Model Home

A Novel

By: Eric Puchner

Narrated by: David Colacci

Warren Ziller moved his family to California in search of a charmed life, and to all appearances, he found it: a gated community not far from the beach, amid the affluent splendor of Southern California in the 1980s. But his American dream has been rudely interrupted. Despite their affection for one another - the "slow, jokey, unrehearsed vaudeville" they share at home - Warren; his wife, Camille; and their three children have veered into separate lives, as distant as satellites. Worst of all, Warren has squandered the family's money on a failing real-estate venture.

As Warren desperately tries to conceal his mistake, his family begins to sow deceptions of their own. Camille attributes Warren's erratic behavior to an affair and plots her secret revenge; 17-year-old Dustin falls for his girlfriend's troubled younger sister; teen misanthrope Lyle begins sleeping with a security guard who works at the gatehouse; and 11-year-old Jonas becomes strangely obsessed with a kidnapped girl.

When tragedy strikes, the Zillers are forced to move into one of the houses in Warren's abandoned development in the middle of the desert. Marooned in a less-than-model home, each must reckon with what's led them there and who's to blame - and whether they can summon the forgiveness needed to hold the family together.

Subtly ambitious, brimming with the humor and unpredictability of life, Model Home delivers penetrating insights into the American family and into the imperfect ways we try to connect, from a writer "uncannily in tune with the heartbreak and absurdity of domestic life." (Los Angeles Times).

©2010 David Bianculli (P)2010 Tantor

Critic reviews

“Heartrending.... With careful attention to nuanced and fractured perspectives, Puchner teases a fragile beauty out of the loneliness that separates the members of this family.” ( Publishers Weekly)

Irreverent, funny, amazing writing

I had just read the authors more recent book and wanted more, so I got this one. It did not disappoint. The writing style is so unique and engaging. Reminds me of Douglas Coupland. The book does end with love, not cynicism, which I appreciate. If you like books that lean into the good and bad of pop culture, you will also love how this one is a snap shot of California during a particular time. Really love this author and will look out for more from him.

The worst book I've listened to EVER.

This author has managed to take a story that would be, could be tender, emotional, and has created characters that I want to like. But this writer doesn't seem to know how to do anything but write trash. There's so much swearing and crudeness and absolutely nothing to lighten the subject matter for a little relief from the utter hopelessness. I can't help but think that this author checked into a broken down cabin in the woods, after some terrible tragedy, drank himself into a stupor and wrote the entire book while having himself a pity party.