I’ve been on a reading slump for a couple of months and this book got me out of it! The story was so beautifully written, and I was invested in all the characters.

I love it when I think I have the ending of a book figured out and I am surprised by the author with something entirely different, and this book did just that.

Highly recommend this book if you love a good family story.

A ponderous, schematic slab of a book that probably would work better as a TV drama. Heavily structured round a sequence of secrets, the storytelling gets lost in piety, and backstory, with heavy excursions into circumstantial description. Only for the committed.

Harry Tabor’s family is getting together to celebrate him winning the prestigious “Man Of The Decade” award. Harry is in his sixties and has been happily married to Roma for decades. This award is weighing heavy on Harry because he doesn’t feel deserving. He has been carrying a heavy secret about the funding for his philanthropic projects over the last three decades. He becomes plagued with memories from his past and the mistakes he has made. Feeling unworthy he seeks to make amends.

His adult children travel to Palm Springs to celebrate but each has their own hidden issues. One child is in the midst of a broken marriage while another is hiding a failing academic career. Another child pretends to have a boyfriend instead of admitting she has problems with long-term relationships. From afar this family appears to be close-knit but in reality, their interactions remain superficial. They all converge for a weekend which will change the future of their relationships.

This is the second novel written by Cherise Wolas. The Family Tabor is told from many voices and each character seems to grow while they gradually come together to address their issues.

This is a marvelous book! The writing is lovely, and the end of each chapter seems to almost create a mini ending. It does sometimes feel a bit longer than needed, but I truly enjoyed each page. I look forward to more from Ms. Wolas.
The book focuses on some of the flaws of modern life. Things like the drive for monetary success and the willingness to cheat one's own morals to achieve it, expectations for single women to be successful only when they find someone to love them, difficulties in understanding one's roles and needs in marriage, and the ability to keep secrets from those around us, even hiding things from ourselves.
It is also a redemptive story. In spite of each of the character's personal confusions, they find peace through finally facing reality and accepting themselves.
This novel would make a great book club read, as well as being something that will appeal to any age or gender who appreciates introspective characters and lovely writing.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title.

I thoroughly enjoyed the The Resurrection Of Joan Ashby, so I was delighted when I saw that Cherise Wolas had another book out.

As you can guess by the title this book is about the Tabor family. If there is a main character, it would be the father, Harry Tabor. Harry is about to be awarded “Man of the Decade” and his three adult children are arriving from all over to celebrate with him.

Suddenly on that day, Harry starts remembering some moments from his past. Moments that make him most decidedly not a “man of the decade.”

This book is steeped in the Jewish faith. it guides Harry to what he must do with these memories. it guides his adult children. I am not Jewish, but I have many friends that are, so none of this was new to me.

This is not a light read. The writing is gorgeous, the characters so well developed I felt that I knew them. It is a slow read. You delve deep into the characters and their stories.

Not what I would call a light summer read, but if you are in the mood to sink your teeth into a novel with some depth, and you don’t mind the religious overtones, then this is the novel for you.

I received an ARC of the book.

“Whether there is love, happiness, contentment, success, health, and satisfaction, or sadness, trauma, and tragedy in any family, so much is dependent on ephemeral luck.”

Whew! Isn’t that the truth?! I love this family: they are messy and full of secrets, one of my favorite combinations, and this novel is very philosophical. Cherise Wolas opens up lots of questions (this would be such a great discussion book!) and her writing is gorgeous. In addition, I love that each character is struggling with his/her own ideology while also trying to maintain their place within this family unit. GAH! So much to unpack! I loved this one!

I struggled with this one and ended up skimming the last half. I found the writing pretentious and over the top. The premise is an interesting one. I love family dramas and as the Tabor family gathers to celebrate their patriarch’s man of the year ceremony, they bring all of their problems with them. However, the execution bored me, especially Harry’s long winded ruminations. I also found his memory loss completely implausible. No one forgets something so major that happened on their life. I wasn’t a fan of this one. Thanks Netgalley for the review galley.

The Family Tabor is about a family gathering to celebrate the patriarch. Each family member has secrets complications family issues. There were a lot of different POVs. Each was pretty well written. I enjoyed reading all the drama. Not everything about the back stories made sense to me.

