At first I thought this was a YA book, but as I read further I appreciated the subtlety woven throughout the telling of the story of Isaac and his friends and family, which made it extremely adult.

The clever device used was the way the story was told as a biography with the highlights of Isaac's life being major events in US History: The sinking of a battleship, a "war" at school, Atomic Bomb test, the "war" with AIDS and so on. And woven throughout is Isaac's loving relationship with his sister, Agnes, his dearest friend and lover, Bo, and the many people who pass through this strange, interesting, creative life.

It's difficult to go more deeply into the story without spoiling the many "catches" in Isaac's life (almost 100 years!) and the adventures of this seemingly simple man whose excitement starts as a child under an old metal bathtub.

I will read this book again and look for things I may have missed during his "strange" yet exciting life.