Apocalypse for Beginners

Finished January 9
Apocalypse for Beginners by Nicolas Dickner, translated by Lazer Lederhendler
I loved this book. It is written from the point of view of a young man, Mickey Bauermann, but focused on Hope Randall. Hope is from a family that is genetically predisposed to focus on the end of the world. As each family member goes through puberty they also become focused on a particular date as the end of the world. When that date is reached and world continues, they descend into madness. When her conceived date arrives, Hope's mother Ann decides she must head west from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. They only make is as far as Rivière-du-Loup before their car gives out. It is there that Hope comes into Mickey's life.
As Hope copes with her mother's increasing mental instability, she relies on Mickey and his family for the normalcy of life. Mickey is infatuated with her, but also in awe.
There is much humour and insight here, and above all, compassion.
Hope is well named, and her own wanderings in search of confirmation of her world ending date (July 17, 2001) are very interesting.
I highly recommend this book.