Summary
OverviewDinner at the Homesick Restaurant intricately weaves the tale of the Tull family from Baltimore, Maryland, through a series of perspectives: that of the matriarch, Pearl, followed by her children Cody, Ezra, and Jennifer. The novel explores the dynamics of family relationships, underscored by the different memories and viewpoints of each character. The narrative structure allows readers to experience events multiple times through varied lenses, offering a nuanced understanding of this complex family.
Part I: Pearl's Reflections
The novel commences with "Something You Should Know," a chapter where Pearl Tull lies on her deathbed, contemplating her past in a non-linear fashion. Sitting beside her is Ezra, her devoted son, as Pearl's thoughts wander to key moments in her life. Her recollections start with the near loss of her firstborn, Cody, which led her to expand her family. Pearl drifts further back to her memories of meeting and marrying Beck Tull, a traveling salesman, when she was on the brink of spinsterhood at thirty. The marriage deviated from her expectations, as Beck's constant relocations prevented the family from forming deep-rooted connections. Eventually, Beck abandons them in Baltimore, leaving Pearl to navigate life as a single mother to children aged fourteen, eleven, and nine. To uphold the facade of normalcy, she deceives her children and social circle into believing Beck is merely away on business. A poignant memory surfaces of a time when Beck taught Cody archery, resulting in Cody accidentally injuring Pearl, which nearly led to her demise due to an allergic reaction.
Throughout her reminiscences, Pearl occasionally returns to the present, pondering her mortality and the aftermath of her passing, including Beck's hypothetical reaction to her funeral invitation. She is plagued by doubts, questioning whether her children harbor resentment toward her and suspecting inherent flaws in each of them. The chapter closes ambiguously as Pearl drifts away, leaving readers uncertain whether it signifies sleep or death.
Part II: The Family's Journey
The subsequent chapters focus on the adult lives of Pearl's children, each responsible for their own narrative. Cody's tale harkens back to the infamous incident where he mistakenly shot Pearl, setting the stage for his lifelong rivalry with Ezra. This competitiveness manifests in mischievous schemes designed to undermine Ezra, who remains blissfully oblivious to Cody's antics. Despite this, Cody often steps up to shield his siblings from Pearl's outbursts. As he matures, Cody's jealousy endures. This envy culminates in his pursuit and marriage to Ruth Spivey, originally betrothed to Ezra. Even with Ruth and their son Luke, Cody's insecurity drives him to distance his family from Baltimore, maintaining minimal contact with his past.
Jenny's story picks up as she prepares to be the last child at home with Cody in college and Ezra drafted. Despite Pearl's newfound gentleness, Jenny remains wary of potential abuse. She embarks on her collegiate journey, where she meets Harley Barnes, a brilliant geneticist she marries as she begins medical school. Their marriage dissolves, and Jenny returns to Baltimore, eventually remarrying an artist who leaves before the birth of their daughter Becky. Jenny's final marriage is to a man with six children, offering her a complex family life as a pediatrician.
Ezra's narrative orbits around his culinary career at Scarlatti's Restaurant, which he inherits and renames The Homesick Restaurant. The establishment becomes a haven for nostalgic meals, reminiscent of home-cooked comforts. Ezra's attempts to convene family dinners continually falter, often disrupted by emotional outbursts. After losing Ruth to Cody, Ezra remains unmarried, dedicated to caring for Pearl as her health declines. He reads to Pearl from her diaries, seeking a connection she seems to...
(This entire section contains 946 words.)
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yearn for, culminating in a moment of profound happiness captured in her writings:
"Early this morning ... I went out behind the house to weed. Was kneeling in the dirt by the stable with my pinafore a mess and the perspiration rolling down my back, wiped my face on my sleeve, reached for the trowel and all at once thought, Why, I believe that at just this moment I am absolutely happy."
His mother stopped rocking and grew very still.
"The Bedloe girls' piano scales were floating out her window," he read, "and a bottle fly was buzzing in the grass, and I saw that I was kneeling on such a beautiful green little planet. I don't care what else might come about I have had this moment. It belongs to me."
That was the end of the entry. He fell silent.
"Thank you, Ezra," his mother said. "There's no need to read anymore."
Part III: A Family Dinner
The final chapter reveals Pearl's passing, unfolding through Cody's perspective. The family reunites for her funeral, where Cody is surprised to learn that Ezra has invited their estranged father. After the ceremony, an elderly man approaches Cody, who identifies him as Beck. The Tulls gather at The Homesick Restaurant for a commemorative meal, where Cody's temper flares. "You think we're a family," Cody confronts Beck. "You think we're some jolly, situation-comedy family when we're in particles, torn apart, torn all over the place, and our mother was a witch." The tension peaks when Jenny's husband's baby begins choking, diverting attention as Beck vanishes amidst the chaos. While the others search for Beck on the streets, Cody remains behind but eventually finds his father. In a rare moment of solitude, Beck shares his perspective on his departure with Cody. As Cody looks on, he sees his family rushing towards him, feeling an unexpected sense of belonging and connection. He is "surprised and touched," realizing that, for the first time, he is moving towards his family rather than away, closing the book with memories of Pearl and the archery outing.