The story of the Larkin family of Elmira, NY. What a mess they are. Myra is the oldest and the most likeable but she just seems to go along with things. She is probably the most likeable. Her brother, Alec, is horrible and mean and leaves when he is 19. There is also Fiona, a failed actress, Joan who has a mental handicap and Lexy who seems to be the one that "makes it." Lexy and Fiona are barely mentioned and the story goes back and forth between Alex and Myra but there are years in between each chapter so you are meant to fill in the gaps. The story takes place from 1951 to 2010. A lot of places mentioned in NY were familiar to me so that made it interesting but there just didn't seem to be a lot of emotion or dialogue. At one point I thought a character was going to be killed and I was good with that. The author just didn't make me care enough.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Little, Brown and Co. for providing me with a digital copy.

I pushed myself to get to 46% before I finally stopped reading. just can't finish this one. I was really hoping the emotional void would be filled, but at hasn't been at this point. Rapp's writing is fantastic, but there has to be more depth for the impact that a story like this should have on me. It also felt extremely lengthy for the portion I read.

I do think this would be a good fit for someone who is interested in reading how close we are to evil at times, unaware, and about how siblings can differ wildly from one another.

Mixed emotions on this one. I alternated between being engrossed and uninterested. If only there had been more dialogue! I was surprised at the lack of it as the author is a play writer. I never skipped those parts because there was some action and consequence. The prose was endless and I was missing entire sections (particularly at the Alec and Ronan sections). Myra’s tale was the best particularly as it connected in to historical events and there was more dialogue in her sections. Way too long and frankly pretty depressing. Written like a memoir, it covered a rather uninspiring, dysfunctional family who happened to have a serial killer amongst them which they did nothing about.
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC.

This is a very good book, it is the slice of life for the Larkin family, a large Catholic brood that has its ups and downs over a period spanning from 1951-2010, the author has certainly captured the essence of this family and brought them and their struggles to life. Myna is 13 when she meets a boy who she is led to believe by him, is Mickey Mantle, as a reader this scene really leapt off the pages you could almost feel the malice in this fellow (who was not Mantle). The story is told through the point of view of certain of the people in the family, Myra, Fiona, Lexy, Alec and Joan, there is a sixth, a baby, who passed away at the beginning of the story. Myrna is the eldest and the most grounded, Fiona is a hippie who never seems to settle down (or want to), Alec is probably one of the most despicable characters I have read in quite some time, he has a mean streak from the get go and it gets worse over time, Joan has mental health issues and requires life long care. The mom has her point of view at times as well, her and her husband kicked Alec out of the house when he was young (this raises the question of nature vs nurture). Myrna marries Denny a man she fell in love with quite quickly, he ends up leaving her during a blizzard and she finally tracks him down several years later, he's living with another woman, who turns out to be a nurse, Denny has mental health issues, which appear in their son, and his son in later chapters. Myrna is a nurse who eventually becomes a nurse at the State Prison during the time John Wayne Gacy was to be executed for his crimes. As Alec's timeline advances he turns into a very dark character, stealing whatever he can and becoming a serial killer, his timeline is the most disturbing to read. I would recommend especially if you enjoy family sagas. Thanks to #Netgalley and #LittleBrownandCo for the ARC.

I have mixed feelings for this one so I will just be bulleting them:

- Loved the writing style, very dialogue heavy
- Loved the time span of 50 years
- Loved getting to know how someone in the family became a serial killer
- Did not like the length, way too long for me
- Lacked so much emotion it was hard to have any feelings

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

Special thanks to Little Brown and Company and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

This book surprised me. I didn't expect to like it, but I really did. I started out not knowing where this book would take me but I'm so glad I stuck with it because I truly really liked it. It's about a family and it spans a few decades and hops storylines but in a good way. The family characters were very well developed and well I love a book about family, especially this one.

4 stars. Highly recommend

I found this book mesmerizing and fascinating as I read it in its entirety in one snowy day.

Rapp creates very diverse characters all in one family. The siblings, five in total, turn out to be markedly disparate indeed. There are several characters introduced and examined in the book - the parents, their five children, the main character's spouse, their child. So many of these characters are truly developed throughout the book's plot.

