Pierre Mornet This week in The New York Times Book Review, Julie Orringer reviews Jami Attenberg's “caustic, entertaining and bighearted†new novel, “The Middlesteins,†which stars Edie Middlestein, a woman who is slowly eating herself to death. The book traces the impact of Edie's problem on the rest of her family. Ms. Orringer writes:
The burning questi on, which Attenberg explores with patience and sensitivity, is why Edie has embarked on her self-destructive path. The answers themselves aren't surprising: Edie married too early, felt ambivalent about parenthood, became disillusioned with her career. What's remarkable is the unfailing emotional accuracy and specificity with which Attenberg renders Edie's despair.
This week, Ms. Attenberg discusses her novel; Leslie Kaufman has notes from the field; Maxwell Carter talks about “The Art Forger†by B. A. Shapiro; and Gregory Cowles has best-seller news. Sam Tanenhaus is the host.
