Eddie is the oldest son in a Jewish family living in London (and then later NYC). He and his siblings suffer under the regime of a selfish and mentally-abusive father, and in the end that abuse causes more harm than any of them would have predicted. A good, strong story, with characters who are nicely developed (the father was so well crafted that I nearly threw the book across the room for getting so angry with his behavior). My one quibble is that it includes a framing narrative from the point of view of another character, which in itself is an okay thing, but the transition between the frame to the main narrator and then back to the frame is clunky and awkward. Otherwise, a fine read with a touching story. ( )

Difficult relationship of son to Hebrew teacher father in early 20th century America

Teenaged Eddie tried to make up to his family for his father's lack of warmth and financial support, but seems doomed to tragedy at every turn. ( )

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