OFF TO JOIN THE CIRCUS

After more than 60 years, a woman reconnects with her estranged brother and his family.

Kalb’s novel opens in a festive mood: Howard Pinsky, the patriarch of a Washington, D.C.–area family, has just turned 75. It’s on that day that his older sister, Adele, whom he hasn’t seen in decades, calls him out of the blue. His first reaction is bafflement: “What does one say to a sister one hasn’t seen or spoken to in sixty-four years, he thought hazily.” Adele tells Howard that she’d like to visit, and the novel traces how her presence influences several members of the family in the days and weeks that follow. It’s an eventful time for the family, with one grandchild about to become bar mitzvah and the impending birth of another. Not everyone is thrilled to have Adele there—she alienates Howard's wife, Marilyn, not long after they meet. Gradually, Adele begins providing advice to Howard’s children and grandchildren. She’s also prone to dropping hints to the parts of her life when she was out of touch, as in, “You know, I had a stint on local television. Back in the seventies. I covered all kinds of stories.” She also alludes to vanishing from her brother’s life by saying, “Wouldn’t you want to escape from West Orange?” It’s unclear if there’s some secret underlying some of these events, especially Adele’s leaving home in her teens, her interest in reconnecting with Howard, and her treatment of Marilyn. Kalb instead opts for a less conflict-heavy resolution; there are no grim family secrets or shocking revelations to be found here. Kalb does juggle a large cast of characters well, but the stakes don’t have much impact.

An intriguing premise that might have benefited from more heated drama.