Staff Pick
A blistering takedown of the American medical system, So Much for That is the story of one family's terminal illness and the financial ramifications thereof. Shep watches his retirement account flush away while trying to keep his wife alive. Shriver's characters are layered, complex and not always likable, but the situation is dire, and the story is riveting. So much for the "American dream." Recommended By Dianah H., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
Shep Knacker has long saved for the Afterlife, an idyllic retreat in the Third World where his nest egg can last forever. Exasperated that his wife, Glynis, has concocted endless excuses why it's never the right time to go, Shep finally announces he's leaving for a Tanzanian island, with or without her. Yet Glynis has some news of her own: she's deathly ill. Shep numbly puts his dream aside, while his nest egg is steadily devastated by staggering bills that their health insurance only partially covers. Astonishingly, illness not only strains their marriage but saves it.
From acclaimed New York Times bestselling author Lionel Shriver comes a searing, ruthlessly honest novel. Brimming with unexpected tenderness and dry humor, it presses the question: How much is one life worth?