Olympus, Texas
Fiction
Doubleday
May 11, 2021
Hardcover
336
Purchased
A bighearted debut with technicolor characters, plenty of Texas swagger, and a powder keg of a plot in which marriages struggle, rivalries flare, and secrets explode, all with a clever wink toward classical mythology.
The Briscoe family is once again the talk of their small town when March returns to East Texas two years after he was caught having an affair with his brother's wife. His mother, June, hardly welcomes him back with open arms. Her husband's own past affairs have made her tired of being the long-suffering spouse. Is it, perhaps, time for a change? Within days of March's arrival, someone is dead, marriages are upended, and even the strongest of alliances are shattered. In the end, the ties that hold them together might be exactly what drag them all down.
An expansive tour de force, Olympus, Texas cleverly weaves elements of classical mythology into a thoroughly modern family saga, rich in drama and psychological complexity. After all, at some point, don't we all wonder: What good is this destructive force we call love?
At first glance, the words family saga made this a novel I was highly interested in. Then I read the part about the tie in to Greek mythology and took a giant step back. I know nothing about mythology, nor do I care to learn! I decided to give this a try anyway, and honestly forgot about the connection by the time I picked it up to read. All this is to let you know that you don't have to know a thing about Greek mythology to enjoy this book! This was an excellent dysfunctional family story, my personal favorite genre (I always say I'm not sure what that says about me?). I can't even tell you that the characters are even that likable, but the family dynamics are written such that it didn't matter to me. I couldn't put this down until I found out who ended up where, with who, and did any of them forgive each other? While the ending didn't tie everything up with a bow, there were enough answers given that I was satisfied. The writing was well executed, and the story did not drag on as some family sagas are known to do. The family drama was out in full force, and I was there for it!
While this book is certainly not plot heavy, the characters and their family issues propel the story. If you are a fan of Greek mythology, I can only imagine that enhancing the characters even more, although I can't say this with any certainty. I just loved it for the family dynamics and characters, who will stay with me for a long while.
