A Children's Bible by Lydia Millet

This book is one of two books on the New York Times Best Books of 202 list that I am not entirely sure that I completely understand. The allegory aspect becomes clear, but there is very dark humor afoot in this novel. The book opens with a reunion of parents who knew each other in college, renting a big house on the beach in a seemingly idyllic setting. Evie is the narrator, and she and her little brother, Jack are among the many children who are subjected to the group of grown-ups who spend most of their time drinking and behaving in ways that inspire shame and dread in their children, which leads to them trying to keep their distance. The adults are “a cautionary tale,” observes Evie. On this, we can all agree. It is cringe worthy. Then along comes a big storm, a storm to end all storms. The parents do move to action, but it is all too little too late. Rather than running for their lives, they are boarding up the windows. They fail to grasp that the world is changing in dangerous and fundamental ways and that in order to survive, they too are going to have to change dramatically. The kids realize this and flee, but they are ill equipped to manage on their own, and a serious of unfortunate events occur. The bottom line is that there are many incomvenient truths to be faced and dealt with, or the next generation is going to be left with more than they can be reasonably expected to cope with. Powerful, frightening, and occasionally sweet.