The Explanation for Everything

Belief. Fiction often reminds us that people behave in unexpected ways that often seem irrational to others. In her novel, The Explanation for Everything, Lauren Grodstein riffs on the theme of belief in God. Protagonist Andy Waite teaches college biology and is looking for a grant to study the effect of alcohol on the brains of rats. He’s grieving the accidental death of his wife, and struggling to be a better parent. He teaches a course titled “There Is No God,” which has been Andy’s view. Grodstein maintains distance from the subject of belief, siding neither with believers nor with atheists. She presents all characters with flaws and poor behavior. While I felt a stretch in how some characters changed to or away from belief quite quickly, I found the characters interesting and her writing engaging. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase The Explanation for Everything from amazon.com.