George, a widower living on the grounds of the Boca Raton Resort & Club, attends his golf buddy’s funeral where the family has failed to show and the check to the mortuary has bounced. George is commandeered to cover the expenses even as he struggles with his late wife’s medical bills and his mounting credit card debt. In an effort to get repaid by the estate, George learns he’s living on the edge of his friendships. Merely skating on the surface. What can George learn about his late friend’s life so that he doesn’t repeat the same mistakes?
Brad Graber writes novels because he grew up in a family where no one listened to him—so he made up stories about them. Boca by Moonlight is Brad’s fourth book and his third novel. Born and raised in New York City, Brad’s earlier novels, The Intersect, After the Fall, and his collection of over seventy essays, What’s That Growing in My Sour Cream? have each won multiple awards and garnered rave reviews. Brad currently lives in Phoenix with his husband, Jeff. He writes a monthly blog: There, I Said It!
- George portrays a certain exterior façade to the world. How does George’s exterior differ from his emotional interior? Is George aware of the conflict? Are there examples in the novel that highlight that differing perspective?
- What about George’s experience resonated with you? Are you aware of other widowers who are struggling after losing their wives? What specifically does George seem to be struggling with? What about Herbie and Benny? How are their struggles similar?
- George is dependent on his wife to navigate the relationship with his children. How would you describe George’s relationship with his children? Is there an expectation today that men are more involved in rearing children? Is that a generational shift?
- George’s two buddies, Herbie and Benny, have failed marriages. What insight do these two characters bring to the story? How do you think their experiences shape George’s perspective?
- When Willy’s family fails to show at the funeral, George and his buddies are forced to cover the expenses. They then start the process of trying to find the executor of the estate. Have you ever been to a funeral where family members failed to show? What were some of the reasons? Have you ever been involved with working through an estate? Or searching for an executor?
- George comes to see his deceased wife as the glue that has connected him with his children. What were your thoughts on that circumstance? How is the maternal instinct different than the paternal instinct? What does a father bring to the relationship with a child that is different than a mother?
- The author introduces a series of characters as George goes on the journey to find the executor. Many of the relationships are with the opposite sex. Some are intimate; others casual. How did you react to the couplings? Is it different for men vs. women?
- Eleanor is a complicated character. Describe her strengths and weaknesses. Do you see her as a good match for George?
Sylvia brings an element of buzz to the story. How would you describe her role in moving the plot along? Do you see her as a good match for George? How would you describe her friendship with Eleanor? Do you recognize that “kind” of friendship? - The story is set in Boca Raton, Florida. Have you ever been there? What kind of reputation does the city have among your friends? Is it someplace that you might visit?
- George ultimately comes to a decision about his life and opts for a new way forward. Why do you think George has decided to reach out to Carole?
- Did you find Boca by Moonlight to be entertaining? Were there moments of recognition, where you shared a similar thought or experience with one of the characters or situations?
Brad’s latest book is here! A witty and insightful commentary on everyday life which he has shared with readers since the creation of his blog: There, I Said It! Learn why there’s always a fly in the deli. Why you and your spouse keep walking into each other. If the people on Facebook are really your friends. These are among the many topics Brad has covered over the years. You’re bound to recognize your own life in the over seventy humorous essays that comprise What’s That Growing in My Sour Cream?
Brad Graber writes novels because he grew up in a family where no one ever listened to him—so he made up stories about them. Born and raised in New York City, Brad obtained a B.A. in Biology from the State University of New York at Buffalo and an M.H.A. from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. A former healthcare executive, Brad has held a number of management positions and been a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a Certified Medical Executive through Medical Group Management Association. Though he no longer works in healthcare, he continues to volunteer with local non-profits. What’s That Growing in My Sour Cream is Brad’s third book. He also writes contemporary fiction. His debut novel, The Intersect, and his second novel, After the Fall, have both won multiple awards and garnered rave reviews. His third novel, Boca by Moonlight, is scheduled for release in late 2020. Brad currently lives in Phoenix with his husband Jeff. He writes a monthly blog: There, I Said It!
- Why do you think the author named the book: What’s That Growing in My Sour Cream? Is there more than one meaning for the title?
- There are over 70 essays on modern life in the collection? Which piece was your favorite? How did it relate to you and your life experiences?
- Brad is a big fan of Erma Bombeck and Dick Cavett. Were there any essays in the collection that offered a nod to these two wits?
- Were all the pieces funny? Which pieces did you think were poignant? Which pieces sad?
- Did the collection provide you with a better understanding of the author’s point-of-view? His life? What he writes about?
- After reading the collection, are you curious about the author’s contemporary fiction? How his perspective on life plays out in his characters?
- Did you enjoy learning about the author’s life through the collection? Did you discover a connection with the author that surprised you?
- Most authors are shy and reserved. Did What’s That Growing in My Sour Cream? offer a unique perspective on an author’s life? How so?
- Were there other topics had you hoped the author might cover in the collection? Specifically, which other topics were you hoping to see?
- Did you find What’s That Growing in My Sour Cream? to be entertaining? Were there moments of recognition, where you shared a similar thought or experience with the author?
