(Grodstein, Lauren) Lauren Grodstein is the author of four previous works of fiction, including the New York Times bestselling novel A Friend of the Family, which was a Washington Post Best Book Pick, a New York Times Editor’s Pick, a BookPage Best Book, and an Indie Next Pick. She teaches creative writing at Rutgers University. In her novel, Our Short Story (Algonquin), a dying mother struggles to play out her last days in the “right” way for her son, but wrestles with the knowledge that the only thing she cannot bring herself to do for him—let his estranged father become a permanent part of his life—is the thing he needs from her the most. With heart-wrenching poignancy, unexpected wit, and mordant humor, Grodstein presents an unforgettable story about parenthood, sacrifice, and life itself.
