It was supposed to be a much-needed break from their lives in Brooklyn. Β Cecilie, a New York Times reporter, and Reuben, a former NPR host and now a stay-at-home dad, and their baby son traveled to Denmark to stay with her mother and to reconnect with her friends. Β From the start, this trip was anything but restorative. Cecilia learned her former lover had been diagnosed with a fatal illness and refused to seek help. Β Reuben was drawn into a weird relationship with Mikkel, one of Cecilie's friends.Β
SOMETHING ROTTEN, a novel by Andrew Lipstein, is a character-driven story. Β Cecilie and Reuben are well-depicted characters whose stories are told in their voices.Β
They are both introspective and deep thinkers. Β Early on, there were reasons for suspicions to develop and grow. Β Cecilie began to wonder who she could trust. Β Had her friends changed since she moved to New York? Β Or had she changed?
Well-plotted and filled with complex relationships, the author gives readers a clear look into a contemporary marriage. While the characters might not be entirely likeable, they are interesting and their actions can be surprising.
Unique and profound, SOMETHING ROTTEN is well worth reading.
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