Newark’s Literary Lion Philip Roth could have an acerbic and biting sense of humor. Not one character in this funny, heartbreaking family drama is likeable. They’re all trying to live life within their own means and moral compass but the book’s greatness lies in their tragic flaws.

When author Philip Roth, 85, died on May 22, 2018, it hit me hard. Through the years, his books never failed to fascinate. His personal life notwithstanding, his artistic growth was profound. I greedily gobbled up American Pastoral (1997), I Married A Communist (1998), The Human Stain (2000) and The Plot Against America (2004). Among his 29 other books, there was one I purposely refrained from reading. Until now.