All That is Mine I Carry With Me

I loved William Landay’s book Defending Jacob, and always recommend it to everyone. Therefore, I was beyond thrilled when 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗜 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗲 arrived on my doorstep, and it does not disappoint!

What appealed to you the most in this story?

What I love most about Landay’s books is the depth of not only the plot, but each of the characters within the story itself. With his books, I know I just need to sit back and let the story fully absorb me, and not even attempt to predict where it will go, because I know I’m not even going to come close or figure out all the layers that go into it until the end.

How was the pace?

This is a slow burn, coming of age, character driven story. That flows between different POV and timelines in a way that keeps you turning the pages and not wanting to put the book down. The best is Landay's dedication to character development and each character’s nuanced layers; it's like you are reading about the neighbors next door and their questionable yet completely normal lives.

Anything I need to know before going into the story?

I think it is wise to know that William Landay is an attorney and former Massachusetts Assistant DA. His legal knowledge shines in his writing and also makes all the legal components of the story easy to follow. I’m kinda curious if any of his cases have been ……for his writings.

The book itself is divided into five different sections (no chapters), and in the last two sections, quotation marks are no longer used for dialogue. I have some theories as to why, but I don’t want to create a spoiler by sharing them.

Do you recommend this book?

If you are a fan of character driven family dramas, I heartily recommend this book. It will also make for excellent buddy reads and book club discussions.