The World Without You, a novel by Joshua Henkin

The World Without You portrays how various family members have dealt with the passing of the youngest and only son in the Frankel family over the past year.  The Frenkels are gathered in the family's vacation home at the year anniversary of Leo who was killed covering the war in Iraq. The parents, of Leo, Marilyn & David have summoned their 3 daughters & daughter-in-law to attend a memorial for Leo.  Before the various family members assemble, the parents agree not to let their daughters & daughter-in-law, mother to Leo's son, know they've decided to separate until after the service.  Does tragedy bring families closer together or does it severe the ties that bind? What are the bonds that make a family?  How do different individuals cope with grief and disappointments?  These are the poignant issues touched on in The World Without You.  It is disappointing these compelling questions are mottled by characters who are shallow, repulsive and self-indulgent.  There is little insight into the marriage of Marilyn & David or the connections between the sisters.  Burying one's child is pure anguish.  Reading about the relationships the sister's had with one another & their partners was onerous.  Thisbe, Leo's widow was moving ahead with her life and I recommend not being mired down in this tedious novel which skimmed the surface of difficult issues.