This is a story about hope, against all odds. 
 Solomon Kugel is an optimist, despite his best efforts to be otherwise. He is obsessed with death and dying, keeps notebooks filled with his ideal last words, and struggles with life. Who among us don't struggle with it a little, right? Well, Kugel's problems put all of ours to shame. 
 Shalom Auslander writes with tragic humor. Although I certainly laughed, I almost felt guilty for doing it, constantly looking over my shoulder for holocaust survivors. Auslander toes the line more than once in this book, and I feel the need to say that the humor may not be for everyone. 
 I loved the style of writing. It flowed the way thoughts do, working on several ideas at once. And I loved that there was so much more going on in this story than what first appeared. 
 Auslander has so much to say about family, loyalty, and above all, hope. 
 FIRST READS GIVEAWAY