Summary of the the problems the characters face in Wish You Were Here

The trials and tribulations of the characters in Stewart O'Nan's novel "Wish You Were Here": Emily, main character, recently widowed, worried about her two adult children and wonders why they and their spouses are so cold to her; sister-in-law Arlene, feels peripheral and schoolmarmish, unsympathetic to the children, never married no kids, her career a disappointment living alone, world is changing too fast for her; son Ken, marginally employed, doubtful about chance for success as a photographer, apparently some kind of sexual frigidity; his wife, feels little connection to those around her, resentful of husband, feels he is pulling away from her; Emily's daughter Margaret, the most troubled of the lot, recovering addict, just split from husband, worried about money and about keeping her house, smokes too much and is a slob; her daughter Sarah, feels she's too pretty, kind of boy crazy but likely to make bad judgments; her brother Justin, suffers from some kind of phobia, afraid of being alone, and of the dark; Ken's daughter Ella, concerned that she's unattractive and about her sexual attraction to girls, especially her cousin; Ken's son Sam, concerned that he's the weakling, timid, somewhat sickly?, poor eater. Wow - wish you were there?