Family estrangement is more common than many realize, affecting nearly 30% of American adults. This quiet crisis is the heart of Carla Seaquist’s evocative and emotionally charged book, Across The Kitchen Table. Through a deeply personal lens, Seaquist unpacks the emotional turmoil, complexity, and potential for healing that comes with fractured familial relationships—particularly between a mother and daughter.
Far more than a traditional memoir, Across The Kitchen Table serves as an intimate reflection on grief, miscommunication, and the fragile ties that bind family members. Seaquist recounts the deeply affecting story of her daughter’s untimely death and the subsequent breakdown of her family’s connection. Her writing is candid and fearless, guiding readers through waves of sorrow, estrangement, and the slow, deliberate pursuit of reconciliation.
What sets Seaquist apart is her raw vulnerability and willingness to confront painful truths. Her story isn’t just about personal loss—it’s a universal meditation on the human need for connection and understanding. She encourages readers to examine their own family dynamics, especially those that may have been pushed aside or buried under years of silence and unresolved pain.
Seaquist is not new to profound themes. As a respected playwright, essayist, and author, her body of work consistently tackles social, cultural, and moral dilemmas. Her acclaimed plays, including Who Cares? and Looking for Atticus, and numerous essays on politics and personal development, showcase her unique ability to balance intellectual depth with emotional insight. In Across The Kitchen Table, this gift is fully on display.
The book opens a necessary conversation about estrangement—something often hidden or unspoken. Seaquist lifts the veil on a subject that many grapple with in isolation, offering not only a voice to the unspoken pain but also a path toward restoration. Through her storytelling, she imparts hope: that even the deepest rifts may be mended with empathy, courage, and open dialogue.
Across The Kitchen Table is for more than just those touched by estrangement. It’s a powerful read for anyone who values the meaning of family, the importance of communication, and the courage it takes to repair broken bonds. Seaquist’s work is a heartfelt reminder that healing is possible—even when it seems out of reach—and that sometimes, the most profound transformations happen around the kitchen table.
Watch the book trailer: https://youtu.be/lmyVYfJKPsw
