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The novel is set in Southeast Michigan in 1996. Psychoanalyst Dr. Ivan Weiss is coping with a variety of issues: he thinks his wife is having an affair; his daughter Sonya has moved back to Ann Arbor after being raped while living in New York; and he has a new job as the director of the University of Michigan's Psychology Clinic. Also, he has an issue with a young analyst who has a problem patient and who, along with her stepfather, is threatening Weiss. Meanwhile, his best friend's son is harassing Weiss' daughter while the friend, also a psychoanalyst, is jealous of Weiss. But on the bright side, Weiss has a fascinating new patient whom he is excited to be working with. Additionally, he and his wife, Dana, are looking to go on a cruise, and Dana is excited about her work with horses. Sonya seems to be doing better and is developing her interior decorating practice.
The book weaves through the life of a psychoanalytic practitioner and his family. While the book starts off slowly and focuses deeply on Freud's psychoanalysis and its look at Oedipal conflicts, it is well worth the read to delve into this work, as it is a fascinating trip into the world of a patient's mind and the mind of an analyst. It becomes a mystery story, along with the in-depth story of a family's life and the minutiae of daily living, which, in this case, is traumatic. It is a mesmerizing examination of the inner life of the characters, especially one particular client and Weiss himself. But the trauma of the patient also concerns Weiss' family, and the drama that surrounds the entire family is engaging, making the book a top contender for a great read.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review