Book Reco # 4: Seven Days of Us
“Every Christmas is a quarantine of sorts”, says the book. A family of four is forced to quarantine together during Christmas week.
Hi Dear Reader,
This week’s book recommendation is Seven Days of Us by Francesca Hornak.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5
Summary: “Every Christmas is a quarantine of sorts”, says the book. A family of four is forced to quarantine together during Christmas week. Olivia, the eldest daughter, is back home after treating an epidemic in Africa. She needed to quarantine after arrival, and her mother thought it would be a good idea for the family to quarantine together during the holidays. Quarantine is disrupted when an unexpected guest reveals each family member’s secret.
Review:
This book was published in 2017, and I read it in 2021, still in the middle of a pandemic. A lot of things hit close to home here in line with quarantining and the pandemic. For example, the family was in a situation where they needed to inform the authorities that somebody outside their close circle became a close contact. Notifying the authorities could cascade down to several problems and inconveniences for the family, which was a familiar situation for all of us in 2020. You hesitate to tell people because you know it will affect everything in your life - your work, earning money, and the privilege and convenience of going out. If you can’t afford to not work, then you keep mum.
When I read this book in 2021, Olivia’s thoughts were the closest thing I ever got to read about the daily anxiety and frustration our healthcare workers feel in a global pandemic.
The story flatlines for a bit in the middle but is full of surprises during the last 100 pages. This novel is about the complex relationship between family members despite living together for years. And it’s also about reconnecting with them.
This is a fun, witty and engaging read as each family member deal with their own problems. I hope you’ll like reading it as much as I did.
Happy Reading!