Matt McAvoy Book Review

If you’d come from any other time in modern history, you would think Susan’s memoir was a far-fetched sitcom.  But, and I don’t mean to speak ill of the characters in this wonderful book, sadly it’s all too authentic – much to the author’s despair.  She asks the question frequently throughout the book: how can such an educated professional fall so far down the rabbit hole that their sense of logic or reason is an irredeemable casualty – a lawyer, no less?  While starting off already quite over-zealous and unyielding in their religious beliefs, when she was a child, Susan’s parents – or, at least, one of them – evolved into full-blown conspiracy theorists of the most bewildering kind: the flat-earthers.  Honestly, those of us not resident in the US watch on with confused fascination – and I mean that inoffensively; I am in no position to question someone’s sincere beliefs.

It is hard not to sympathize with the inner turmoil and conflict that the author feels growing up.  While many of us might judge with an apathetic view, and just shut down pointless conversation, Susan clearly has a very warm and loving relationship with her parents in this book, and all are genuinely endearing people.  She is also from a background where indulgence in conversation is a form of respect; to dismiss would be rude and condescending.  It is easy to see also how she came to be at her wits’ end, then.  The author injects large amounts of humour and candour into her book, which is light-hearted in some ways, a little tragic in others, but generally a heart-warming, easy and entertaining read.  However, despite her jolly demeanour as a writer, and her frivolous approach to the narrative, there is clearly a serious side to all this – which we’ve yet to witness fully, I fear, yet somehow know the menace is there.  Regardless of what side of the “common sense” argument you stand, the tribalism of 21st-century polar politics simmers below the surface of every new revelation, every skeptical exchange in this book, and every view that there is a different worldview around every corner.  Susan teeters between the “live and let live / let’s all just get along” attitude of past generations and the “how can we possibly get along?” mindset of some of the new – particularly characteristic of some of her newfound California set.  Fortunately, she loves and respects her parents too much to take sides, as you fear at times she might.

This was a really enjoyable book to read, equal parts fun and worrying (though I say the last word with tongue slightly in cheek.  All in all, it is inoffensive, perhaps due to the Christian background the author comes from (that said, don’t expect an absence of profanities or sex references).  The author proves her credentials as a writer, and her sense of humour as a daughter.  I’ve never seen her act, but I do wonder if she’d not be well suited as a columnist.  It’s a really fun book to read and I enjoyed it a great deal, on an issue which is – sadly, unbelievably – finding its way into topical debate.