BONITA AVENUE is a sprawling saga of sex, family strife and conflict. The novel, originally published in Peter Buwalda’s native Holland in 2010, was a well-received sensation that sold more than 300,000 copies and was shortlisted for a dozen literary prizes, ultimately winning five. It took until 2014 for the book to appear in an English translation when it published in England. Now it makes its American debut, with Buwalda drawing comparisons to great American authors like Phillip Roth and Jonathan Franzen.

"BONITA AVENUE is a sprawling saga of sex, family strife and conflict.... a rewarding novel to read and ponder."

Whether in Holland or the United States, dysfunctional families are fodder for many entertaining novels. The protagonist of BONITA AVENUE is Siem Sigerius, a math genius, jazz-loving university professor, former judo champion and Renaissance man. Obviously Sigerius can be an intimidating figure, and is one of a trio of characters who narrate the story. In addition to Sigerius, the plot unfolds through the words of his stepdaughter, Joni, and her boyfriend, Aaron. These three individuals are all very different and offer readers divergent views on the ethical issues that arise in the story. The plot thickens when Sigerius has an affair with a student that ends because he is unwilling to leave his wife. Suddenly alone, he turns to computer pornography for companionship. While surfing the web, he discovers that his own stepdaughter, the aforementioned Joni, is the star of one of the websites he frequents.

It is not unusual for epic novels to often use actual historical events as a plot mechanism. Here, it is the Enschede fireworks depot explosion, occurring in Holland in May 2000. Twenty-three people, including four firefighters, died in the fire and subsequent explosions. Nearly a thousand were injured and 400 homes destroyed. Despite this being an ongoing theme, Buwalda keeps the focus of his audience on the various disasters in his characters’ lives. Readers need to pay attention to the movements in time throughout the novel. Sometimes who is narrating and where you are in the chronology of the story can be difficult. But there is something about the book and the questions it asks about human nature and life that make it a thoughtful and provocative literary work.

All of us, whether we wish to acknowledge it or not, have experienced schadenfreude, when a family whose life is seemingly perfect collapses into scandal and disgrace. That is the Sigerius family portrayed on the pages of BONITA AVENUE, which requires attention and tolerance since some of the subject matter may be disquieting to certain readers. But, in the end, it is a rewarding novel to read and ponder.