Family estrangement affects nearly one in three American adults—a sobering reality that underscores a quiet but widespread emotional struggle. In Across The Kitchen Table, Carla Seaquist confronts this issue with raw honesty and heartfelt introspection, offering a deeply personal account of family breakdown and the long road to reconciliation. Through the lens of a mother-daughter relationship fractured by tragedy, Seaquist weaves a narrative that is both intimate and universally relatable.
Far from a traditional memoir, Across The Kitchen Table is a poignant reflection on the fragile, complex bonds that tie families together—and sometimes tear them apart. Seaquist chronicles the devastating loss of her daughter and the emotional aftermath that rippled through her family. With unflinching candor, she captures the pain, silence, and eventual reckoning that accompanies estrangement. Yet amid the sorrow, there is also growth, healing, and the tentative hope of forgiveness.
Seaquist, an acclaimed playwright, essayist, and author, is widely respected for her ability to dissect social and cultural issues with depth and nuance. Her body of work includes thought-provoking plays like Who Cares? and Looking for Atticus, as well as a range of essays on topics from political discourse to personal transformation. Her signature style—marked by intellectual rigor and emotional clarity—shines in this powerful book.
With Across The Kitchen Table, Seaquist opens the door to a subject many are reluctant to discuss. She skillfully navigates the emotional terrain of estrangement, giving voice to the silent grief that often accompanies it. More importantly, she offers a message of compassion and possibility, encouraging readers to confront uncomfortable truths, communicate honestly, and begin the slow, often painful, process of mending fractured connections.
This book is not only for those directly impacted by family estrangement but also for anyone who values the bonds of kinship and the healing power of dialogue. Seaquist reminds us that while the path to reconciliation may be fraught, it is also one worth walking—for the sake of understanding, connection, and ultimately, peace.
Watch the book trailer: https://youtu.be/lmyVYfJKPsw