Henry Tabor is about to be named Man of the Decade. His grown children: Phoebe, Camille and Simon come home to celebrate with Harry and his wife, Roma. All these children bring their own hidden problems with them. Harry begins to remember darker pieces of his past. .
This is an extremely well written slower read - a deep character study. I came to love each one of these flawed characters. This novel deals with so many familiar personal and family problems and ultimately asks what is the price of redemption.
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Having read (and loved) Cherise Wolas’ masterful debut novel The Resurrection of Joan Ashby last summer, I went into this book, her sophomore effort The Family Tabor, knowing that I would be treated to yet another beautifully written story with well-developed, realistic characters. Wolas’ writing is exquisite – she is one of those rare talents who is able to take seemingly ordinary, everyday events and turn them into gorgeously rendered scenes, with descriptions that are intricate and richly detailed, yet deftly woven into the story in a way that never feels overwritten (to me at least). As she did with her characters in her previous novel, Wolas goes deep into the minds of each member of the Tabor family and slowly, gently, brings forth the issues that each character faces, the inner conflicts that they struggle with and how those feelings, those emotions that feel so real, impact the rest of the family. This is a character-driven story through and through and once again, just like with Joan Ashby, we get to know each of Wolas’ characters intimately, understand what makes each of them tick, the motivations behind their decisions, and the extent to which their backstories as well as actions taken in the past affect their lives in the present.

This is one of those books that requires a certain amount of patience to read, not because the concepts are particularly complicated or hard to understand, but rather the story is very introspective, and in a sense, almost requires the reader to approach with a contemplative mindset. To me, there was also a philosophical element to the story and despite the descriptive details, I felt that there was also profound meaning in some of what was left unsaid throughout the story, leaving room for us to reflect and apply our own thoughts rather than dictate a particular direction to follow. The story this time around also focuses on family dynamics and the delicate balance between the necessity of maintaining the bonds of family while still following one’s individual path and beliefs, however with this story, there was also the added element of faith and religion, which ended up being a bit more central to the story than the author originally intended (here’s a link to Wolas’ interview with Publisher’s Weekly where she talks a little bit about the religious element in her book: https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/interviews/article/76028-shared-history-pw-talks-with-cherise-wolas.html). As a reader who is always seeking to learn about cultures different from my own, I appreciate the knowledge that I was able to gain about the Jewish faith, most of which was previously unknown to me.

With The Resurrection of Joan Ashby, Cherise Wolas set a tremendously high bar for herself and while I feel that this book lives up to those standards and is as excellently written as her debut, it didn’t have as profound of an impact on me as her previous novel did. I had connected deeply with Joan Ashby, perhaps because of her being a writer and a storyteller, which are both things that are huge in my life as well. In comparisons, I didn’t connect with the Tabor family as deeply, despite knowing them so intimately through the author’s amazingly intricate characterizations. Even with that said, this was still a wonderful book, one that I enjoyed and savored, though didn’t “love” as much as the first one. With yet another impressive work that I had the privilege of reading, Wolas is now on my list of favorite new “must-read” authors. I can’t wait to see what she will come out with next!

Received ARC from Flatiron Books via NetGalley.

Thank you to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for an e-ARC of The Family Tabor by Cherise Wolas in exchange for an honest opinion. This is a second effort by Cherise Wolas who also authored The Resurrection of Joan Ashby which was well-received by critics and readers alike. The Family Tabor takes place over the course of a weekend and, as the title indicates, this is family fiction. 70-year-old Harry Tabor is married to Roma and they are the parents of three adult children: Phoebe, Camille and Simon. The family gathers in Palm Springs to celebrate Harry who has been named Man of the Decade. Sounds like this would be an interesting saga, if only there were characters in this book that one could have any kind of empathy for. Harry committed a white-collar crime before he moved his family to Palm Springs and we are expected to believe that he has forgotten all about this until the day of his celebration. All three children have unrealistic problems of their own. There is so much navel-gazing here that this reader just wanted to quit. And through all this drama, we are given unexpected and frequent doses of religion. I will not be posting this review anywhere but here because, after all, this is only my opinion. There was excellent writing here if only the subject matter had been more interesting and less preachy.

The premise of this family saga is defining the fabric that makes a family. In this tapestry we find threads of our past woven with that of our ancestors and our future children. Who we are now and who we hope to be is enmeshed with these other threads. In <b>The Family Tabor</b> the patriarch, Harry, is being recognized for his philanthropic work within the Jewish community. All of his adult children return home for this event to see him honored as the Man of the Decade. With two lawyers and an anthropologist among them, each child has achieved some measure of success but each also carries a secret home with them. Each of the siblings believe that the others lead these golden lives with everything in order. But none of their lives are perfect and each of them are yearning for completion. Part of them is hoping that they will find some type of solace, a reprieve from their sorrows at the foot of their father. They feel that he will be able to piece their lives back together just as soon as his celebration is over. However, Harry has secrets of his own and his secrets pack a more devastating punch than any of his children's. This book took a minute for me to get into. I think I was about 40% of the way in before I started to take to the book which was about the time that Harry's secret was revealed and his story started to flesh out. I also was quite interested in the wife's background. I would have liked to have seen her character and storyline more further developed.
<i>Thanks to NetGalley, Flatiron Books and Cherise Wolas for a copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.</i>

