After This

After This chronicles the lives of a Catholic Long Island family from the post-World War II era through the Vietnam War period. The story centers on Mary Rose and John Keane, their four children, and the cultural shifts that shape their experiences across several decades. The narrative moves through key moments in American history, including the sexual revolution, social upheaval of the 1960s, and changes in the Catholic Church. The Keane family navigates personal challenges against this backdrop of national transformation, with each character responding differently to the evolving cultural landscape. Life's ordinary moments - meals, conversations, departures, and reunions - form the foundation of the narrative as the children grow up and the parents age. McDermott captures the rhythms of family life through precise observations of daily routines and turning points. The novel examines how faith, tradition, and modernity intersect in American family life, exploring the tension between preserving values and adapting to social change.

Readers note McDermott's skilled portrayal of an Irish-Catholic family in post-WWII Long Island, with many highlighting her attention to small details and intimate moments. Multiple reviews mention the poetic, lyrical quality of her writing. Readers appreciated: - The authentic depiction of Catholic family life - The subtle ways characters develop over decades - Precise, descriptive language - Relatable family dynamics Common criticisms: - Plot moves too slowly - Too many time jumps between chapters - Characters feel distant or hard to connect with - Some found the ending unsatisfying Review Scores: Goodreads: 3.6/5 (5,800+ ratings) Amazon: 3.8/5 (120+ reviews) LibraryThing: 3.7/5 (900+ ratings) "Like watching a family photo album come to life," wrote one Amazon reviewer. Others described it as "understated but powerful." Several readers noted it requires patience, with one Goodreads review stating: "This isn't a plot-driven novel - it's about the quiet moments that shape lives."

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🔸 Alice McDermott's talent was evident early - she won the Whiting Writers Award in 1987, an honor shared by literary giants like Jonathan Franzen and David Foster Wallace. 🔸 The novel's setting of Long Island during the post-WWII boom mirrors McDermott's own upbringing as a child of Irish Catholic parents in the same region. 🔸 The book's portrayal of 1960s social upheaval coincided with a time when 74% of American Catholic women rejected the Church's ban on artificial birth control, reflecting the era's dramatic cultural shifts. 🔸 "After This" was a finalist for the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, adding to McDermott's impressive record - she had previously won the National Book Award for "Charming Billy." 🔸 The post-WWII Long Island housing boom featured in the novel saw the area's population explode from 476,000 in 1940 to over 1.3 million by 1960, fundamentally reshaping the region's character.