OBX Men, et al

Jack and Luke are cousins and headed to the beach for a week to relive some good old bachelorhood days. After an initial few days of fishing, story-telling, eating and drinking, and what not, the two men are joined by the other family members and the house occupancy swells to a total of seven adults and four children. An aging family aunt, Brigid, is also invited, without the initial consent of Jack and Luke, and arrives on the scene in somewhat of a whirlwind. Aunt Brigid is likable enough, but rather set in her ways and a bit cantankerous. But more importantly she and Luke, her nephew, have not spoken to each other in over six years. No one but Brigid seems to know why this silence exists, not even Luke, although he suspects it has something to do with his own father, who is Brigid's brother. The mystery behind this lack of acknowledgement and communication between the two, meanders its way through the book, and is finally resolved toward the end of the story. "Life is too short," is a familiar message of many family stories, within which for whatever reason two or more of the members do not get along or speak to each other, but "OBX Men, et al," sends this message in a compelling, thoughtful, humorous, and I believe unique and clever fashion.