In my continuing efforts to read books outside of my usual genres I give you Eulogy – a slightly skewed family drama. William Oaks is the narrator of this story and he comes from a less than happy home. His mother is from a tiny town in Canada and his father’s ancestors are both fiction and reality. Mental health issues play a big role in the book throughout William’s paternal line.

William grows up in a house where his mother becomes obsessed with selling a weight loss product called Slender Nation. It’s all she will eat – well drink as it is a shake – and all she will allow the family to consume. Around the same time they find God at a church who thinks the Rapture is right around the corner. The combination is enough to ruin William’s childhood and he bides his time until he can escape but it has long lasting effects on his mental well being.

Eulogy is not an easy book to read since it deals with difficult issues but it is well written and very thought provoking. The characters are well defined and while you might not like them you find parts that are sympathetic. The ending truly caught me by surprise and I do love that in a book. It was a soft, subtle end and while unexpected it was totally appropriate once I really thought about it. This is definitely one of those books that would improve on a second reading. ( )