I really enjoyed the timeline of the book, which spans 6 decades, taking the reader on a trip from 1951 to 2010. We travel with these characters from upstate New York all the way to Los Angeles, CA. Being from Illinois, I found it intriguing that locations such as Marion, Carbondale, Joliet, and Chicago were components of the setting, also.

Probably the aspect I liked the most about this book though had to be all of the topics that Rapp broached - abuse in the Catholic church, serial killers, handicapped siblings, schizophrenia, sports (professional baseball and collegiate track), the NY art scene. If someone would have handed me a book and told me to read it and that it was going to be about all of those topics, I probably would have just shook my head and said No Thanks. Rapp makes this work though, does he ever make it work.

I don't remember the last time I read a book so quickly. I love historical and pop culture references, and this plot is packed full of those. You have the character of Mickey Mantle (or perhaps the illusion of Mickey Mantle's character) playing a part. You have several baseball references to the Yankees and then also several to the Chicago Cubs. You've got John Wayne Gacy's lethal injection at Statesville Correctional Institute in 1994. The serial killer, Richard Speck's slaughter of nurses in 1966 plays into the plot, also.

Truly, while reading the book and also after finishing it, I thought it was genius how the author created these characters and was able to tell their family stories all the while weaving so much mainstream culture history into it.

Thank you, NetGalley and Little, Brown & Co. / Hatchette Book Group for the opportunity to preview this ARC. I highly recommend it.

I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley. This book, as the title implies, is dark and gritty. The story starts with a large Catholic family of 6 children and we follow them as the members peel off and fall away. A brother dies as a child which sets the stage in a sense for everyone to handle the future in their own way. One sister is disabled and will stay with mom forever, another sister floats off, she is a con and a hippie, yet another leaves to start a new, well to do life, a brother drifts leaving one to be the peacekeeper, conduit for the family shop always tries to do right by others. It’s almost like the roles in an alcoholic family come to life. The books spans 1950’s to 2000 and gives nods to events of the time, including several serial killers. There are near misses with evil, there is a deep immorality in one character borne of trauma. It was intense and unexpected.

(Contains spoilers) The Wolf at the Table is an engaging family saga with the unexpected addition of... real-life serial killers? At first it was like, hey, is this supposed to be Richard Speck? Weird! But when later an (unnamed) John Wayne Gacy character is added to the story it seemed kind of, well, absurd. (I still can’t decide if it’s off-putting or intriguing.) There are other historically accurate elements thrown in that make this a unusual mix of reality and imagination — but not in a historical fiction or true crime kind of way. Whatever it is, it works. Hurray for this complex, uncanny, disturbing and fantastic read.

In Wolf at the Table, Adam Rapp spins a violent family saga based on elements of his mother’s life. Although this book contains more than its share of murders—including appearances from John Wayne Gacy—I found this book to be a fascinating exploration of how encounters with violence and evil can send people on such wildly different trajectories. Even better, the characters in this book aren’t simple fodder for inspiration. The characters are achingly fallible.

The Larkin family of Elmira, New York, appear to be ordinary from the outside, at least when we first meet them in 1951. We watch eldest daughter Myra have a stolen afternoon of teenage happiness with a cute boy in a nice car (who may or may not be Mickey Mantle). That night, however, a family on the same street as the Larkins is brutally murdered. Myra and her brother, Alec, witness the bodies being wheeled out of their neighbor’s house. Alec lashes out at his sister with his precocious cruelty when she asks him why he’s out of the house. We learn later that this is not the first time a member of the Larkin family is touched by unforgivable violence and that there’s a reason for Alec’s constant brutishness.

We then start to jump forward in time. Each time we land, we find Myra, Alec, and Myra’s son, Ronan, just before something bad happens. There are vicious family fights. There are brushes with Gacy. There’s schizophrenia and abandonment. There is death. From that day in 1951 in Elmira, the Larkins pinball around and into each other. Myra tries to reach out to her increasingly lost brother while wrestling with her husband’s mental illness and her increasingly poor health. Alec falls further and further into darkness, periodically surfacing to inflict hurt on the world that hurt him. Ronan’s fortunes rise and fall with the illness he inherited from his father.

