around and so much I had a hard time keeping track of the action.

Coincidences:
I also idea that many of the situations were a fiddling as well convenient to exist believed.  How amazing that sons from the island's two families marry sisters?  I supposed one could account for this by remembering that these characters live in rarefied social circles, so it may be conceivable that this happened.  But I think all the incidental situations leading to charges of treason were a picayune over the top to be believed.

Aside from this, We All Shall Not Sleep would be a fantastic volume to read if you are on vacation.  With information technology's complex characters and dreamlike setting, this book will proceed you lot entertained and feeling lucky you lot are not office of these clans!

Rating:

Release Date:   July tertiary, 2017

Genre:   Historical Fiction

Source:   NetGalley

Format:   ARC E-Book

Recommendation:   A great summer reading feel.

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