Back of the book: John is cool, practical, and deliberate – the polar opposite of dreamy Arlyn – yet the two are drawn powerfully together even when it is clear they are bound to bring each other grief. Their marriage traces a map no one should follow, leading them and their children to a house made of glass in the Connecticut countryside, to the avenues of Manhattan, and to the blue waters of Long Island Sound. Glass breaks, love hurts, and, like all families, John and Arlyn’s makes its own rules. Ultimately, it falls to their grandson, Will, to walk a path of ruin and redemption in order to solve the emotional puzzle of his family.
Skylight Confessions is a novel full of symbolism that portrays a family so stuck in their situation they can’t see more than one way out. Arlyn and John know they probably weren’t meant for each other but don’t try to change the fact. Children feel the effect of that kind of union. Some more than others and that is how it is for the Moody children. We follow this family to different ends, some excruciatingly painful and sad. Why read this book? Well, there is a final message of hope – that you can change your situation in life if you want it badly enough.
This was not an easy book to read – meaning the lives of the children were so emotionally difficult. Hoffman’s pace is fast and her writing is very smooth so the actual reading is easy – it’s just that I had a tough time with how one of the children dealt with his life.
Bookfan 