The Sleeping Father is an acute reflection on modern-day America and its social and political views.
However, it also manages to explore the relationships within a dysfunctional family in a touching and skilful way.
The story revolves around the Schwartzs. Bernard is a dad with serious depression trying to raise his teenage children, Chris and Cathy. Chris is a confused teen who seems to hate the world around him and defends himself with an armour of wisecracks and insults.
Cathy is also confused, but it's her religion that's bothering her. Things change dramatically in the Schwartz household when Bernard falls into a coma and the parent and child roles are swapped. Although the subject matter sounds schmaltzy, Sharpe's writing and plot make this book more dark and sophisticated than a lot of books on offer at the moment.
The interactions between the key characters, especially between father and son, are surprising and compelling and, although the plot takes turns the reader may not expect or like, this novel is an excellent read.
The Sleeping Father by Matthew Sharpe is published by Sceptre, priced £7.99.
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