The title "His Family" refers to both the nuclear family and the family of all mankind. I think Poole's central theme is the tension that we all have in balancing our obligations to both families. I don't feel the novel was about women deciding between family and vocation- it was broader than that.
For me, the last chapter made the book. (I'd like to quote some of this chapter, but don't want to be a "spoiler").
Highly recommended.
