Plenty of Family Drama But It Made Me Sleepy

Joanna Trollope turns out reliably entertaining, and reasonably well written, novels; I have enjoyed several of them in the past. Her new novel, "The Other Family" (Touchstone, 2010), is in the same vein as her other novels, and is fairly enjoyable to read, but I felt a little let down by it. I had trouble getting into it during the slow first section, and in fact I kept falling asleep while reading it. It seemed "talkier" than her usual novels, "telling" rather than "showing." Readers are not given enough of a sense of any of the characters to really know or care much about them. The storyline is vaguely interesting, as we learn that a famous musician has died and left two families behind, causing -- unsurprisingly -- tension and resentment. However, there is a sense of optimism, connection, and closure at the end, so that is all fine, if a bit pat. If a friend lends you this novel, or it otherwise crosses your path or shows up on your bedside table, and you feel inclined toward a quick, decently entertaining read, go for it. But I wouldn't recommend going out of your way to find, borrow, or buy it.