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Hes a pretty good guy, Robert. Reasonably honest, compassionate, dependableokay, maybe hes a little too sarcastic, but all in all, hes a decent human being. Which is exactly how his fucked-up family takes advantage of him, and why, since college, hes strived to avoid them.

With the surprising death of his father, however, he finds himself being drawn back into the horrifying familial abyss. At its core is Roberts mother Helen: shes the glue that binds themor rather, the sucking tar pit that entraps them? After her husbands death, Helen embraces the role of martyred widow with the fervor of Mary Todd Lincoln. Roberts older sister is Darlenea born-again Christian with a successful husband, two perfect children and an addiction to alcohol, pills and extramarital sex. She believes Robert judges her, and she resents him deeply for it. His brother Lenny, on the other hand, resents Robert because he has a steady income. Ten years Roberts senior, Lenny is still trying to live out the rock n roll dream with his dying band, Pink Lloyd. Plagued by an enormous lack of talent, thinning hair and a hanging gut, at 45, Lenny is wildly bitter about life.

Though his mother is vastly unimpressed with Robert and uncertain what he does exactly for a living, shes smart enough to realize that he is her only reliable offspring. And she works his sense of humanity like a maestro. To Roberts perennial chagrin, his mother adores his older brother Lenny, while she remains blithely unaware that hes a colossal failure. At the same time, she casually lobs damaging asides at her emotionally teetering daughter with the abandon of a troubled kid plucking wings off a fly. But, when all is said and done, Robert knows that beneath the darkness of his mothers disparaging and stinging remarks well, theres a darker side.

Things begin to change for Robert when he meets Amy, the beautiful sister of his gay, overweight, paraplegic neighbor. Amy is an astonishingly independent woman who captures his heart, and makes him realize that he doesnt have to remain the victim of a destructive family. Meanwhile, Roberts getting to know and care about his sisters 10-year-old son Danny. During which, he sees that Dannys childhood is similar to his ownthat Roberts sister is another version of his mother. These revelationsin the midst of his familys jaw-dropping acts of selfishnesslead Robert to make the most crucial decision of his life.

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"Wickedly funny, tragic and warm... all at once. For those looking for a definition of family."
Richard Dresser
Playwright

"This is a real modern family. Russ Woody is hilarious, insightful, and hilariously insightful."
Dave Ihlenfeld
Author of Dog Days

A darkly funny and meaningful book about a family in distress. If these characters are based on Mr. Woodys real family, I not only respect him, I fear him.
Ted Danson
Actor

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