Shriver is the absolute master of cliché.

I say this not because I believe she is some hack, or indeed is a writer of cliché. But, based on her hard-hitting We Need to Talk About Kevin, and her latest So Much for That I see Shriver as able to manipulate cliché, stereotype and formula to make something much much more meaningful.

The story begins with rich in money but not life Sheppard Knack, preparing to up and leave his home for a life less-complicated in a 3rd world country. His plans derail in the worst way when his wife responds to his ultimatum of going with or without her, by telling him she has cancer.

From there we see a heart-felt tale of struggle and survival as Sheppard, supports his wife with her illness. The narration largely hinges on philosophical monologues, so if you’re looking for a fast paced, or dramatic piece, this one isn’t for you.

While the story was very touching and had some very unpredictable twists there is one major letdown with this novel (unlike my usual gossipy self, I’m going to refrain from spoiling the plotline just to vent) - the subplot around Sheppard’s best friend Jackson is just way too much, macabre, contrived as a Shakespearian comedy, and unlikely.

I’d be very interested in what others have to say about that and in the comments section there can be much more spoilage...

So much for that is still an amazing book, in a real league of its own compared to other contemporary novels. I wouldn’t say this was as amazing as Kevin (that book left me stunned for days) but still definitely worth a look.