The Mandibles is a compelling novel that explores the devastating impact of economic collapse on a single family, revealing the stark realities of a world in which the economy has completely collapsed. Lionel Shriver, the author of the book, skillfully portrays the struggles and triumphs of the Mandible family as they adapt to a new reality in which the luxuries and conveniences they once took for granted no longer exist.

The story begins in the year 2029, at the 97th birthday party of Enola Mandible, the matriarch of the family. The Mandibles are a formerly wealthy family from Brooklyn, consisting of three generations: Enola, her son Douglas, his children Florence and Carter, Douglas's second wife Luella, and their children Avery and Savannah. As the party progresses, the family learns that the U.S. government has defaulted on its debt, sending the economy into a downward spiral.

Shriver masterfully depicts the economic collapse, painting a vivid picture of a world in which the dollar is devalued, inflation skyrockets, and the country is plunged into an economic depression that makes the Great Depression of the 1930s seem like a minor blip. The government is unable to provide basic services, healthcare and education are non-existent, and crime rates soar. The Mandibles are forced to rely on each other and their own resourcefulness to survive, growing food in their backyards, bartering for goods and services, and even resorting to stealing and scavenging.

As the years go by, the Mandibles confront their own mortality and the fragility of their relationships. The economic collapse takes a heavy toll on the family, forcing them to sell their possessions, move out of their homes, and downsize their lifestyles. Avery, the youngest member of the family, dies of an infection that could have been easily treated in a normal economy, while Florence and her husband Esteban lose their jobs and are forced to move in with her parents. Carter, who had been a successful novelist, is unable to get his books published in a market that no longer values literature.

Despite their hardships, the Mandibles remain resilient, determined to survive in a world that has been turned upside down. However, as the novel comes to a close, the family is forced to confront the possibility that the economic collapse may be permanent. The world they once knew is gone, and they must learn to adapt to a new reality.

Shriver's novel is a cautionary tale about the dangers of economic inequality and the need for societies to build resilience in the face of uncertainty. The Mandibles is a powerful and thought-provoking book, and Shriver's masterful writing transports the reader into a world that is at once familiar and terrifying. The Mandibles is a must-read for anyone interested in economics, politics, or social issues, and it is sure to leave a lasting impression on all who read it.

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