Stealing Dad" is pretty much what the blurb states, what would happen if an extended group of half siblings stole their Dad's corpse?

I can't quite remember if I ever managed to read any of Sofka Zinovieff’s non- fiction books but I have wanted to since I read "The House on Paradise Street" and "Putney" was one of my standout books of 2020 . I had high hopes for "Stealing Dad" , whilst hoping it didn't take me to quite the dark places that "Putney" did and it absolutely did not disappoint.

I have lived in Greece and Dora and Iris's reaction to their father dying felt completely authentic. As did the complicated relationships of the siblings. There was a perfect balance of light and shade, the events that led up to the final resolution could be described as a caper , but it was never completely ridiculous.

This was like most of Zinovieff's books inspired by her life so it's always going to come across as true, what is striking though is there is also no rancor. Add this to your summer readlist.

what would you do if you werent allowed to your dads funeral. well, perhaps not this but i loved reading what this group of blended family members did do.
there is wit and humor to this book. and lots of thoughtful and thought provoking deeper parts. and of course lots of emotional questions and answers to it. this story was so much more than the act itself. it was about all the bits in between, before and after, it was about the family, love, life and death. i felt all the more closer to it as Sofka writing makes it so familiar and also that she knows how these dynamics work. and after reading up and seeing she married Greek it made it even better to see her write how she did. she knew.

An over-powering Greek dad, various children and a death. I did have to do a double take as I thought I had read this beforehand - but there is a similar set up in Rachel Joyce's new book The Homemade God. But not to worry as this tale has it's own cast of characters; siblings, half siblings, step mothers, mothers, husbands and of course, the Dad.

There is humour and desperation as the family balances their needs with the apparent last wishes of their father and the grief stricken step mother. A wild caper ensues - a jolly good read.

This a great story of a blended family and that contains coming together as one to take matters in their own hand in the most witty sharply funny way...loved the setting, the dialogue and premise great read all round