Family Dynamics
We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes is a powerful contemporary novel that explores the inner workings of a family.
Family comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Family can be messy, complicated and unpredictable. There are tensions – and ultimately there is much love.
Within the novel, we meet a family with very different dynamics and needs – a newly single mum of two; a stepdad/grandad; a blood-related dad/grandad; and a dog called Truant who barks a lot! Everyone has different needs. Jojo Moyes explores just what it means to be a family.
There is much grief. The Mum/Grandma died (before the book opened.) “It [grief] never stops… It just never stops.” “You’ll be okay, dear girl.” A character is drowning in grief but one day the sun will shine again. “We all have to move on! Doesn’t mean we think about her any less.” We must not feel guilty for living and beginning to smile again.
We follow a newly single mum as she negotiates the playground politics; dips her toe into the waters of dating; and tries to hold her family together. “You okay?” “Nobody ever asks her that question… Everyone tells her what she should be doing… but nobody ever asks her that simple question.” Sometimes we are so busy spinning plates that everyone, ourselves included, loses sight of us.
The playground bullies are out in force – among the adults and the young girls. Playground politics can be messy. The bullies are cruel. “Celie has simply, in the eyes of her group she has been friends with for almost five years, ceased to exist.” Jojo Moyes has captured the sheer loneliness of a teen. It is easy to empathise with Celie, as we remember our own teenage years.
We see the importance of extending forgiveness. “You can hang on to the anger and bitterness your whole life. But all you really do is prolong your own pain.” As we forgive, we walk away from the prison of bitterness.
We All Live Here was a marvellous novel. Jojo Moyes has created a set of characters who are really easy to empathise with.
Family is messy but ultimately family is love. This love can be found between the pages of the book.
JULIA WILSON