cover image The Grandmothers' Club

The Grandmothers' Club

Alan Cheuse. Penguin Books, $6.95 (336pp) ISBN 978-0-14-010484-4

In her twilight years, Minnie Bloch tells her life story, mainly about her son son, Manny, a rabbi who became a shipping magnate and eventually suffered a downfall. PW wrote that the tale ""overflows with compassion and a profound sadness.'' (January)