The latest novel by the author of the much admired Bridge of Sighs brings us a heartache story full of humor and insight into this thing called love. One of the two main threads centers around a husband and his wife, their life goals and what happens to them when reality hits. The other one deals with the relationship that parents and their adult children have, whether it be good or bad. The plot moves along briskly and never leaves us wanting. The ending is most satisfactory.

posted Aug 21, 2009 at 2:58PM

Jack Griffin, son of two academics, looks at his life in the year that will see his parents die, his daughter wed, his own career seem iffy as does his marriage to Joy. What’s a guy to do? How does anyone cope with these life-altering events? It seems he’ll do just like the rest of us have or will—the best we can given the circumstances and history that’s gone before. Readers who are a certain age with some of Griffin’s life experiences behind them are sure to relish this look into a year in someone’s life. As with most families we’ll laugh, we’ll cry, we’ll shout and we’ll love these flawed people for whatever they may have done to seemingly ‘ruin our lives.’ It also seemed an elegy to a place and to a writer’s life. Good to read at end of summer.

posted Aug 28, 2010 at 11:51AM

This is my first Russo book . I liked it alot - but find his constant introspection alittle tedious . Regardless , it's a good read

posted Apr 24, 2013 at 3:35PM

 Add a Comment