Helpful Score: 1
Review first published on my blog: http://memoriesfrombooks.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-middlesteins.html
The Middlesteins takes on the tough issues of obesity. The obese person - who they are, how they got to this point, why they got to this point, and to what extent their obesity defines them. It also looks at the the responsibility of those around them, the effect on those around them, and the societal stigma of obesity.
It does all of this through the story of one family. Edie Middlestein is a lawyer, a mother, a grandmother, a wife, and also an obese person. She suffers from numerous health issues because of her extreme obesity. Richard Middlestein is her husband, who walks away and abandons her. Robin and Benny are Edie's children, who attempt to cope with their mother's illness and their father desertion. Rachelle, Benny's wife, tries to help in her own way. Emily and Josh are Benny's children.
The book tells the story from these different perspectives enabling the reader to see the impact Edie's life has on those around her and correspondingly the impact they have on her. Unfortunately, the book does not really develop the characters. Each one represents one reaction consistently throughout the book rather than the complex family relationships - interesting even when dysfunctional as they clearly are in this family.
The story almost becomes a caricature. Edie is the fat girl. Rachelle becomes single-mindedly focused on keeping her family healthy. Robin is the angry young woman. Richard is the self-centered husband chasing something that may or may not exist. Emily and Josh are young teens wanting to fit in.
The issue tackled is an important one and an emotionally charged one. Unfortunately, this books ends up eliciting more of a comic reaction and even that not in a pleasant way.
The Middlesteins takes on the tough issues of obesity. The obese person - who they are, how they got to this point, why they got to this point, and to what extent their obesity defines them. It also looks at the the responsibility of those around them, the effect on those around them, and the societal stigma of obesity.
It does all of this through the story of one family. Edie Middlestein is a lawyer, a mother, a grandmother, a wife, and also an obese person. She suffers from numerous health issues because of her extreme obesity. Richard Middlestein is her husband, who walks away and abandons her. Robin and Benny are Edie's children, who attempt to cope with their mother's illness and their father desertion. Rachelle, Benny's wife, tries to help in her own way. Emily and Josh are Benny's children.
The book tells the story from these different perspectives enabling the reader to see the impact Edie's life has on those around her and correspondingly the impact they have on her. Unfortunately, the book does not really develop the characters. Each one represents one reaction consistently throughout the book rather than the complex family relationships - interesting even when dysfunctional as they clearly are in this family.
The story almost becomes a caricature. Edie is the fat girl. Rachelle becomes single-mindedly focused on keeping her family healthy. Robin is the angry young woman. Richard is the self-centered husband chasing something that may or may not exist. Emily and Josh are young teens wanting to fit in.
The issue tackled is an important one and an emotionally charged one. Unfortunately, this books ends up eliciting more of a comic reaction and even that not in a pleasant way.
I loved Attenberg's painfully blunt, omniscient narrator, revealing all those inner thoughts that we never share. (The one chapter written from a different p.o.v. didn't work for me.)
I loved the foreshadowing and straight-up revelation of characters' fates.
It took me a while to warm up to the characters, but this was such a quick read (in both length and style) that I stuck with them and felt rewarded.
The Middlesteins reminded me of the Bravermans from the TV show Parenthood: liberal, chaotic family with some weed and sex thrown in. (Benny & Rachelle Middlestein especially remind me of Adam & Kristina Braverman.)
I almost forgot: So You Think You Can Dance = BEST B'NAI MITVAH (that's plural for Bar or Bat Mitvah & what you call it when twins share a ceremony) THEME EVER!
I loved the foreshadowing and straight-up revelation of characters' fates.
It took me a while to warm up to the characters, but this was such a quick read (in both length and style) that I stuck with them and felt rewarded.
The Middlesteins reminded me of the Bravermans from the TV show Parenthood: liberal, chaotic family with some weed and sex thrown in. (Benny & Rachelle Middlestein especially remind me of Adam & Kristina Braverman.)
I almost forgot: So You Think You Can Dance = BEST B'NAI MITVAH (that's plural for Bar or Bat Mitvah & what you call it when twins share a ceremony) THEME EVER!
Okay. Not great. Some parts were better than others But not great.
** spoiler alert ** This is a story about how some deal with voids in their lives. It always amazes me how some people can face anything and move on with their lives and others break down and fall apart right before our eyes.
In this story, Edie faces a divorce because her husband just cant deal with her overeating anymore. He feels powerless and refuses to watch her eat herself to death. Members of the family are appalled that he would leave his wife in her time of need. Edie eventually dies and Richard attends the funeral. Everyone shuts him out, and his own daughter blames him for Edies death. There is so much food at the funeral reception that Richard cant stop eating. Alone, with only food for company, it dawns on Richard why Edie ate so much: Because food was a wonderful place to hide.
There is a silver lining at the end of this sad tale; Edie does not die in vain. She was loved by many. Her memory helps those in her life realize how blessed they are and how grateful they are for their loved ones.
In this story, Edie faces a divorce because her husband just cant deal with her overeating anymore. He feels powerless and refuses to watch her eat herself to death. Members of the family are appalled that he would leave his wife in her time of need. Edie eventually dies and Richard attends the funeral. Everyone shuts him out, and his own daughter blames him for Edies death. There is so much food at the funeral reception that Richard cant stop eating. Alone, with only food for company, it dawns on Richard why Edie ate so much: Because food was a wonderful place to hide.
There is a silver lining at the end of this sad tale; Edie does not die in vain. She was loved by many. Her memory helps those in her life realize how blessed they are and how grateful they are for their loved ones.
