A novel of identity, tribalism, and mothers: an outrageously tasty comedy.

SUNDAY TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2021

‘Outrageous satire . . . extremely funny, weirdly touching’ – Guardian
‘A work of genius’ – Scotsman
‘Close-to-the-knuckle farce with a big beating heart’ – Daily Mail

This is the story of an unusual family. Though they are nothing like yours, you will recognize them. They are the last Cannibal-Americans. And they have a problem.

When their mother dies, twelve children gather to dispose of the body in the traditional manner . . . by eating it. But can they follow the ancient rituals of consumption? Is their unique cultural heritage worth preserving if it's this gross? And what about dietary requirements - one of them is vegan. Surely it can't be this hard to do the right thing?

Mother for Dinner is a dark comedy about modern life and its many difficulties.

"Bad taste has a purpose in this outrageous satire . . . grotesque, extremely funny, weirdly touching and acute" - Guardian

"Daring, provocative and controversial . . . the outrageous nature of the comedy is done perfectly . . . This is a work of genius" - Scotsman

"I loved [it] . . . I devoured it in one sitting . . . I recommend you dig in" - The Times

"Laugh-out-loud funny . . Underlying the dark humour, it is, dare I say, a tender tale" - Financial Times

"A terrifically funny book . . . Close-to-the-knuckle farce with a big beating heart" - Daily Mail

"A grotesque family comedy . . . Written in fast-moving, deadpan prose" - New Stateman

"[A] laugh-out-loud, gravely serious satire" - Economist, The Best Books of 2021

"Auslander is an enfant even more terrible than Philip Roth . . . it provides plenty of dark laughs and inspired comic riffs" - TLS

"A virtuoso humorist, and a brave one" - New York Times Book Review

"You’re unlikely to read anything funnier this year" - Big Issue

"Auslander’s greatest strength is the zip and ping of his dialogue . . . uproariously funny" - Literary Review

"Brilliantly written, often hilarious but also deeply thoughtful" - Jewish Chronicle

"Portnoy-era Roth couldn't hold a candle to Shalom Auslander" - Entertainment Weekly

"Blends tragedy, comedy and satire in the mold of Samuel Beckett and Franz Kafka." - The Wall Street Journal

"Auslander turns his taboo-shattering satiric gaze to cannibalism in this outrageous, salty take on contemporary culture . . . more effective is the riotous dissection of cultural formation and a community's hunger for meaning" - Publishers Weekly

"A book that’s funny enough not just to make you nod to show you got the joke, but to make you laugh and laugh" - The Critic

"Irreverent and written with Auslander's incomparable humor, Mother for Dinner is an exploration of legacy, assimilation, the things we owe our families, and the things we owe ourselves" - The Jewish Book World