Wolf at the Table is a bleak book but I couldn’t put it down. I was engrossed by the ways in which the characters intersected with and diverged from each other. I deeply appreciated its grit. Nothing comes easily in this book, creating an atmosphere of unflinching honesty. But this book isn’t all pain and sorrow. There are moments of stunning grace: unconditional parental love, a good death, revelation, justice. These moments make the metaphorical storm clouds disperse for a little while to give us a glimpse of what life could be if the characters renounce the temptation to hurt others the way they’ve been hurt, if they can find and accept help instead of causing destruction, and if they can transform their wounds into strength. This is an amazing book.

From the first page, there is a sense of foreboding in this book. The title sets the tone. As I was reading this book, I had no idea where the author would take me but I was along for the ride. I thought the story was enthralling. Most of the characters were very well developed. The family could have been my neighbors, which was his point. Hopping between storylines was very well done. I find myself with some questions about the ending which is why I knocked it down 0.5 star. I strongly recommend this book but it isn't for the faint of heart. 4.5 stars.

Many thanks to Little Brown and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy.

This is not a story about a seial killer. It is a story about a family, and one of its members happens to be a seiral killer. While all of the children weere raised in the same household, they lived very differnt adult lives.

This book is chilling and takes you on a rollercoaster. I LOVED this book! I can see this being a TV series. I have told many people about this book and how they need to buy it as soon as it comes out.

Where to begin…. (please forgive my overly long review)….I’ve got a lot to say …. many thoughts….opinions….feeling….
First of all this is my first time reading anything by Adam Rapp. I suppose it’s a compliment to the author that I’m seriously going to buy several more books. Can’t wait to read more by Mr. Adam Rapp!
I went into this book after listening to Adam Rapp share about the inspiration (his mother), for this novel on a YouTube. I knew instantly I was going to read this. Adam writes a very touching ‘Dear Reader’ at the start of “The Wolf At The Table” before we begin his novel….sharing about what inspired him.
What I didn’t do — is read anything else (not even the blurb) before diving in.
I’m *thrilled* that I didn’t read the blurb (I honestly think it says too much).
I enjoyed the ‘discovery’ of the brilliant seductive-gripping beginning. It’s a very strong start - why did the blurb feel the need to spill-the-beans?

I read this book closely - diligently- took notes - too breaks. Thought about it lots during my reading breaks.
I honestly could make a case for this being a brilliant five star novel - or a strong four star - a convincing three star - and even reasons for a 2.5 star rating….. (it would cruel if anyone gave it a 1 star rating— not a review I’d take seriously at all).
Although I’m sure I can empathize with a wide range of ratings — I debated myself of my own final rating….
I’m going with a 4.5 rating ….rating up to the full 5 stars. I thoroughly was engaged!!! I’m still interested in having book discussions about it.
I respect what Adam created - his overall message that evil is everywhere > no generation escapes it ….
…..there were standout flaws in my opinion - (worth a conversation)….yet overall Adam had me in the palm of his hands:
….sometimes fascinated…
….sometimes disgusted…
….sometimes judgmental or critical over description-rambling-choices…or risky highlights of fatness…. with questionable thoughts about height. TALL definitely trumps shortness in this novel. (ha…so much for my 5’2” standing)…
….in one scene I laughed so uncontrollably hard ….my husband had to get in on the fun…
…..The writing was so bad in ‘one’ part — that I decided this novel was a comedy. (I had barely hit the 20% mark though) > this novel is clearly ‘not’ a comedy.
…..But I suppose some comic-relief was justified. I even feared I was laughing at the authors expense…(I apologize)….I clearly did not want to laugh ‘at’ the author. Remember I want to read all his other books….so I certainly feel moved with admiration.

Sooooo…..
…..we follow the Larkin family from 1951 to 2010….details from each of the family members…..
as well as many other characters…..
experiencing the nostalgic tidbits of American history through the six decades.

