Within Arm's Reach

by Ann Napolitano

Book Overview

The tender and perceptive debut novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Hello Beautiful, about three generations of a large Catholic family jarred into crisis by an unexpected pregnancy

"This stunning . . . exquisite, skillfully written gem addresses serious issues-e.g., guilt vs. loyalty, the past vs. the present-- but] remains hopeful and includes ample doses of humor and wit."--Library Journal (starred...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0593732499
• ISBN13: 9780593732496
• Release Date: April 2024
• Publisher: Dial Press
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.1" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

One of the best books of 2004.

This is a beautiful book. It deserves to be read by anyone who loves great writing. It deftly and insightfully weaves the different stories of the McLaughlin family into a rich and deeply satisfying tapestry. The novel is written from the subjective perspectives of six people, bound together by ties beyond their choosing. Like all great writers, Napolitano displays a manifest affection for her characters, and it becomes an affection we share. Notably our sympathies shift throughout the novel, as these are real human beings, drawn with the skill and attention they deserve. I read Within Arm's Reach in one sitting. It is exquisitely written, with an ending that feels true and yet emotionally satisfying. With this remarkably accomplished debut, Napolitano can stand proud in the company of Ann Patchett, Alice McDermott and even John Irving. This is Napolitano's first novel and her future looks extremely bright, not to understate the fact that she has clearly already arrived.

A fascinating and memorable character study

When three generations of the Irish-American McLaughlin clan come together for Easter dinner, everyone is on edge. "We are family, but we have very little in common except that we are all terrible at small talk," notes medical student Lila. Gracie, Lila's sister, is even more nervous about this family gathering than usual. Gracie is hiding a big secret --- she's pregnant and unmarried. In addition to Gracie's dramatic secret, other members of the McLaughlin factory harbor secrets no less transformative than the one Gracie holds. In six distinct voices, Ann Napolitano skillfully brings these secrets to life. There's Kelly, Gracie and Lila's mother, who so desperately longs for her own identity that she rents out a motel room where she can feel utterly herself (and, later, where she can bring her lover). There's Lila herself, a brilliant young woman whose photographic memory served her well in medical school but can't provide the bedside manner she needs to be a successful physician. Most memorable is Catharine, the matriarch of the family. Wise, instinctive and haunted by the deaths of her own babies years ago, Catharine hopes that Gracie's new baby will mean a new beginning for the family. As she remembers her past and looks toward the future, Catharine sees figures from the past. Are they visions, as Catharine claims, or a series of small strokes as her pragmatic family fears? Lila fears that her generation has lost the drama, the vibrant stories of her parents' generation. "Our problems were normal and boring; we couldn't come up with one knee-slapping story among us. We had fewer brothers and sisters, fewer brawls, fewer secrets." The stories told by Lila and Gracie, though, as well as the impending arrival of the next generation, seem to indicate that the McLaughlin family saga is far from over. WITHIN ARM'S REACH is a rich and multi-faceted character study. Each of its narrators has a unique voice and a memorable story to tell. As the McLaughlin family story unfolds, its tellers overlap (and sometimes contradict) viewpoints, giving their own accounts of events. Although there are few surprises or revelations in the plot, the real treasure of this rich first novel is the depth to which we come to know these characters. Much like families in real life, these characters are often imperfect, sometimes maddening, and always fascinating. --- Reviewed by Norah Piehl

A fascinating study of a family

Ann Napolitano's examination of the McLoughlin family dynamics is highly scintillating and impressive. Each character is understood from both the first person and third person perspective, thus lending a true three dimensional view of each family member. The novel seamlessly weaves together the family's sorrow, disappointments and triumphs with empathy and accuracy. I highly recommend this book.

First Lines

I believe in the power and the promise of first lines. And the first sentence of Ann Napolitano's novel, "My grandmother gave birth often, which I suppose increased her odds for tragedy." drew me right in. Have your ever had a grandmother? Have you ever been a grandmother? How can you resist! The promise of the first line is fulfilled in a thoughtful, delicate, and moving story told in the many vioces of three generations with memories of more. I couldn't put the book down, but I was sad when it was finished. I await Ann Napolitano's second novel.

A wonderful family saga

WITHIN ARM'S REACH by Ann NapolitanoAnn Napolitano's debut novel, WITHIN ARM'S REACH, tells the story of three generations of Irish American's, centering on Gracie McLaughlin, third generation member of the family that finds that she is pregnant by a boyfriend she does not love. Each chapter is told by a different character, giving differing viewpoints of the story. It may have been a method of story-telling that could have failed, but Napolitano does a good job of making each voice stand out as a unique personality, and the overlapping chapters and view points give this book a unique feel.The book has a large cast of characters, most of whom are members of the McLaughlin family, either by marriage or by birth. Catharine is the matriarch, and it's her story that is told in the opening chapter by her granddaughter Gracie. Gracie details the birth of the twins, two of Catharine's children that never got a chance at life. The birth is a story that goes into detail, up to Catharine's husband Patrick's devastating behavior of taking the dead twins and throwing them in the trash. It's the start of a novel that describes a family that has endured hardships, yet despite these hardships that could have brought them together as a family, they find themselves drifting apart. Catharine's attempts at keeping the family together are wasted, as she ages and realizes that without her there, her children and grandchildren almost have no need to stay together as a family.Gracie's pregnancy remains a secret throughout most of the book, and the reader watches as Gracie makes one decision after another regarding the baby, without any regard to the father's feelings, whether to take care of it on her own, or find help. Catharine's intuitive nature helps her figure out Gracie's situation, and insists on helping out her granddaughter. Gracie's problems are temporarily fixed, but not for long. Gracie continues on her every day destructive behavior, meeting new men purely for the sake of sex. Gracie's history is of a woman who has no self-worth, bouncing from one man to another as if trying to win a contest. Her temporary roommate is her sister, Lila, who is struggling with her own problems. While Gracie uses her body to define her self-worth, Lila is doing the exact opposite, trying her best to keep from getting into a physical relationship with any man. When Lila finds herself in a very unlikely relationship with a friend of the man that fathered Gracie's child, Lila goes for it, despite her repulsion for the man. Lila's obsession was her scholastic achievements, and was on her way to becoming a doctor, when she suddenly lets go of the dream, focusing mainly on this new relationship.Louis and Kelly are two more main characters. The two have been married for years, Kelly being Catharine's oldest surviving child. She lives life trying to control everything in her life, including her family, and slowly realizes she's alienated herself from her husband and her ch