At the Table

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Set over the course of a year, At The Table gives you more than you asked for. I was expecting an easy read with funny parts here and there and instead it was like having an inside look into someone’s home. The Maguires could be your friends or neighbours, that is how crystal the writing is. And although there are funny sections in the book, the emotional grounding far surpasses what I expected. The way that Powell navigates heartache, depression, anxiety, and just not really knowing what your next step in life is, is truly exceptional. Hardworking - and hard-drinking - Nicole pursues the ex she unceremoniously dumped six years ago, while people-pleasing Jamie fears he's sleepwalking into a marriage he doesn't actually want. But as the siblings grapple with the pressures of thirtysomething life, their parents struggle to protect the fragile façade of their own relationship, and the secrets they've both been keeping. Drivel. The premise had so much potential, but it was a huge disappointment. A few more notes on the novel in general: Hardworking – and hard-drinking – Nicole pursues the ex she unceremoniously dumped six years ago, while people-pleasing Jamie fears he’s sleepwalking into a marriage he doesn’t actually want. But as the siblings grapple with the pressures of thirtysomething life, their parents struggle to protect the fragile façade of their own relationship, and the secrets they’ve both been keeping.

A gripping yet tender depiction of family dynamics, love and disillusionment about what it means to grow up - both as an individual and as a family. A year of lunches, dinners and drinks we become acquainted with the Maguires, Powell’s witty, smartly observed prose gives us a sense of them all. This is the debut novel from Claire Powell and what an assured and excellently written debut it is.

Multibuys

Painfully funny, acutely well-observed, powerfully resonant in its humanity and emotional accuracy. I missed this book whenever I wasn’t reading it’ Luke Kennard A 2022 BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR for THE TIMES, SUNDAY TIMES, DAILY TELEGRAPH, RED, GOOD HOUSEKEEPING AND CRITIC My favourite character award definitely goes to Jamie; I could read another whole book from his POV. His storyline was excellent, well written and how the writer describes anxiety and depression felt so personal and true to life. Set over the course of one year, “At The Table” tells the story of the Maguire family, parents Gerry and Linda and their adult children Nicole and Jamie. When Gerry and Linda announce their separation after over thirty years of marriage the family are plunged into turmoil. Nicole immediately takes her father’s side and refuses to speak to Linda, while her hard-partying and drinking start to catch up with her. Jamie starts to question everything about himself, especially his upcoming marriage. Painfully funny, acutely well-observed, powerfully resonant in its humanity and emotional accuracy. I missed this book whenever I wasn't reading it' Luke Kennard

You know when you see a book and you know that you HAVE to read it? Well this one definitely caught my attention, just look at that cover. I have to say - it didn’t disappoint. Claire Powell’s writing has a warmth to it, a gentle kindness. A family in crisis, four equally flawed adults, you find yourself rooting for them all. Gerry's character is also from the same town in Northern Ireland as me, which I was so excited to see represented, that may have played a little part in my overall enjoyment of this novel! At the Table is a hugely intelligent, emotionally astute novel about family dynamics, and Claire Powell is an incredible new talent' Marian KeyesNicole and Jamie have struggles of their own. Both in their thirties, they are trying to navigate through the dynamics of careers, life and love. Nicole is hard-working but also likes to party. She’s on a permanent quest to find the right man, remaining furiously unsuccessful while her friends settle down around her. In contrast Jamie has been seeing his girlfriend Lucy for years and their wedding is inevitable and imminent- but is it what he really wants? There was a half-hearted attempt to tie this saccharine story in a bow, but it ultimately fell so flat that I felt cheated. The Maguire function are dysfunctional, but only in a way most families will find relatable. I found it poignant seeing them come together after being torn apart by their personal dramas, and Powell's choice to leave out sections ended up creating a moving sense of intimacy between them. As readers we go from being zoomed into the individual characters' minds and lives and then suddenly being shut out when their situation comes to a head. Painfully realistic, this frank but tender portrayal of people at their lowest is a book everyone can relate to. And the cover is just, all the YES. I can’t wait to see what Claire Powell does next. The characters and their motivations were so criminally underdeveloped, I still don’t know why anyone did anything or what I was supposed to feel when they did it. For a novel that has virtually no plot, the characters should have been the focal point of the narrative; instead they were one-dimensional, unsympathetic, and just plain boring.

Set in 2018, Claire Powell's beautifully observed debut novel follows each member of the Maguire family over a tumultuous year of lunches, dinners and drinks, as old conflicts arise and relationships are re-evaluated. A gripping yet tender depiction of family dynamics, love and disillusionment, At the Table is about what it means to grow up - both as an individual, and as a family. The kind of rare story you want to nosedive into on a hot hungover weekend and slurp down like iced coffee - cold, sweet and quenching . . . a summer read to devour with suncream and spilt rosé - and then lend to your mum or your daughter' The TimesClaire Powell is generous with her characters, and I felt equally pained for the betrayed character as the betrayer in two (maybe even three) scenarios, without feeling like the writer was making excuses for wrong actions. People just do shitty things because they're people, and I never really disliked anyone in this book despite the many mistakes most of them make. Oh to be a reader all the time instead being restricted to a single silly mind and body that has to feel feelings and take things personally. A brilliant portrayal of family dynamics in all their messy glory. Powell manages to make the Maguires wholly realistic. Right down to the main characters colleagues, friends, even the locations you could picture perfectly because (if you’re in the UK) there is always a pub in walking distance called The Crown. The simple details of everyday life are just spot on every time and you could feel the ups and downs and anxieties of each character.