After the highly successful Resurrection of Joan Ashby, I was curious to see if Ms. Wolas could hit another one out of the park. The answer is a resounding yes! Of course it doesn't hurt that this is my absolute favorite kind of story. A family who looks from the outside like the ideal, but who all have cracks beneath their surface. Once again, the writing was brilliant, and I was immediately absorbed in each of the family members lives. While I certainly can't say that I loved them all equally, they were all written so that you want to see how things work out for each of them. The author did a splendid job of keeping the story moving, since almost the entire book takes place over the course of one weekend. Having said that, it does give a detailed backstory of each family member. I loved it and felt it brought me closer to the workings of the characters, but some may not. The only bit of a downfall for me was the ending, which I wasn't a huge fan of (without going into any detail).

Another fantastic read from this author. I would highly recommend this one to anyone who loves family drama stories, by a highly skilled writer.

{My Thoughts}
What Worked For Me
The Tabor Family – Despite their many, many flaws I liked this family, a group of people who actually loved and respected each other very much. The three Tabor children, Phoebe, Camille, and Simon thought the world of both their parents and in a sea of dysfunctional families, their unity was refreshing. Parents Harry and Roma were still in love after more than forty years of marriage, adding brightness to a sometimes dark story.

Layering On of Problems – Cherise Wolas brilliantly chose to introduce her five main characters and their budding crises one at a time.

-We first meet Harry on the eve of being named Palm Springs Man of the Decade. He’s being recognized for his 30 years of bringing both Jewish and non-Jewish refugees to the United States to start new lives. Yet, on the brink of this amazing honor, Harry begins to be haunted by a crisis of conscience.
-Roma, a child psychologist, worries about her young patients, her own children and most of all Harry. She’s wondering if trusts she’s long held might be misplaced.
-Phoebe, their eldest child has great success running her own prestigious law firm, but love continues to elude Phoebe. She’s taken action on that, desperate action.
-Camille, their middle child, earned her PhD in social anthropology nearly a year earlier, and has barely been able to leave her apartment since.

“She’s been dispiritedly depressed, and being home means entering a special realm, a kingdom where all the Tabors shine incredibly bright, that blaze a distinguishing family characteristic. She’s one of them, but her filaments have always been of a different variety, and now she’s beclouded, bedimmed, the first among them forced to brake before burning out.”

-Simon, their youngest, seems to have it all: a successful law career, a beautiful wife, and two darling daughters. Yet, Simon feels the pull toward something more, something basic, a part of life he’d long abandoned.
With each new Tabor Wolas presented I found myself more and more invested in their stories. I wanted to know what would happen to everyone in this family.

Crisis of Faith – Both sides of the Tabor family had a rich history of remarkable Jews who had suffered, survived, and prospered, laying foundations for the generations that followed. With the passing of years, the strict adherence to Jewish traditions had waned until the children of Harry and Roma did little more than go through the motions. For a long time, the Tabors were comfortable with their culture, their limited practice and their relationship with God, but in rapid succession Harry, Roma and Simon each look to the generations before them and find themselves wanting. Their struggles with faith were at the heart of The Family Tabor.

Writing (the good) – Wolas’s writing about raw emotions and unsettled feelings left me in awe. She brought pain and joy to life in a way that made her characters relatable to all the rest of us who find ourselves flawed.

“They are all shaky, the firm ground swaying and threatening to give way beneath their feet. This is an earthquake for them all.”

What Didn’t
Writing (the bad) – At times I found the writing to be pretentious. Wolas could have simplified some of her wording. There were already many phrases and ideas having to do with Jewish culture that were unfamiliar, so the use of so many other complex words became a little annoying.

A Forgotten Past – Central to the storyline is a long buried event in Harry’s past. Wolas tried to explain how Harry and Roma could have obliterated this from their minds, but I still found myself doubting over and over. For me this was THE flaw in The Family Tabor.

{The Final Assessment}
While I think The Family Tabor might be a little spiritual for some readers, Cherise Wolas’s sophomore effort really worked for me. I fell a little bit in love with her struggling quintet, wanting each to find a place of contentment no matter what that might look like. Wolas delivered just that. Grade: A-

Note: I received a copy of this book from Flatiron Books (via NetGalley) in exchange for my honest review. Many thanks to them both.

The Tabor Family is a family of five. Harry is 70 years old and dedicates his life to charitable work, his wife Roma a respected psychologist, Phoebe a lawyer, Camille a successful anthropologist, and Simon is also lawyer. Simon’s wife and two children are joining the gathering in Palm Springs to honor their father, Harry, for Man of the Decade.

