Eleanor Flood, a middle-aged animator living in Seattle, starts her morning with a manifesto to be her best self: she will initiate sex with her husband, skip her shower, and avoid getting annoyed with her son. Her plan for a disciplined day collapses when she discovers her husband has been lying about his whereabouts and her son fakes a medical emergency to leave school. Through a chaotic twelve-hour span, Eleanor confronts a long-buried family secret involving her estranged sister and her own abandoned graphic novel project.
Readers who enjoy frantic, first-person narratives about domestic dysfunction and identity crises will find value in this story. It appeals to those interested in how creative professionals navigate midlife ruddiness and the messy reality of long-term marriage. The reader gains a cynical yet humorous perspective on the failure of self-improvement goals. By the end, the book provides a sharp look at how personal history dictates current behavior despite one's efforts to change.
Balanced in tone; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Curious Generalist. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2016
- Language
- EN
