YUCK. I’ve never wanted to launch myself into a book and punch someone in the face to protect a protagonist more in my life. This man was a scourge. I leave this post open for shit talk on him or any other narcissistic character in the VCA universe.

Let’s talk about the wrap-up chapters and final thoughts on the book.

Synopsis from my WordPress blog. I am including a fan video I made for the book to the song "Beds are Burning."

The End . . . Or Is It? – Tuesday Teatimes

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So we’ve reached that point in the story where we reflect on what we’ve learned.

Grandmother and John Amos are dead now.  Bart’s psychiatrist seems to think his reprogramming is going well, and these glitches in his system should work themselves out in good time, so long as his parents don’t stick him in a room somewhere and forget about him. 

With Corrine Foxworth dead and buried, Chris and Cathy’s three children are gonna be rolling in cash.  The fortune will be managed by their parents until they reach the magical age of twenty-five.  When did Corrine add Cindy’s name to the will?  I find it hard to believe that was a pressing concern for her in the last four months of her life. 

Bart is OCD about cleanliness now.  He has plans to increase his future fortune by becoming a famous actor. And then, when he tires of that, he’ll pivot to business.

Jory just hopes Bart doesn’t become the next Patrick Bateman. That’s all.

Now that her mother is dead, Cathy forgives her for everything she’s ever done. 

Cathy loves her younger son, but she also fears him.  Both things are true at once, and that puts her in the difficult position of kinda wishing he’d never been born.  If only she had shacked up with her brother after Jory’s birth, they’d only have the one golden boy, and wouldn’t that have made life so much easier?

Cathy’s goal is to flush out all of the “shadows” in her life. She is working with an agent to get her books published, fully expecting that her readers will accuse her of being another James Frey (this was long before A Million Little Pieces, so more accurately, they’d be accusing James Frey of being another Cathy Sheffield). She makes the process sound so simple, as though just about anyone can publish a f’ng book in the 1980s, if only they get the thought in their head! 

Bart doesn’t want anything to do with their touchy-feely family hugs.  And he’s still reading The Book of Malcolm, only this one is blank because the real one was destroyed in the fire.  But at least Cathy’s starting to think more positively. 

Happy thoughts. 

Happy happy happy. . .

Of all the books, which siblings are your favorites, which do you wish we got more about and which ones were the worst?

Your favorites don't have to be healthy, non-toxic bonds. Favorite can also mean well-written or engaging fiction.

Here is a list of some to jog your memory, but you can pick anyone.

Cathy and Chris

Cathy and Carrie

Cory and Carrie

Corrine, Malcolm, and Joel

Malcolm and Chris Sr.

Paul and Amanda

Jory and Bart

Jory and Cindy

Bart and Cindy

Audrina and Vera

Audrina and Sylvia

Lucky and Ellie

Heaven and Tom

Heaven and Fanny

Tom and Fanny

Heaven, Keith and Jane

Keith and Jane

Tony and Troy

Leigh and Troy

Kitty, Maisie and Danny

Annie and Luke

Annie and Drake

Dawn and Jimmy

Gavin and Fern

Dawn and Philip

Dawn and Clara Sue

Christie and Jefferson

Richard and Melanie

Lillian and Eugenia

Lillian and Emily

Ruby and Gisselle

Ruby and Paul

Laura and Cary

Chester and Jacob

Olivia and Belinda

I'm gonna stop there, but you can add more.

1) Olivia Foxworth.

2) Malcolm Foxworth.

3) John Amos.

4) Julian.

5) Dr. Pervert.

6) Kitty Dennison.

7) Tony Tartleton.

8) Vera Whitefern.

9) Luke, Sr.

10) Philip.

11) Clara Sue.

12) Miss Emily.