Book Club September 2021- One Two Three
By: Laurie Frankel
Published Year: 2021
Publisher: Henry Holt & Co
Pages: 416
Summary (Provided by Goodreads): Everyone knows everyone in the tiny town of Bourne, but the Mitchell triplets are especially beloved. Mirabel is the smartest person anyone knows, and no one doubts it just because she can’t speak. Monday is the town’s purveyor of books now that the library’s closed―tell her the book you think you want, and she’ll pull the one you actually do from the microwave or her sock drawer. Mab’s job is hardest of all: get good grades, get into college, get out of Bourne.
For a few weeks seventeen years ago, Bourne was national news when its water turned green. The girls have come of age watching their mother’s endless fight for justice. But just when it seems life might go on the same forever, the first moving truck anyone’s seen in years pulls up and unloads new residents and old secrets. Soon, the Mitchell sisters are taking on a system stacked against them and uncovering mysteries buried longer than they’ve been alive. Because it's hard to let go of the past when the past won't let go of you.
Three unforgettable narrators join together here to tell a spellbinding story with wit, wonder, and deep affection. As she did in This Is How It Always Is, Laurie Frankel has written a laugh-out-loud-on-one-page-grab-a-tissue-the-next novel, as only she can, about how expanding our notions of normal makes the world a better place for everyone and how when days are darkest, it’s our daughters who will save us all.
What I thought
I didn’t know what to expect based off of the cover and the summary but I was pleasantly surprised.
Mab, Monday, and Mirabel are triplets who refer to themselves and One, Two, and Three (hence the title). The story is told in alternating perspectives of the triplets and the chapters are labeled according to their birth order. Their hometown of Bourne was poisoned by the chemical company Belsum 16 years ago and their mother has been fighting that battle every since. Then suddenly, the family that owns the company moves back to town with plans to reopen the company.
The premise sounds very boring but trust me, it’s not. I did have a discussion with one of my friends asking why this book isn’t considered a YA since it’s told from the perspective of three 16 year olds and honestly, we still haven’t come up with an answer. Maybe it’s because they are dealing with adult problems and speak with an adult tone? Not so sure.
I was definitely a little confused at the beginning of the story, even though I was sucked in immediately. You get thrown right into the middle of Bourne without knowing any of their history or current events and as they unfold you begin to understand what the story is about.
The triplet’s mom Nora is the one who is heading the lawsuit against Belsum and has been working on it for 16 years without getting anywhere. Everyone’s lives are turned upside down when the Templetons move to Bourne. Their plan to reopen the plant isn’t even originally known but then that upturns the town as well.
I loved all of the different voices the triplets have. They are so unique and even without the continual rotation of the order of perspectives I would have been able to tell who was telling the story. The town of Bourne was exposed to a chemical that caused a lot of birth defects so each of the triplets is different. I think the way the town adapts and handles each of these disabilities is fascinating. There are ways in which the town goes above and beyond in a good way and ways that they go above and beyond in harmful ways. Regardless, the fact that so many people have disabilities in one town changes their perspectives and I enjoyed that part of the story.
The one part I struggled with this book was in the middle. It seemed like it got very wordy and descriptive and it didn’t feel that way at the beginning. I don’t know if it was because I was waiting for something to happen and to get to the action or if it truly got wordier in the middle but if I hadn’t been trying to get through this quickly it might’ve made me put the book down for a little bit just because the pace slowed down so much.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. While the story may sound like one you’ve read or seen before, it definitely isn’t. I look forward to discussing it at book club and I think it sheds light on a lot of different things in life. It tackles disabilities, diversity, monetary status, and just life struggles. I’ve only read one of Frankel’s other books but this one is definitely making me want to go back and read more of her novels.
Unfortunately, due to some personal reasons we weren’t ale to discuss the book as a group this month, but I still wanted to post my review about it. I think it will make for a good discussion once we’re able to get around to it so I do recommend it as a book club book.