Tolstoy wrote: “Happy families are all alike: every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” This is not the first time a happy family has been dissected. Tracy Farber, the heroine, makes certain that we concentrate on meaning. She is an English professor, after all, and spends much time searching for reasons and intimations in modern American literature. There is a lot of trouble in the academic paradise that is Tracy’s. During the exploration of Tracy’s world, Ms. Kadish gives the reader thoughtful interpretations of American authors and how their philosophies relate to life and the meaning of happiness. In the end, Ms. Kadish describes life for the reader, telling us that happiness takes courage and work.
This is a good read but needs some editing. The author’s voice is heard often and we get the feeling of an autobiography but still, we do not need, or want to hear every single moment of her decision making.