The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney: book review

The Nest (2016) is set in America in contemporary times. It begins with an accident – a car accident – in which rich Leo Plumb and waitress Matilda are injured. Leo’s mother Francie, 72, pays for the repair of the Porsche, Leo’s hospital bills, and the prosthetic foot and insurance pay-out for Matilda. But she did not use her own money – she used the money her husband Leo Plumb Senior had saved as a nest egg for his children.

The nest egg – a joint trust fund called ‘The Nest’ – is an accumulation of money to be distributed to Leo Senior’s four children when they youngest turns forty: Leo 46, Jack 44, Beatrice 43, and Melody 40. Jack is partnered with Walker, Beatrice writes books, Melody has 16-year-old twins Louise and Nora with her husband Walter, and Leo is divorcing his wife Victoria.

Leo is the central character. Leo is a womanizer, a drug addict, and an outrageous party-goer. He is drawn toward Stephanie, the literary agent of his sister Beatrice.

The dysfunctional Plumb family has a financial problem. Melody has turned 40 and the funds are about to be distributed. But ‘The Nest’ has been significantly gutted – a paltry amount of money remains. Will Leo replenish the amount spent to pay for his accident or will he continue to drain the funds?

When the family finds out that they will receive only 10% of their expected amount, they are not happy with Leo. Not happy at all. Their dreams of how they were going to spend the money are in tatters. They have loans to pay, debts to clear, children that need college fees, and projects they hoped to get started with an injection of funds. Their financial realities are not pleasant. What is Leo going to do?

Leo goes missing.

This is a family fight about finances and frustrated dreams. Hopes are dashed – or can they reshape their lives?

I found this novel difficult to enjoy because the characters are egotistical and arrogant, intolerant and transparent, shallow and narrow-minded. Does financial loss change character – yes and no.

MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

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