I loved this book; I thought it was SO funny.

Not since Rohyntyn Mistry have I found someone who understands family dynamics (and the interplay of money and power and love) as this author does. Ooops, I take that back. He's definitely not as good as Rohyntyn Mistry. But I didn find the WIFE in this book to be a very sympathetic character

I find the intricacy of his prose, the exotic situations narrated in a flat, matter-of-fact tone--tantalizing. But I do agree with the reviewer (Megami?) who says that the situations seem to vary little from story to story-- there is always the brilliant, distant father; the neurasthenic, unhappy mother; the son (or daughter) caught between these two opposing forces. Still, I know I'll finish the book, if only because I can't get over how someone with a name like JOHN MURRAY could channel Ruth Prawer Jhabvala...

So far (halfway through) I am really enjoying this book. It's surprising-- follows two separate narratives, one in Alaska, one in Russian River. I find the writing much sharper in the sections that belong to the Russian River folks (a hippie commune called Drop City-- so well drawn!). It's very funny.

__________

OK, I finished the book a few days ago. Ending was somewhat anti-climactic, and inconclusive. Still, for its incisive look at commune life, a subject I've NEVER seen treated in fiction, this book is definitely worth reading.

A friend of mine described ZZ Packer as "David Sedaris lite." I don't think that's quite accurate. With the exception of "Brownies", I thought the stories were teases. They promised much but didn't actually deliver.

A timely, much-needed book. The horrific events the author lived through are pertinent to what's going on today in the Middle East...

My first book on Palestine

I love memoirs. This is one of the very best I have ever read. Cuba is a sad, ruined place, but I marvel at the author's detachment-- it's true she had a privileged position as the wife of a European executive, but she doesn't sugarcoat anything...