ALEXANDER AND THE WONDERFUL, MARVELOUS, EXCELLENT, TERRIFIC NINETY DAYS An Almost Completely Honest Account of What Happened to Our Family When Our Youngest Son, His Wife, and Their Baby, Their Toddler, and Their Five-Year-Old Came to Live With Us for Three Months

Judith Viorst wrote a classic picture book about Alexander's bad day. Now he's grown and raising three young children, and he's temporarily moved home with his mom and dad while his own home is being renovated. His mother describes the horror and humor of intergenerational cohabitation. Though she's tender about her grandchildren and has judgments about today's "hyper-parenting," her writing escapes being preachy or saccharine as she offers vivid details of daily life and pokes fun at her own "inner fascist." Laural Merlington keeps up with the fast-paced living and fast-paced writing. The irony in Merlington's voice is exquisite as she relates stories of Viorst's long-term marriage and the exuberance and agony of grandparenting. S.W. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/ MAY 08]