Richard Middlestein is an upstanding member of his local Jewish community. A pharmacist, and original donor to his synagogue, he loves his children and grandchildren, but no longer loves his wife Edie, who has grown so fat it seems she will eat herself to death.
When Richard leaves Edie, as she is facing life threatening surgery, the family ties are stretched.
There's a lot going on in this book. Richard is a man in his sixties, his business has boomed then shrunk. He has a distant relationship with his children, and struggles with the disrespect shown by his grandchildren. He wants to believe his sex life is not yet over. So he leaves his wife to the dismay of his family, and his community at large. You also have Edie's life story, trying to explain the reasons for her overeating and why nobody can stop her. The stories of the rest of the family are woven in - the shotgun wedding that produced the twin grandchildren, the reasons that Richard's daughter finds it so hard to be in a relationship.
This was a terrific read, but not a feel good read.
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