Tell the Wolves I'm Home

This. Was. Stunning.I'll admit that I wasn't expecting much: a period piece set in the '80s at a point where the AIDS epidemic was rampant and the general public (and the U.S. government) were alternating between sticking their heads in the sand and paranoia.But in Tell the Wolves I'm Home, Carol Rifka Brunt handles the era and the subject matter and a plot that involves multigenerational sibling relationships and their associated complications in such a deft manner that she makes it look easy. Every character is so well written that they leap off the page and if you can get through this novel without sobbing hysterically (and likely more than once), my hat is off to you.Having lived through that era and been a teen in that era and lost friends to AIDS in that era, I can assure you that this book is like a full-blown immersion into the past and so wonderfully written I wish I could experience it again for the first time. Probably one of my top two books I've read this year.

Review first published on jenasbookreviews.blogspot.comA coming of age story dealing with loss, grief, friendship, and so much more. It's 1987 and June is 14 years old. She is lonely and awkward and shy, especially as she stands in the shadow of her older sister who seems to have every gift in the world. June is lucky in that she has her godfather, her uncle Finn, who is warm, caring, and allows her to be herself. They go on trips to the city and he takes her to operas and art museums and he is the world to June but now he is dying of some mysterious illness and June has no idea how she will deal with her grief or her life without him.Then there is a mysterious man at the funeral and a few days later a package shows up with Finn's beautiful teapot and a note from Toby asking to meet her. Toby who was Finn's special "friend" that she knew nothing about but who cared for Finn deeply as well. Toby is nothing like Finn but June senses a kinship with this man who shared much of Finn's life and is also grieving. Together, maybe they can find a way out of their grief through an unexpected friendship.This book was so lovely in its heartbreaking way. We start knowing quickly that Finn is going to die and so many of us have been there that it's not hard to put yourself in those shoes. I was 15 years old when my grandmother died and I thought my entire world had just about ended. My family was supportive but it was different than this and I wish I had someone who really got what she had meant to me, like Toby and June do for each other. Maybe this book spoke to me so much because I can easily see so much of myself in June too. Simply told but powerfully felt.

Sadly, I am one of the 2%--of those who did not like this book. I tried, I really did. And kept going even when it was repetitive and soo sloooow and predictable. But, finally at about the 1/3rd point on Kindle, I gave up. It is simply about a young girl whose uncle dies of AIDS and the very slow miserable process of her grieving that loss, at school, with friends, with her sister and parents, etcetcetc.

This story held my interest, but I was bothered. While so much of it rang very true (the 80's pop culture references, the initial fear & panic about AIDS) some things didn't (Toby at the house.) I also felt that the characters weren't quite right, some conversations & interactions too. I don't feel like I wasted my time reading it, but I didn't fall in love with the book.

Taking place in the 80s where AIDS has hit, June is a child of fourteen, who now knows her dear godfather, Uncle Finn, is dying of AIDS. As she spends Sundays at Finn's (with her mom & Greta) while a portrait of June & her sister, Greta is painted by Finn she begins to hear some disturbing bits of information. While her questions go unanswered, her uncle dies, and life without Finn is unbearable. I could not put this tear jerker down; I loved the characterization; author Brunt floored me with the ugliness of Greta, June's mom and society in general while I relished June, Finn & Toby. There were so many what-ifs you ask yourself while reading; I was crushed each and every page for June and how she struggled with shyness, finding out she did not know everything about her Uncle, being bullied by her sister and further alienated by a mother who wanted her brother Finn to suffer for the choices he made. Well, she made everyone suffer, most especially Toby, Finn's love (who June had no idea existed before his funeral) and this just brought further guilt and anguish and questions to June. This is a searing must read on so many levels!

Back in the early years when AIDS was perceived to be a terrible retribution for being gay, most feared its awful, unknown reach. Could you catch it by touch? Or by breathing the same air? Being close to the afflicted on a bus? Drinking from the same glass? It wasn't discussed in front of the kids. And the high old times of sex, drugs and rock n roll, of sex with little more to worry about than an unplanned pregnancy or a treatable STD if you were unlucky were over...now sex could kill you! The writer conveys this fear from the vantage point of an adolescent, whose adults deemed too "young" to hear about such ugliness, yet was still wise enough to see the person living and dying with AIDS as still just a person. This is much more than a coming of age story or an AIDS story-it's about love, loss, letting go of fears, promises kept and learning family is important but not infallible. Highly recommend!