It’s epic! It’s tragic! It’s at times ‘comic’!

A sample look at the interesting timeline journey…..
Sometimes the story took place in one day. Other times we jump forward years.
…..Elmira. New York, August 19, 1951.
….a rural town in
Chemung County
Cute town with a lot of history.
…..Niagara Falls, New York
August 26, 1964
…..Elmira, New York December 24, 1965
…..Chicago, Illinois, July 13, 1966
…..Salem Massachusetts - Fall 1970
…..Chicago, Illinois, January 21, 1973
Part II
…..Joliet, Illinois, March 30, 1981
…..Paducah, Kentucky, April 10, 1982
…..Elmira, New York, September 7, 1985
…..New York City, New York, July 8, 1991
…..Joliet, Illinois, May 9, 1994
…..Tunica, Mississippi, April 19, 1995
…..Eureka Springs, Arkansas, June 14, 1997
…..London, England, July 27, 1998
…..Waitsfield, Vermont, January 23, 2001
…..Marion, Illinois August 13, 2002
…..Elmira, New York, April 21, 2003
…..Los Angeles, California May 8, 2010

“The Wolf At The Table is…..
….a scanning scrutiny of a families close proximity to violence and mental illness
….historical crimes, criminals; real events mixed with fiction storytelling.
….. nature vs. nurture questioning
…..a serial killer and the examination of psychopathic behavior
…..religious thoughts from the various family members from their being raised in a Catholic household
….. themes include abuse/ neglect …..with a few visually graphic descriptions
….. mental illness is certainly examined … pointing out how rampantly widespread mental illnesses is in our society.
…..Paternal absence and how genetic traits and behavior is passed down through generations influencing social and mental behaviors
…. Dreams, desires, disappointments, and loneliness is felt throughout
….. details about athleticism, theater, writing, books, music, cars, foods, sex, etc.
…..sibling rivalry
…. Illness, aging, death, even love and the humanity surrounding the madness in our homes and culture.
….
Questions I pondered….
….what would I do if I knew I had a killer for a sibling?
….and how much of madness is hereditary and how much is learned?

This novel reveals not only the darkness of killings - but how absolutely how complicated life really is.
I thought the ending was perfectly written …..leaving the possibility of hope……without being being a remedy panacea.
I was still left with the horrendous struggles life can be.

Main characters:
Donald and Ava Larkin - parents
The siblings: Myra, Alec, Fiona, Lexy, Joan, and Archie Larkin
Denny: married oldest sibling, Myra (who becomes a nurse and works at Stateville Correctional Prison)
Ronan: Myra and Denny’s son

Many more characters….boyfriends, girlfriends, priests, friends, acquaintances, etc. > I could chat about this book - its themes and each character for hours.
My review would be too long….ha….as if it isn’t already.

I’ll choose a few more things to write about - and thank anyone who read any of this - and get out of others hair….

Real crime character:
….John Wayne Gacy was an American serial killer and sex offender who raped and murdered at least thirty-three young boys in Norwood Park Township, near Chicago.
He became known as the ‘Killer Clown’.
He would lure the victims home to his ranch house and dupe them into donning handcuffs on the pretext I’ve demonstrating a magic trick.
He wouldn’t rape and murder his victims.

“My mother is taller than most men. 6’3. And more Catholic than the Pope. She still sings in the choir at Saint John the Baptist. I wasn’t good enough for her”. Being tall was valued - being slow or fat was not.

It’s a comedy: (it’s not)….but I laughed uncomfortably anyway - only once:
“They even screwed around a few times, in Paul’s dorm room, but when it came to sex, Myra was put off by his small, spindly hands and an unfortunate body odor that reminded her of her mothers liverwurst and mustard sandwiches”.
and……
I was still laughing:
An erection — with a man who chirped like a dolphin— in association to a can of lima beans had me laughing so hard — I had tears rolling from my eyes - as ‘I ‘tried’ to read the scene to my husband but could barely get the words out — for laughing uncontrollably! (hope this doesn’t make me a mean person) — I was entertained in ways I wasn’t expected.

