Parenthetical

When Alton’s mother pushes him to play bridge with his blind, crotchety uncle in the hopes of scoring a big inheritance, he’s irritated — who wants to play a boring, mystifying game with old people? — but he goes along with it. Of course, he ends up loving bridge, and his uncle as well.

The best bits of this book are the growing relationship between Alton and his uncle, and the smooth unfolding of dark family secrets. The worst bit is Alton’s parents, who are not only one-dimensional, they’re one-dimensionally evil. They are money-grubbing hypocrites who “don’t like people on welfare” but still apply for unemployment and scheme to solve all their financial problems with inheritance from a relative they don’t like and barely know. (The ‘rents are a pretty small part of the book, but you know I have a thing about flimsily written parents.)

All told, though, it’s entertaining and satisfying. My brother the professional poker player appreciated the explanations of bridge hands, but if you don’t care you can skip those with no problem, just like you can (and should!) love Friday Night Lights with no understanding of football.

(Thanks for the suggestion, Brian!)

Also reviewed at: Bookshelves of Doom, Presenting Lenore, and the Wake County Libraries blog.