No Book But the World

January 27, 2014
Cohen’s fifth novel following The Grief of Others, which was long-listed for the Orange Prize, makes a strong addition to the growing field of novels involving revolutionary parenting philosophies. Ava Robbins looks back, after her parents’ deaths, on the permissive upbringing that she and her brother, Freddy, received, based on the ideals of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. She comments, “Much later, in college, when my disillusionment with my father was at its most excruciating... I discovered that the great philosopher, my father’s idol and model, had deposited his own five children in a foundling hospital.” Ava finds her way through the enormous freedom she is given, but Freddy runs greater risks, getting into fights during a brief period at public school and accepting dangerous dares from his friends. Ava realizes Freddy is troubled and possibly autistic, but her parents refuse to acknowledge the fact. In adulthood, following the death of her parents, Ava must decide whether she can or should bring Fred back into her life. Occasionally, Cohen strains to create more mystery than is really needed, but her story’s hard and engaging central questions don’t require suspense to capture the reader. Agent: Barney Karpfinger, Karpfinger Agency.