Oates writes movingly about the breakup of the picture-perfect Mulvaneys which is brought on by a single act of violence. In this rich novel, we meet each family member: the father, Mike, who loves his family and his booze, the mother, Corrine, who raises animals on their somewhat chaotic farm, and the four children—Mikey Jr., Marianne, Patrick, and Judd. Told through the writings of brother Judd, this memoir-like novel explores how each family member learns to forgive, to move on, but not to forget.