Release Date: January 13th 2015
Publisher: Hogarth (first published in 2010)
Genres: Literary Fiction
Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher via Blogging For Books
My Rating: 3 Umbrellas
Find It: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Siem Sigerius is a beloved, brilliant professor of mathematics with a promising future in politics. His family—including a loving wife, two gorgeous, intelligent stepdaughters and a successful future son-in-law—and carefully appointed home in the bucolic countryside complete the portrait of a comfortable, morally upright household. But there are elements of Siem’s past that threaten to upend the peace and stability that he has achieved, and when he stumbles upon a deception that’s painfully close to home, things begin to fall apart. A cataclysmic explosion in a fireworks factory, the advent of internet pornography, and the reappearances of a discarded, dangerous son all play a terrible role in the spectacular fragmentation of the Sigerius clan.
*I received this book from Blogging For Books for this review*
After reading this book, I can honestly say that I’d rather watch the Kardashian clan on E. As a family, they have morals and class compared to the Sigerius family. It was like watching a reality show; albeit a really screwed up one, but a reality show nonetheless. Though, those K’s aren’t as messed up in the head, they’d definitely give the Sigerius’s a run for their money.
Imagine yourself on your favorite porn site and coming across your step-daughter in the flesh. Yeah, so that happened. I can’t really sum up this book without giving away all that happened. And trust me, A LOT HAPPENED. I’m no writer, but it seems a bit excessive to pack all of this chaotic substance into one novel. I could not keep up half the time. The narration may have played a key part in my inattentiveness. Jumping from scene to scene; going back and forth, it gave me a headache. The only redeeming aspect of this was the fact that all of the foulness was somewhat funny. A little on the far fetched side, but I could actually see this being made into a movie.
The main character was too great of a character. In the sense that he is like Professor Don Tillman, Dr. Sheldon Cooper, Rain Man, and Chuck Norris all rolled into one. An overachiever? I’m not sure, but for him to have had it all, he sure was one messed up individual. This book is an acquired taste. If you don’t mind jumping from scene to scene without really getting the answers you are seeking, then I’d recommend this book. It will take time to make since of the madness throughout, but I did like it. Not enough to read it again anytime soon but maybe I will pick it up one day. If you like literary fiction revolving around family crisis, I’d recommend this book.
