“The Burgess Boys”

I am a huge fan of Elizabeth Strout, so I decided to read one of her older books (2013) that was considered one of the best books of the year on many notable lists.  The focus is family featuring Bob and Jim Burgess, two brothers who left rural Maine for NYC years ago, and sister Susan who stayed in Shirley Falls. Her son gets into trouble and the family reunites for better and for worse to help the teen. The complexity of the characters make them very real to the point that they remind you of someone you know.  Strout also has the unique ability to add a level of detail (including humor) to each scene that again, allows you to relate to the moment.  She is a genius storyteller.