Signal Fires by Dani Shapiro

SIGNAL FIRES by Dani Shapiro is an absolutely beautiful book full of reflection about families and the meaning of life. Shaprio, a best-selling author of several other novels and memoirs, shares the story of the Wilf family: father and doctor Ben, wife and mother Mimi, and children Sarah and Theo. They live in Avalon, a suburban town in New York State and are neighbors to the Shenkmans: the husband has no first name and struggles with anger issues; Alice, the wife, is lonely, but strong. Their son, Waldo, is as unique as his name, interested in the stars, infinity, and, ultimately, astrophysics. The lives of these characters are intertwined (“maybe all of them are simply a chorus of souls, light touching light”) over five decades from 1970 to the present although the story is told in a non-linear fashion beginning with a fatal car crash in 1985. Despite the impact of death, guilt, and secrets, the novel is surprisingly comforting: “The wheeling stars. The ancient shapes. They made him feel cozy and safe, as if he were under a vast blanket.” SIGNAL FIRES received a starred review from Booklist (“Like creating an intricate origami puzzle”). Highly recommended.