Advanced
Error loading page.
Try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, there may be a network issue, and you can use our self test page to see what's preventing the page from loading.
Learn more about possible network issues or contact support for more help.
Title details for Hope by Andrew Ridker - Available

Hope

A Novel

by Andrew Ridker
Rob Shapiro
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
Borrow Listen to a sample Listen to a sample
1 of 1 copy available
A New York Times Editors' Choice
A Boston Globe, Forward, and Times of Israel Best Book of the Year
“Riotous. . . . Hilarious . . . impeccably written . . . . Intelligent, bighearted, spew-your-gefilte-fish-funny.” —The New York Times Book Review

“A writer with this much talent can take his readers anywhere.” —The Washington Post
“Painfully funny. . . . This rivals Taffy Brodesser-Akner’s Fleishman is in Trouble in its pitch-perfect portrayal of Jewish American life.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“A comedy of (bad) manners. . . . Engaging.” —The Boston Globe
A hilarious and heartfelt novel about a seemingly perfect family in an era of waning American optimism, from the acclaimed author of The Altruists
The year is 2013 and the Greenspans are the envy of Brookline, Massachusetts, an idyllic (and idealistic) suburb west of Boston. Scott Greenspan is a successful physician with his own cardiology practice. His wife, Deb, is a pillar of the community who spends her free time helping resettle refugees. Their daughter, Maya, works at a distinguished New York publishing house and their son, Gideon, is preparing to follow in his father’s footsteps. They are an exceptional family from an exceptional place, living in exceptional times.
But when Scott is caught falsifying blood samples at work, he sets in motion a series of scandals that threatens to shatter his family. Deb leaves him for a female power broker; Maya rekindles a hazardous affair from her youth; and Gideon drops out of college to go on a dangerous journey that will put his principles to the test.
From Brookline to Berlin to the battlefields of Syria, Hope follows the Greenspans over the course of one tumultuous year as they question, and compromise, the values that have shaped their lives. But in the midst of their disillusionment, they’ll discover their own capacity for resilience, connection, and, ultimately, hope.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    July 11, 2023

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9780593742297
      • File size: 397670 KB
      • Duration: 13:48:28

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      Starred review from May 15, 2023
      Ridker’s slashing satire of upper-middle-class life (after The Altruists) turns on the foibles of a seemingly charmed Jewish family in Brookline, Mass. Scott Greenspan is a well-respected cardiac surgeon. His wife, Deb, is known for her good work on various school and synagogue activities. Their daughter, Maya, works at a prestigious New York publishing house, while her younger brother, Gideon, is a biology major at Columbia and hopes to become a doctor. The Greenspans’ perfect facade is shattered after Scott is caught falsifying data on a clinical trial. In the wake of this scandal, Deb moves in with her lesbian lover, who runs a network of military-inspired charter schools; Maya resumes an unhealthy relationship with the high school English teacher who seduced her when she was 17; and Gideon drops out of college, goes to Israel on a Birthright tour, and refuses to return home from the Middle East. Meanwhile, Scott fights to restore his reputation, win back Deb, and put his family back together. Ridker’s account of characters in free fall is painfully funny, filled with cringeworthy scenes that expose them at their most needy. Yet he never loses sight of their basic humanity. This rivals Taffy Brodesser-Akner’s Fleishman is in Trouble in its pitch-perfect portrayal of Jewish American life.

    • Library Journal

      June 10, 2024

      Ridker's second novel (following The Altruist) follows the Greenspans of Brookline, MA, a seemingly perfect middle-class Jewish family whose lives unravel before their eyes. Scott is a highly respected and successful cardiologist. However, after his lonely and intrusive mother loses her life savings in a telephone scam, he falsifies data in a drug trial to recoup her losses. Scott's rash actions prompt his already disillusioned wife, Deb, to leave him for a romantic relationship with a woman. Their daughter, Maya, refuses her devoted boyfriend's marriage proposal and rekindles a disastrous affair with her high school English teacher. Gideon Greenspan, once the model son, decides he no longer wants to be a physician like his father, so he drops out of college and goes to Israel to find himself. Rob Shapiro's absorbing narration brings out the foibles and emotions of the characters. Listeners will appreciate seeing how each of the Greenspans grows from their mistakes as they make their way toward a delicately hopeful ending. VERDICT Ridker's exploration of a contemporary Jewish American family plagued by poor choices resonates. An excellent fit for fans of Taffy Brodesser-Akner's Fleishman Is in Trouble.--Ilka Gordon

      Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

Loading
Make a recommendation