this was another book from book club this book reminded me of Ordinary people where a family unravels under the strain of losing a loved one. The ordinary every day events creep the past into oblivion, characters revealed, lives transformed. At the core of Litvinoff's family is Litvinoff, a lawyer who takes pride in defending and befriending imbeciles; his wife Audrey, who believes she says things others think; Rosa, is adamant in finding a cause of her own weather it's communism or jewdaism; Lenny, is a druggy floater and Karla, struggles with her weight and her overbearing family. What i liked is how well written this book is. The commentary flows, the language is superb and i had to look things in thesarause yay (now give me a dictionary so i can learn how to spell). I realized that Xorovod came from Bulkan horah. I love those little trivia bits i'll forget in a month. I loved the revelation that Audrey's daily routine of nastiness was originally a defense mechanism in social situations. It has grown into a defining character trait and she feels trapped by it. It is now a reflex and she catches herself not being able to get out of it. Good example is her meeting with Berenice. I entirely sympathize with Karla. I just like her. i don't like the rest for now. since i'm still reading. 8]