Signal Fires by Dani Shapiro

In 1985, when teenager Theo and his older sister Sarah are involved in a car crash in which the other passenger, Misty Zimmerman, dies, the lies they tell that evening affect them for the rest of their lives. In Signal Fires, the reader follows Theo, Sarah, their father Ben, neighbor Shenkman and his young son, Waldo over the next thirty-five years. Sarah moves to California, marries, and has a extremely successful career in Hollywood, yet she is an alcoholic. Theo wanders the world until he finds a career as a chef that makes him happy. Shenkman and Waldo, meanwhile, struggle with their relationship because Waldo doesn't live up to Shenkman's expectations. It's been fifteen years since we've had a novel by Dani Shapiro and I'm glad she's returned to fiction. Give to readers who enjoyed What Could be Saved, Ask Again, Yes, and The Dearly Beloved.