Life Affected

by Steven Rosenberg

Growing up can be difficult, and when your parents take you away from your friends and all that is familiar, growing up slides a little closer to impossible. For Douglas Hobart, age ten, son of a hardworking but sometimes enigmatic father and an emotionally fragile mother, growing up took a turn towards the impossible when his family moved to the rural suburbs of Montvale, Maryland. Through the eyes of Douglas, each of the four Hobart children reacts in their own way to the uprooting and the sprawling effects thereafter. With a free-spirited older sister, an attention starved younger brother, and one more little brother “baking in the oven”, Douglas embarks on a journey of self-discovery and emotional evolution. When the worst possible tragedy befalls the Hobart family, the children go their separate ways, both emotionally and physically. Douglas finally frees himself from the tragic associations of Montvale by attending a small western Pennsylvania college, where an affable theatre student, two Swedish lesbians, a wealthy but rebellious New York debutante, and an increasingly unhealthy relationship with his sister send him hurdling in unforeseen directions. In the end, a great many lives have been affected in ways that could not be predicted, and in Douglas’ mind, it all started with the family move.

348 pages, Paperback

First published October 17, 2011

About the author

Steven Rosenberg was born in Washington, DC and raised in the suburbs of Maryland. As an adult he moved to New York City where he curently lives with his wife and two sons. In addition to writing novels, Steven enjoys painting and often combines the two in the creative process.

Reviews

[Leah Iannone · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the kind of book where you're reading along thinking okay this isn't bad...not perfect but it's okay. And then all of sudden you feel like the author said, "I don't feel like writing anymore" and a new non-writer and ridiculous person writes the rest of the book. 50%/ of this book was pretty decent actually, and then it got totally unbelievable, bizarre, creepy, and bad. Don't read this book.

[Stephen Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intense... but in a good way. Disturbing subject matter is handled in a mature, engaging manner. The ending is impressionistic and will keep you wondering long after you've finished the book.