You Can't Fall Off The Floor by Roxy McLaughlin

Kim
Rating:


Review
I was intrigued with this book from the description on the back cover, because it's an obituary for main character Sarah's mother, Lillian, who dies in the first few pages of the story.  Lillian is quite the character, as is Sarah, her brothers Robert and Michael, her sister Carrie, and a few others, though none of them likable in the least.  Sarah's story begins with her mother's death, and back tracks to give us history on her and her family, which mostly comes across like an angry rant instead of the brutally honest form of novel writing I was hoping for.  After a wild and crazy youth, Sarah gets herself straightened out, but her family is still a mess.  This could have been a much better story with a few more positive events, and less foul language. Good title though.

Best Line:
"The foothills of the Catskills in the Hudson River Valley are the secret jewel of New York State."

 

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Patty
Rating:


Review
If I had to identify "You Can't Fall Off the Floor" by Roxy McLaughlin, it would be with one letter...capital D for Dysfunction.  From the first chapter to the last dysfunction is the active word.  Also, I'm not certain that the emphasis on their "Jewishness" was necessary. I understand this book is a work of fiction, but I do not believe I have ever met or heard of a family with so many terrible events or personal problems.  It was hard NOT to hate Sarah's mother Lillian.  A pleasant surprise was that Michael returned alive from his tour in Viet Nam. A positive in spite of all the family issues, Sarah maintains her personal ambition and tough work ethic, and eventually does become successful and happy in life.  How she managed to do that with a practice of heavy drinking, multiple sex partners, and drugs is "pie in the sky" thinking/writing, but it does work sometimes. It also worked for me that when Sarah is physically assaulted she consults with a therapist brings her back to her normal stable self. I thought the language was excessive, and am reminded that one of my college English professors told his upper division writing students that foul language is not necessary to a well-written book.  Agreed.  How many times does the F word have to be used? Though I faithfully read the entire book and took many notes, the primary note to myself was, "Don't read another of Roxy Mclaughlin's books. Finally, the book was not carefully edited.  There were many glaring errors in grammar, ie. "God and me had our own funeral for Bubby."  Pass on this one.

 

Best Line:
"If you speak the truth you never have to hide."