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Summary
Summary
A NOVEL FULL OF HUMOR AND HOPE FOR FINDING YOURSELF WHERE YOU LEAST EXPECTED
Sean has spent twenty years in Third World war zones and natural disaster areas, fully embracing what he'd always felt was his life's mission. But when burnout sets in, Sean is reluctantly drawn home to Belham, Massachusetts, the setting of Fay's much-loved Shelter Me . There, he discovers that his steely aunt, overly dramatic sister, and quirky nephew are having a little natural disaster of their own. When he reconnects with a woman from his past, Sean has to wonder if the bonds of love and loyalty might just rewrite his destiny. Completely relatable, The Shortest Way Home is another perfect serving of a slice of life from the irresistible Fay.
Winner of the Library Journal Award for Best Women's Fiction
Author Notes
Juliette Fay was born in Binghamton, N.Y. and moved to Massachusetts when she was three. She soon developed a love for books and writng in her journal. She earned a bachelor¿s degree in human development and theology from Boston College. Upon graduation she began a year-long stint in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Seattle, Washington where she served as an emergency shelter worker, and was very quickly exposed to the realities of homelessness. She returned to Boston and continued her career in human services by teaching at a school for autistic children. She then went on to achieve a master's degree in public policy from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. She took time off from work and began to raise a family. It was then that she tried her hand at writing children's books. She soon found success there. Her title's include Shelter Me, Deep Down True, The Shortlisted Way Home and The Tumbling Turner Sisters.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (3)
Publisher's Weekly Review
Three decades ago, Sean Doran's mother died at 33 of Huntington's disease, and his father, a merchant marine, left Sean and his two siblings in the care of their cold and distant Aunt Vivian. Though the siblings grow up aware of the threat of Huntington's, they've never been tested; Sean's sentiment, "I didn't take it. I didn't want to know," is shared by all. Sean, now 44, has spent years exploring the world as a nurse, from one war-torn region to another. But when his brother, Hugh, dies of pneumonia, his sister, Deidre, puts her acting career on hold to care for Hugh's son, Kevin, and their aunt, who she says has "lost it." Sean returns from Africa and assumes the parental burden, a responsibility for which he is ill equipped. Soon, he reconnects with Becky, his childhood friend, but their budding romance is threatened by Sean's pathological reluctance to put down roots, and he has to finally decide what's most important to him. Fay's third novel (after Deep Down True) is a touching exploration of a damaged family working to repair itself, with universal appeal in Sean's reluctance to assume responsibility. Agent: Theresa Park. (Nov.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
Sean Doran is an expert at keeping his family at a distance, for good reason. His mother died a long, slow death from Huntington's disease, and Sean isn't certain that he's dodged that genetically passed bullet. So he finds his purpose as a nurse in Third World countries, patching up strangers, victims of tribal warfare. Twenty years after his mother's death, he flies back to the States to recharge and steps into a whole new disaster zone. His elderly aunt is showing signs of dementia, his 11-year-old orphaned nephew seems to be raising himself, and Sean's sister, fed up with keeping an eye on both, heads off to pursue an acting career. Fay's third novel follows the heartfelt journey of a man who has spent a lifetime escaping family ties only to discover a pull much more fulfilling than leaving. Fans of Fay's first novel, Shelter Me (2009), will spot a familiar face in Sean's hometown, and readers old and new will fall in love with the flawed, endearing cast of characters. A beautifully written novel infused with Fay's generous spirit.--Holcomb, Diane Copyright 2010 Booklist
Library Journal Review
Fay once again draws readers into an absorbing world of domestic complications and heart-tugging characters. Sean's family life was rocked by Huntington's disease, which took his young mother's life. After being raised by his prickly aunt, he fled Belham, MA, to work as a nurse in various war-torn countries. Twenty years later, he is called home when his aunt shows signs of decline. Both Sean's sister and his recently deceased brother's 11-year-old son need his help. But how easily can Sean step out of his African life and into parenting a young boy and caring for his failing aunt? When his sister moves away, Sean faces with a difficult decision; then he rekindles a relationship with an old friend from high school. Fay deftly handles the intricacies and emotions of family life while keeping the pace brisk. She also incorporates characters from her previous novel,ÅShelter Me, and these glimpses into their future are a joy. VERDICT Fay is one of the best authors of women's fiction, and her novels are not to be missed. A moving, introspective look at what it means to be family, and to be truly home. Recommended for public libraries.-Beth Gibbs, Davidson, NC (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.