Commitment

In "Commitment," a compelling novel by Mona Simpson, single mother Diane Aziz's life unravels after she enters a California state hospital, leaving her children to navigate their own struggles in the 1980s. As her son Walter pursues architecture at UC Berkeley amidst financial challenges, his sister Lina strives for an Ivy League education while working in an ice-cream parlor, and their younger brother Donny gets lost in a world of gaming and drugs. Set against a backdrop of transcontinental movement and the complexities of family duty, this resonant tale explores the impact of a parent's mental health on their children's lives and highlights the invaluable role of friends in times of crisis.