Fiction - 4 stars
Judd Foxman's father has died, his wife has cheated on him with his boss, he's quit his job (see previous for reason) and he's moved into a basement apartment of a noisy house inhabited by a Chinese couple. He's not doing well. On top of all of this, his father's final wish is for his (dysfunctional) family to sit shiva and spend seven days and nights under the same roof. Longstanding grudges resurface, secrets are revealed and former passions are reawakened in this week-log remembrance of a man they all loved but barely knew. This is one of the books I won during Barnes & Noble's Page to Screen weekend giveaway, and I am so lucky. I probably would not have picked it out myself. I can see why they've made a movie of the story, and I highly recommend it for anyone feeling a little down about their own dysfunctional family.