I very much enjoyed this book So much so that I will pick it for my next book club choice. The characters were interesting and you really cared about them. The relationship between the Uncle and the youngest daughter was touching and their love so genuine and then she transfers that love and care to her Uncles secret partner. I really didn't understand the angst and anger from the older sister until late in the book. The Mother also had her own secrets. The parents were rather clueless to their daughters emotions. The inner story about the portrait the Uncle painted was intrquing and helpful to the plot. I did appreciate how the loose endings were tied up by the end.

I was recently reminded of this book and re-reading it, it was still as fantastic as before. The characters are written so clearly you will miss them after finishing. None of them is perfect and the book is all the better for it. The story arc is immensely satisfying, but also devastating in places.The characters are all flawed in places, but feel real and three dimensional. The dynamics of each family member to the others and as a whole ring true, even if toy don't agree with the actions or reasons for them. There is an honesty to the narration which is refreshing.I didn't want this to end.

I found this a compelling read. It is all about secrets, the secrets we keep from our nearest and dearest and the ones we strive to hide from ourselves.Fourteen year old June Elbus has one true friend who understands her and with whom she shares a special bond, her Uncle Finn. When he dies she not only has to come to terms with her grief but has to deal with the bubbling to the surface of secrets that are not only held by her family - her mother (Finn's sister), her father and sister but secrets Finn held back from her.The fractured relationship she has with her big sister, Greta, is well drawn out and believable, made the sadder when snippets of how close they once were come out.June is an outsider with a teenagers low self esteem. She finds it hard to make friends and the friendship she had with her uncle leads to another that brings equal joy but ultimate heartbreak to her again. Along the way she learns a lot about her whole family and begins to understand what she couldn't/wouldn't see before.The ending brought a tear to my eye, there is resolution for June and for Greta and to some extent her mother too. Secrets are found out but some are still held close as is always the way in life.A very enjoyable read.

This is not something I wold have read, had it not been for a trusted friend recommending it to me and seeing the 5 star reviews.This is essentially a love story. The love a 14 year old girl, June, has for her uncle, Finn, who has AIDS, and his partner, Toby. After the early death of Finn we see the relationship blossoming between June and Toby, which is beautiful to see. Finn was a famous artist and had painted a beautiful portrait of the two sisters as his final work.June's sister, Greta, is two years older than her and is the sister from hell, playing cruel tricks on June and she does something completely unforgivable to June midway through the book (I don't want to spoil the plot for anyone) that made me completely despise her.Greta is destined for stardom, starting with a role in Annie, but June is the geek of the family. The parents are very rarely at home as they are accountants and have a heavy workload sorting out taxes during the 'tax season'.I felt the story is quite plodding in parts, but is beautifully written with characters that will stay with you long after you've finished the book. I was a little in love with Finn and his beautiful kind hearted partner, Toby.I am pleased I read it and will long stay in my memory.

After some Amazon searching for some new reads, I came across this book and thought I'd give it a go. To be honest, I wasn't sure after a third of the way through as I was thought it was a little slow and not really getting anywhere. But suddenly, after about 50% of the book I was gripped and the rest of it flew. June is a 15 year old who is devoted to her uncle Finn, but when he dies she befriends his 'special' friend Toby and so the story continues. What I particularly enjoyed about the book was June's relationship with Greta and the other interlinking relationships. The underlying story of Finn and his sister (June's mother Danni) was really heartbreaking.They really make the book what it is - a fabulous piece of writing.

Growing up is so difficult and reading this made me realise this is so true for everyone. Relationships need constant attention and there has to be a lot of give and take. Some people are naturally selfish but they have to be made aware of this to have a better life.Aids is a devastating illness that needs to be eradicated from this world. This story tells of the heartbreak it can leave behind but also the friendships that can be built from it.I don't think this book is suitable for all ages but anyone that has been affected by this terrible disease should read it and I'm sure it will help them to see all sides of relationships.Well written, thought-provoking, thank you Carol