Mother for Dinner

A Novel

By: Shalom Auslander

Narrated by: Shalom Auslander

By the author of Foreskin's Lament, a novel of identity, tribalism, and mothers.

Seventh Seltzer has done everything he can to break from the past, but in his overbearing, narcissistic mother's last moments he is drawn back into the life he left behind. At her deathbed, she whispers in his ear the two words he always knew she would: "Eat me."

This is not unusual, as the Seltzers are Cannibal-Americans, a once proud and thriving ethnic group, but for Seventh, it raises some serious questions, both practical and emotional. Of practical concern, his dead mother is six-foot-two and weighs about 450 pounds. Even divided up between Seventh and his 11 brothers, that's a lot of red meat. Plus Second keeps kosher, Ninth is vegan, First hated her, and Sixth is dead. To make matters worse, even if he can wrangle his brothers together for a feast, the Can-Am people have assimilated, and the only living Cannibal who knows how to perform the ancient ritual is their Uncle Ishmael, whose erratic understanding of their traditions leads to conflict.

Seventh struggles with his mother's deathbed request. He never loved her, but the sense of guilt and responsibility he feels - to her and to his people and to his "unique cultural heritage" - is overwhelming. His mother always taught him he was a link in a chain, thousands of people long, stretching back hundreds of years. But, as his brother First says, he's getting tired of chains.

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.

©2020 Shalom Auslander (P)2020 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Auslander uses his signature dark humor to brilliantly satirize tribalism in America...Graphic situations abound; even the characters are revolted, while, through their often ludicrous stories, Auslander explores the sense of otherness and the value of diversity. This could be a portrait of any ethnic group that has been consumed by America, though, in this case, it’s unclear who is devouring whom.” (Booklist)

"Auslander...turns his taboo-shattering satiric gaze to cannibalism in this outrageous, salty take on contemporary culture...[a] riotous dissection of cultural formation and a community’s hunger for meaning." (Publishers Weekly)

"Maintaining tradition becomes all-consuming in Shalom Auslander's novel... Mother for Dinner ... turns a jaundiced eye toward ethnic identity and the burdens of tradition as they concern a different oppressed minority group...jokes are dependably good.” (The Wall Street Journal)

Loved it

An innovative, critical and humorous yet serious look into identity, heritage, etheniticity and shared histories. If you like Auslander's work, you won't be disappointed. By creating a fictitious (or maybe not?) "Cannibal-American" society of immigrants, he manages to take a critical deep dive into ethnic polarization in society while maintaining a light atmosphere all throughout the story, while managing to escape the "for Jews only" vibe of his other work. I believe everyone can find some of their own family in this book.
I also find the way he narrates his own work excellent, unlike many self-narrating authors.

Great Satire

Shalom Auslander’s latest novel, Mother for Dinner, is a satiric masterpiece, worthy of Voltaire and Diderot. For anyone with a deep knowledge of Jewish ritual and history, this book is a hilarious take. By using the fictional religion of cannibals, Auslander produces a characteristically comedic romp. All of Auslander’s novels and short stories are worth exploring, and this one is one of his best.

Funniest, wildest, craziest stuff I have ever listened to.

This book may be the best I satire I have ever read (listened to).

I have never come across a work so brilliantly adapt at skewering ethnocentrism, ethnic narcissism and out and out racism and bigotry so thoroughly and hilariously. I did not think that Auslander was capable of toping his 2012 novel Hope: A Tragedy, but I think he may have.

Everyone who wants to understand just how preposterous so many parts of American culture have become as well as the terrible weight that many people feel compelled to impose upon themselves. Auslander does all while making the reader (listener) laugh so hard that soiling oneself or hyperventilation remain a constant possibility.

Funnier and smarter than I would have thought possible. Should be read by anyone who loves great comedy and intelligent commentary through nearly perfect storytelling. Auslander is the ****!

A great cynical view of the great melting pot

Cynical view of the great melting pot for everyone not just one label that we give ourselves. The Reader is not the best but does a good job.

An absolute riot

Delicious, so fantastically delicious in fact, I might just come back for seconds.

A veritable tour de force of story telling and narration.

brilliant but wierd

brilliant novel about prejudice, political correctness and a host of other issues. Not for everyone but i loved it.

Tedious

Determination got me to the end. I was anticipating a moment when I could feel it was clever and wickedly funny. In vain, alas. It slogged and slogged. Might have been effective at one-quarter the length, but as is, lots better uses of time out there.

weird and entertaining

a wonderful and entertaining book covering an unusual family and culture. I enjoyed it very much.

a deep delve into an unknown culture

Shalom takes his personal upbringing through a culture that was unpleasant and flipped it into something unknown but the book itself leaves you guessing what's going to come next! I personally couldn't stop laughing/listening to this dark comedy. wasn't the greatest fan of the ending but still enjoyed it nonetheless.