The Middlesteins (by Jami Attenberg) are a dysfunctional Jewish family living in Chicago and suburbs. The story centers around Edie, the wife, who is eating herself to death. She has stents in both legs, diabetes and a dicey heart. Her law firm has paid her off because of her weight. Her husband Richard has left her and their son and daughter must take over, trying to keep her alive. Son Benny is married to Rachelle who does not allow anything but healthy food in the house, and not enough of that, according to her twin son and daughter. She has put herself in charge of Edie. The daughter Robin and Edie have not been close for 15 years, but Rachelle enlists her to help with the battle. The story is told through every family member’s voice. It’s a tender, sweet, sad tale of a family that can’t really bring itself not to love one another, each in his/her own weird way. I liked it.