As for a can of tuna > I lost my appetite….

….Great music selections. Dionne Warwick, Elvis, Dean Martin, John Denver (I knew him), the Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, Martha and the Vandellas…etc. —even “The Little Drummer Boy” and “Joy to the World”.

….It tickled my funny bone that both mother and son had a thing for “The Catcher in the Rye”.

“But her God has always been a retaliatory one. He has taken her husband‘s mind, her health, and so much of her happiness. He even took her baby brother in his infancy. He’s always been ruthless”.

“Roll some dice, spin an arrow, and watch the Larkins clodhop around the colored squares, searching for whatever it is, we’re all searching for”.

This novel is packed filled with fascinating stories….not perfect ….not with things to bug any reader….but a damn good book over all that will leave readers thinking about it long after finishing it.
Would make a great book club pick.















….

Engaging and expertly crafted, although readers expecting a 'serial killer thriller' may be put off by the style.

I would say 3 1/2 stars. I expected more suspense from the description of "serial killer at their table".

Wolf at the Table presents the life and times of a large family, whose children grow up and make their way in the world. It presents the varied paths that each child chooses, and the consequences of those choices. The story touches on the effects of each person's personal history on those choices. The story brings to light how children raised in the same home and family can still come away with vast differences and difficulties as adults.

I went into this book believing the focus would be on a “family harboring a serial killer in their midst,” but Adam Rapp’s intentions are far more nuanced. In reality, Wolf at the Table is a meditation about the ubiquitous nature of evil and our constant proximity to it. To read it narrowly as a parable about one particular family would be, I believe, a mistake.

The author telegraphs his intentions right from the beginning. The oldest of give children in the staunchly Catholic Larkin family, teenager Myra meets a stranger who claims to be the up-and-coming baseball player Mickey Mantle. With his chiseled physique and all-American looks, Mantle was the epitome of the American sports hero. We know in hindsight that he is destined to fall from grace through his heavy alcoholism, which left him a shell of the man he once was.

Did Myra truly meet Mickey Mantle? Probably not. Directly afterward, we learn that a killing took place close by, which might have been enacted by the imposter. If, indeed, he was an imposter. Heroes and killers go hand in hand.

We do know that Myra’s sole surviving brother, Alec, is the family’s bad seed and, as time elapses, is likely a serial killer. He preys on teenage boy athletes, who are on the cusp of breaking through their lower socioeconomic conditions through their sports prowess. In other words, these are boys primed to live the American Dream.

In the meantime, life goes on around the Larkins. As the siblings settle into their roles – the responsible older sister Myra, the flamboyant Fiona, and so on – Alec lingers on the outside, sending disturbing postcards to his family. Evil continues to lurk, particularly with peripheral references to Richard Speck and John Wayne Gacy and priest abuse. As life wears away at the siblings, innocence is lost, and in his or her own way, every key character becomes complicit in the perpetuation of evil.

This is a fascinating book. My thanks to Little Brown and Company and NetGalley for enabling me to be an advance reader in exchange for an honest review.

In the 1950s Ava and Donald Larkin and their curving children Myra, Alec, Lexy and Fiona begin their somewhat sprawling family tale in Elmira, New York…..and one (or more) serial killers run through it.

Odd, but interesting little book, your fairly standard family saga with an older sister who holds things together, a ne’er do well son who disappears, the one who must stay home, an upwardly mobile sister and the college dropout/free spirit. But then…..serial killers. Everywhere, serial killers. Not really sure what it’s trying to say about society or maybe just that the Larkins have really bad luck? Anyway, I liked it.

I'm not sure that Adam Rapp's Wolf at the Table is a book that you can like, exactly. But it is a book that you will read and think about for days afterward. It's essentially a family saga told from multiple perspectives with this poisonous core that damages every member of the family. It's about religion and it's about abuse and schizophrenia and, oh yeah, serial killing (though that enters the story later than one would expect from the blurb). The characters are generally well-drawn, though I found the women less successfully written than the men. I'm glad I read it and I would recommend it toward a certain type of serious, dark, literary reader.