With wit and humor, this new work from acclaimed author and playwright Meno ("Hairstyles of the Damned") presents a revealing look at anxiety, ambiguity, and the need for complicated answers to complex questions. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Meno (Hairstyles of the Damned) con-tinues to employ his keen observations of human nature, this time exploring the tumultuous landscapes of a contemporary Chicago family. The narrative rotates between members of the Casper family, giving each time and space to dig into their respective quirks. Jonathan, the father, is a scientist caught in a quest for a prehistoric squid and is prone to seizures at the sight of clouds. Madeline, Jonathan's wife, also a scientist, studies the behavior of her murderous lab pigeons and is distressed by the growing distance between family members: elder daughter Amelia is a teenage anticapitalist crusader already becoming weary of the fight; youngest daughter Thisbe's desire to find God is met with much concern from her atheist parents; grandfather Henry's sole desire is to make himself disappear. As the family's preoccupations rattle on and bang up against one another, the recently begun war in Iraq provides background noise and another dimension to the intricate and intimate tale. Meno's handle on the written word is fresh and inviting, conjuring a story that delves deeply into the human heart. (May) Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

There's an old adage in theater to "make 'em laugh before you make 'em cry." In his previous four novels and two story collections (e.g., Hairstyles of the Damned), Meno has demonstrated a rare ability to do so not just once but continually over the course of a story, and he manages to do it again. His new novel chronicles a family of five tortured souls on the verge of total dissolution. Scientist Jonathan, who gets epileptic fits from seeing clouds, has had his life's work scooped by a bitter rival, social scientist Madeline has lost him to his research while hers suffers, daughters Amelia and Thisbe are outcasts struggling to find their place in the world, and grandfather Henry desires only to escape his hellish nursing-home existence. Not exactly knee-slapper material, but somehow there is always slight hope, though no assurance, of transcendence. The text contains more elements of magical realism than Meno's previous work, yet even the human-shaped cloud that Madeline chases for weeks somehow seems real thanks to the note-perfect dialog and narrative. Highly recommended for all public and academic libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 12/09.]-Jim Dwyer, California State Univ., Chico Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information