Rikki has a secret. She can’t remember her mother who died a few years earlier. Being raised by her grandmother in Queens, every time she asks Rita a question, the older woman refuses to discuss the matter. Desperate to learn the truth, Rikki finds a hidden album with family photographs. Who is the boy in the picture with her mother? Determined to unlock the mystery, she embarks on a journey from New York City to Toledo, then on to Detroit and Phoenix to meet Harry, a writer who is struggling with his own issues of identity.
Brad Graber writes novels because he grew up in a family where no one ever listened to him—so he made up stories about them. Born and raised in New York City, Brad obtained a B.A. in Biology from the State University of New York at Buffalo and an M.H.A. from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. A former healthcare executive, Brad has held a number of management positions and been a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a Certified Medical Executive through Medical Group Management Association. Though he no longer works in healthcare, he continues to volunteer with local non-profits. What’s That Growing in My Sour Cream is Brad’s third book. He also writes contemporary fiction. His debut novel, The Intersect, and his second novel, After the Fall, have both won multiple awards and garnered rave reviews. His third novel, Boca by Moonlight, is scheduled for release in late 2020. Brad currently lives in Phoenix with his husband Jeff. He writes a monthly blog: There, I Said It!
- Why do you think the author named the novel, After the Fall? Is there more than one meaning for the title?
- The novel is set in the year 2005. What were the clues offered that confirmed the novels time and place?
- Rikki and Rita have a challenging relationship. How would you describe that relationship? Is the tension due to an age gap? Or it there more going on? Did you believe that Rita loved her granddaughter? Were you able to parse her words from her actions?
- Three other characters present in the novel fairly early on. Barbra, Rikki’s friend, Barney, her romantic interest, and Mr. Rosenfeld, her English teacher. How did each character impact Rikki? What did each character have in common? Did either of those characters remind you of your teenage years?
- The author references Theodore Dreiser’s An American Tragedy in the novel. Why do you think he picked that particular novel?
- When we first meet Harry, he’s walking Beetle and runs into Lil. How would you describe Harry’s personality? There seems to be a push/pull going on between these two characters. Did it make you curious as to where the relationship might be heading?
- Rikki goes on a journey from NYC to Michigan, and then on to Phoenix. At what point in the book did you make the connection between the two stories? Were there any clues that triggered the connection for you?
- Sammy and Evelyn appear at the midway point of the novel. What was similar about those two characters? How did they fit into the author’s message?
- There are two characters in the novel that are no longer alive. Did you find yourself captured by their stories? Were you surprised about their fates?
- The author refers to bisexuality as being “more about the person” than the “genitalia”. What did you think of that explanation?
- At the end of the novel, Rita reveals her true intent. Was there anything in this character’s back story which made that reveal resonate for you?
- Were you surprised by the end of the novel?
- Of all the characters, which was your favorite? Why?
- If After the Fall were to be cast as a movie, which actors would you envision to play the various roles?
Set against Arizona’s political and cultural climate of 2010, The Intersect weaves together the lives of disparate characters striving to survive in a world where the strongest link, and most lasting connection, is made among strangers.
When Dave Greenway and Charlie Huff move to Phoenix for Dave’s new job, cracks appear in the relationship as Dave struggles with his career decision and Charlie presses to buy a new house. Nearby, Daisy Ellen Lee, a spry septuagenarian, breaks her hip. Isolated from family, and with no real friends, she discovers that navigating the healthcare system alone is a daunting experience. Across town, Anna Garrett, a psychic, prefers channeling the dead to dealing with the living. She hires Ernie Gonzalez, a local handyman, to help install security lights. Ernie’s known since childhood that he was brought into the United States illegally from Mexico, yet in his heart, he believes himself to be an American. Henry is a teenager living on the streets, kicked out of his home when he reveals to his parents that he’s gay. He’s turned to petty crime to get by. Bonnie Devlon is the physical therapist who works with Daisy. Bonnie has a past littered with one-night stands. She’s loving, but doesn’t trust that she can be loved. Jack and Enid Lee are recent retirees from Michigan and relatives of Daisy’s. Upon learning about Daisy’s circumstances, they intercede to manage her financial affairs.
Quickly the story unfolds, as characters meet, secrets are revealed, and lives are changed.
Brad Graber writes novels because he grew up in a family where no one ever listened to him—so he made up stories about them. Born and raised in New York City, Brad obtained a B.A. in Biology from the State University of New York at Buffalo and an M.H.A. from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. A former healthcare executive, Brad has held a number of management positions and been a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a Certified Medical Executive through Medical Group Management Association. Though he no longer works in healthcare, he continues to volunteer with local non-profits. What’s That Growing in My Sour Cream is Brad’s third book. He also writes contemporary fiction. His debut novel, The Intersect, and his second novel, After the Fall, have both won multiple awards and garnered rave reviews. His third novel, Boca by Moonlight, is scheduled for release in late 2020. Brad currently lives in Phoenix with his husband Jeff. He writes a monthly blog: There, I Said It!