Edie Middlestein doesn’t remember a time when she wasn’t obsessed with food.
A smart, successful activist/lawyer, Edie’s emotional relationship with food eventually destroys her family and her health. She takes a buyout at her job, her husband leaves her and her grown children are forced to assume parental roles while attempting to save her life.
In The Middlesteins, author Jami Attenberg tells the story of addiction and how it impacts everyone who loves that person.
The difference in this book and others I’ve read about addiction is the substance. It’s not alcohol, drugs or even cigarettes—it’s food.
The author also builds Edie as a character of worth, despite her uncontrolled problem. Edie is not the only strong character in the book.
Richard Middlestein leaves his wife and the author vividly describes his attempts at creating a second life while he still has time.
Robin, the couple’s school teacher daughter, is strong willed and suffers many of the personality issues that launched her mother’s eating problem as a child.
Benny, the couple’s easy-going son, is torn between his love for each of his parents and his perfectionist wife’s need to control the situation and save his mother. In the meantime, the couple’s children do what children do—rebel while trying to please everyone in their family.
The Middlesteins is one of the most well-written, honest and intriguing books I’ve read in a long time. I highly recommend it. I definitely will read Attenberg’s other books.
