The Genius of the World

From Princeton, N.J., to Berkeley, Calif., and a Buddhist ashram in San Francisco, Lichtenstein's slow-moving memoir-style debut novel chronicles the emotional dynamics of a mid-20th-century Jewish family. Alternating between the first-person perspectives of college-age Phoebe Stein, middle child and family peacemaker; her grandfather Abbey, Nobel-winning physicist and authoritative family patriarch; and her older brother, 22-year-old Ira, who, as Phoebe informs the reader in the first chapter, is dying, Lichtenstein weaves a heartfelt but dated tale. In endless back story, the reader learns of Ira's childhood learning disability and inexplicable attraction to the Buddha room in a local museum, of Phoebe's worship of Ira and Abbey's arrogance and long-term extramarital affair with the beautiful Diana. Like many of his '60s contemporaries, Ira searches for meaning in his life through drugs, and rebels against the establishment. When a friend has a bad trip, however, Ira calls the police and gives his real name. As a result, he is arrested and plea-bargained to a private drug-rehab facility. Escaping to San Francisco, Ira meets a group of bluegrass-playing Buddhists who live communally and invite him to join their band and share their religion. Ira at last finds purpose and peace, but his salvation is short-lived when he is diagnosed with a brain tumor. Ira's death and Abbey's redemption are handled movingly, but the overly familiar and tediously detailed story of a dysfunctional family prohibits the reader from engaging emotionally in the lives of the characters. (July)