An estimated 30% of American adults are estranged from at least one family member—a sobering figure that reflects a widespread yet often unspoken reality. This difficult topic is the heart of Carla Seaquist’s powerful and poignant book, Across The Kitchen Table, which offers a deeply personal examination of family rifts, emotional wounds, and the long road toward healing.
More than a memoir, Across The Kitchen Table serves as a moving reflection on the fragile nature of familial relationships. Through the intimate story of a mother and daughter torn apart by tragedy and miscommunication, Seaquist explores the emotional complexities of estrangement. With unflinching honesty, she recounts the devastating loss of her daughter and the subsequent breakdown of family ties, guiding readers through grief, regret, and, eventually, reconciliation.
Seaquist’s storytelling is raw, sincere, and courageous. Her vulnerability on the page draws readers into a space of shared introspection—prompting them to examine their own family histories, their patterns of silence, and the possibilities for mending what has been broken. Her narrative reminds us that while the pain of estrangement is profound, the path to understanding and forgiveness is always worth pursuing.
Carla Seaquist is an acclaimed playwright, author, and essayist whose work consistently delves into the social, political, and deeply human dimensions of life. Her acclaimed plays, including Who Cares? and Looking for Atticus, and her essays—published in leading national outlets—reflect her thoughtful engagement with both personal and societal issues. Seaquist’s distinctive voice, marked by clarity, empathy, and insight, brings weight and depth to every subject she tackles.
In Across The Kitchen Table, she turns her attention to the deeply emotional terrain of broken family connections. Through this lens, she invites readers into an often-hidden world, illuminating the loneliness, confusion, and yearning that estrangement breeds. Yet, throughout the narrative, there is a persistent undercurrent of hope—hope that fractured bonds can be repaired, that hard conversations can lead to healing, and that love, though tested, can endure.
This book speaks not only to those who have experienced estrangement firsthand but to anyone who cherishes the idea of family and the effort it takes to sustain it. Seaquist’s message is clear: healing begins with honesty, compassion, and the willingness to engage in the uncomfortable but necessary work of reconciliation.
Across The Kitchen Table is a courageous and beautifully written invitation to face the often-silent struggles within families—and to believe in the possibility of renewal, even after heartbreak.
Watch the book trailer: https://youtu.be/lmyVYfJKPsw
