Have you ever noticed how families orient around the least functional member? Family systems theory recognizes the propensity of the supposed weak family member to control the whole family. Marilynne Robinson's latest novel, HOME, written in Robinson's lush prose tells the story of Rev. Robert Boughton's family. The Boughtons raised eight children in a small Iowa town. Seven of the eight were good, obedient children. And then there was Jack, who was perpetually in trouble, and now, after and absence of twenty years has come home.
Jack, in his dysfunction, is the one is the center of everything. All decisions are weighed to measure the impact on Jack. Will it upset him? What will he think? What is he going to do? It is so true to life...as the more functional give up their power in an attempt to change the least functional. And the irony? all that giving away of their power is the very thing that will ensure that nothing changes and the dysfunctional person remains the center controlling force.
I like HOME even better than I liked her previous book GILEAD.
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