Henry's Sisters Mass Market Paperback – July 26, 2016

I have read all Cathy Lambs books. I am from Oregon so i love her descriptions of the beautiful state. But this book was different, i laughed, cried (real tears), over some parts. The emotions the characters have and the way she describes it , I’m like (me too) , i just love reading her books!

Henry is the heart of the Bommarito family. During their early childhood, River, the mother, often sank into a deep depression that felled her for days and weeks; her daughters, Cecilia, Isabelle, and Janie tried to manage. Caring for themselves, each other, and mostly for Henry--who is mentally challenged and often needs their assistance, as well as their protection.Cecilia and Isabelle are fraternal twins, but they often feel each other's anger, pain, and sadness. Janie copes by counting, checking, and isolating herself; she also writes bestselling crime novels. Isabelle is a well-known photographer, now sidelined from that career due to the horror she has witnessed in troubled parts of the world and a secret pain she keeps to herself. She also deals with certain aspects of her history by "sleeping around." Cecilia is the one who remained close to home, but copes by overeating and lashing out at those around her.When River requires surgery, Isabelle and Janie come home to Trillium River, the small Oregon village where their grandmother has a house, and where River has been living for several years. They are needed to help care for Henry and their grandmother, who believes she is Amelia Earhart.Coming home brings many of the childhood memories to the forefront, and as each of Henry's sisters tries to deal with their mother and each other, they experience all over again the troubled and painful life brought about by their mother's neglect, frequent verbal abuse, and the abandonment by their father. Henry's Sisters  is narrated in the first-person voice of Isabelle, but we soon come to understand and know each of the sisters and feel their emotional connections; despite their pain and anger, sometimes directed at one another, they clearly love and need each other.So when one crisis after another challenges them, what will they do to get through? How will the family bakery begin to inspire their creativity and feed their souls? And when an unexpected reappearance from the past brings up unwelcome feelings, how will they cope?As one final sad blow brandishes its fierceness, bringing out the best and worst in them, what will ultimately remind them again of the strength of their love for one another?I enjoyed meeting and connecting with the characters in this book, all flawed, somewhat quirky, and totally human. I was sad to close the final page on this family. I could relate to aspects in each of them, but felt especially connected to Isabelle, trying to make a life on her terms, even as she struggled with the demons of her past. Five stars.

The beginning was hard to push through but well worth it. Normal by the definition does not exist. Kindness goes a very long way.

Cathy Lamb’s gift is going below the surface, investigating her characters, and then reminding the reader that yes, they all belong to the same family. She is gutsy, writes about real trauma – the kind that hurts more than you could imagine, but you’ve been trained to believe that it must be your fault and you shouldn’t call attention to yourself. Accomplished musicians, authors, artists, may seem to have everything …. until you walk in their path for a while.Isabelle has a dangerous sexual obsession. Janie – the best selling author, is the perfect OCD girl, but you feel for her because she’s so smart and so child-like at the same time. Catherine overeats, but that is only the surface issue. When the sisters are commanded home by their manipulative mother, they scurry back to the place they ‘d moved heaven and hell to escape. Grandma lives with them and her dementia, and her wish to make nice seems unreal, because it is.Every time I read Cathy Lamb, I learn more about myself, more about how women interact, and how we make choices – sometimes impulsively, because of some inner need or desire to be accepted by Mom, who never did like us much. No spoilers here, but when I finished the book, I had to go to bed for a day. I felt as if my family had been turned inside out by the novel. not because we are so like the Bommaritos, but because we never talked about our issues. True to form, every book is a surprise, a challenge, and between the laughter and sometimes tears, I learn more about life, and thanks to Cathy Lamb, I want to live more fully. It is a must read!P.S. People who believe this is just too much sadness in one book ought to look around at what some of their friends are dealing with … together even if they can’t get along, feeding each one so they don’t fall apart… hugging one another because there is a special quality in their hugs.

I always enjoy Cathy Lamb books. While this wasn’t my favorite it was still very good. I liked the development of the narrator/main character and the relationships of Henry and his sisters.

Had trouble with this book! Jumped around a lot! Felt sorry for Henry! But his sisters had too much baggage to be productive for him! And mom & grama we’re living in the funny papers most of the time!

Have read all the books written by this author. This book is intense, but Henry is so lovable. He loves his sisters.

I thought this book was good when the author portrayed the sisters and their bonds with each other. I really enjoyed how deeply she built each character. I think this book could’ve been about 100 pages shorter because there were times when she just went on and on about the bakery and settings, and she just kept describing things. Less is more, rule of three, and obviously show don’t tell. She spent a lot of time telling how you should be thinking about the characters, and she needed to spend more time crafting the book so that you could relate to those characters more instead of being told. Also there were many times when she solves problems between characters I just saying they were solved. Anybody who liked Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy should read this book. It’s very similar. I don’t regret reading this book, and my friends loved it, however, I’m not sure I want to read another one of hers right away.

I loved this book from beginning to end, it was one of the best books I have ever read (& I read 2-3 books a week) although in parts it is incredibly sad, and I did sob my way through the last few chapters, it is not a sad book, it is about life, love, family and everything that brings. I found it positive and uplifting overall and I’m so glad I was recommended this book. You won’t regret reading it! Just have the tissues ready.

I brought this book for only a few pennies . So I didn't worry if it was going to be good. But it blew me away .i laughed big belly laughs in places a cried buckets in other places. The characters were so well created . In this book no perfect people exist but flawed people trying to do their best to survive their life. But Henry only saw the good. Thank you Cathy

Whilst it's easy to see the ending coming, this is a heart wrenching and lovely novel. The sisters' journey throughout is lovely to watch and Henry is painted beautifully and with such realism that you cannot fail to love him. I was in floods by the end but the sentiment and message was worth it. Ladies: take your eye make-up off before reading!

I had a bit of difficulty getting into this book, but once I got past the first few chapters, I really enjoyed this book. Very different, be prepared for tears as well as laughter.

Got this to read on holiday but although enjoyable was very depressing. Not really holiday reading. Might have appreciated it more if it had not been chosen as a holiday read