OK but I read it only a few weeks ago and it has slipped away. I recall being impressed from time to time with author's stylish quirks and character's behaviors, i.e. philandering artist staying with his mother in Texas and becoming a child like we all do on return home. ( )

This just didn't engage me. ( )

adult fiction; dysfunctional family drama. This was OK but I lost interest 80 pages in. ( )

Interesting and, in many aspects, painfully honest account of human behavior, of lives spiraling downward. Or forward, following an improbable act. Sit back, buckle up and be ready for some crazy stuff here. This book and these characters will resonate with you for a long time afterwards. ( )

One of the blurbs on the cover calls this book "funny" but I saw it more as tragic. It has the 21st century satirical detachment that notes the absurdity of situations, but still it read more sad than anything. Deb's marriage to artist Jack Shanley is falling apart. He has cheated on her, again, but the evidence is so glaring and literally in her face, that she can't ignore it this time. The mistress has sent Deb a letter and a whole box full ($87 worth!) of email printouts of their smutty correspondence and torrid details of their time together. Sadly, this falls into the hands of her 11 year old daughter, Kay, and 15 year old son, Simon before it makes it to Deb. While it is nice to see Jack get his comeuppance, it is hard to like anyone in the story. Deb (former ballet dancer) was Jack's mistress before she was his wife, so it's a shame she didn't see the writing on the wall. The book is well-written though and part of its uniqueness is its use of time. Part 1 summarizes the affair's discovery in excruciating detail. Part 2 summarizes subsequent years that pass in the blink of an eye with future outcomes for many of the characters. Part 3 returns to the present and the weeks right after the affair blows up the family -- Jack is good at blowing things up -- part of his artistic drama, and part 4 wraps everything up nicely. ( )