Improvement

Many distinct characters come together through various connected stories in this smartly woven tale from Joan Silber. You begin by getting to know Kiki, an eccentric woman who used to live in Turkey and was married to a dealer of beautiful rugs. Now settled in the East Village of Manhattan, Kiki takes a particular interest in her niece Reyna and Reyna’s young son, Oliver. Kiki worries about Reyna’s commitment to her new boyfriend, whom she visits at Riker’s Island every week. From this story grow many other subplots that will draw you into a cigarette smuggling ring across state lines, examining how one act of resistance can splinter through many lives. A National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist (and for good reason), Silber’s novel expertly and intelligently weaves multiple characters together to explore themes such as connection, conviction, and one very big gesture of kindness.