This is a well to do family, but success doesn’t guarantee happiness. Each member of this family is harboring secrets. The secrets that Phoebe and Camille are keeping are similar and I kept thinking if they would just talk to each other they might lighten their burden. Their secrets pale in comparison to what has been weighing on Harry’s conscience that goes back many years. While playing tennis before the gala, Harry has a vision of sorts. His past has come back to haunt him and he feels undeserving of the honor that is about to be presented to him. What will a person do for redemption? When the big event finally arrives, Harry has disappeared and no one has a clue why he would leave or where he has gone. As the detectives dig deep to find answers, Simon realizes Harry has been tortured by his past mistakes.

In this family drama, Charise Wolas paints a vivid picture of the characters. I was caught up in each of their dilemmas as the story unfolded. This isn’t an action-packed page turner, but rather a thoughtful contemplation on the intricacies of family, truth, and absolution.

Thank you NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the arc.

I think this was beautifully written, and I found the ending to be really lovely, but I didn't buy the main conceit of the story (that a central character forgot or supressed a pivotal life decision) and this made it hard to immerse myself in the book.

Unfortunately, this book just wasn't for me. I couldn't really connect or get into it. I would prefer that my review is not used; I don't want it to hurt future readers from reading it. Just because it wasn't for me, doesn't mean it's a bad book.

“I sustain myself with the love of family.” (Maya Angelou)

The Family Tabor is a multi generational look at how a family comes together to honor a father, discover themselves in the process, and find that their hearts and love are very much intertwined with the happenings of their childhood, their parents, their grandparents and their heritage of being Jewish.

Harry Tabor, has done a lot of good rescuing families, performing community service, and being a philanthropist. He is well liked, loved by his family, and is to be honored as he has been chosen Man of the Decade. His family gathers and each of his children and his wife reflect and think about the direction their lives have taken and question the things that have happened to them. Harry's wife, Roma, loves her husband and her children, and grandchildren and yet she sees storms brewing.

Harry holds a secret, one that is upsetting the status of his life, one that he is becoming more and more shamed about, as his conscience speaks to him reminding him of the facts that he has suppressed over the years. With the advent of this award, Harry becomes confused, and wonders does the good he has done overwhelm the bad in his past? Will he be able to look at the refection of this "man of the decade" and see what he wants to see, or will that reflection remind him always of the secret buried within his soul?

Harry's and Roma's children are also battling their demons. Simon, their successful lawyer son, is beginning to find his Jewishness and he and his wife Elena are finding themselves at great odds over this. Phoebe, Harry and Roma's daughter, can't seem to find a man to love and care for. She seems to be adrift, accomplished, a high powered attorney and yet, can't seem to find a man to love and share her life. Camille, another daughter, a social anthropologist, seems to be looking for escape either through her interactions with tribes distant and remote or through her work with the dying. She has a man who loves her, but fears commitment.

They all descend on Palm Springs to celebrate their father and during this time rediscover their familial ties which redirect all of their lives into their future.

This was a beautifully written story that held this reader's interest as Ms Wolas takes us into the minds and the hearts of her characters. She unfolds them and lets us see ourselves in their struggles, their hopes and their dreams. This book is dense as all families are, but in the end family love is the tie that binds. "Families are the compass that guides us. They are the inspiration to reach great heights, and our comfort when we occasionally falter." (Brad Henry)

Thank you to Cherise Wolas, Flatiron Books and NetGalley for a copy of this book.

Thanks to NetGalley, Flatiron Books, and Cherise Wolas for the opportunity to read and review her latest novel. When I started this book, I groaned a bit inside thinking that I was facing 400 pages of a family saga about rich, boring people. I was more than plenty surprised.

The book takes place over a weekend. The patriarch of the Tabor family, Harry, is being honored as Man of the Decade for his work starting a company that focuses on bringing people to this country from improvished lands as well as many other charitable works. His wife, Roma, is a child psychologist who cares deeply about her clients. They have 3 children - Phoebe, a lawyer that started her own wealthy firm, Camille, a social anthropologist, and Simon, another successful attorney who is married and has 2 young girls. As the family begins to gather at their home in Palm Springs, we see that all is not what is seems and everyone is keeping secrets. All of these secrets culminate at the awards ceremony honoring Harry.

I found this book to be very well-written. The chapters alternated with the different family members as we learned more about each of them. This would be a fascinating book club pick with lots to discuss - family, religion, honesty, forgiveness. A great read!

This was an intimate look at an amazing family - warts and all. I wish there was more depth gone into in some aspects and less in others. I found it very easy to relate to as I think we all have someone in our family, either immediate or extended, that resembles some of these character's traits. I look forward to more by this author. I received a copy from NetGalley and the publisher and this is my honest opinion.