The Rich Part of Life

“[A] poignant story about sons and fathers and the push-me, pull-me nature of relationships . . . Kokoris has an ear for how people talk and think.” — The Chicago Tribune

Teddy Pappas is an eleven-year-old boy forced into maturity before his time. He lives with his younger brother and their eccentric Civil War historian father, a man more comfortable with discussing Confederate footwear than what kind of day his sons had. Their lives have been quiet since Teddy's mother died in a tragic car accident. On the one-year anniversary of her death, Teddy's stoic father plays his wife's favorite lottery numbers in a tender, uncharacteristic act. When it turns out that the family holds the $190 million winning ticket, their world is instantly transformed.

Seemingly overnight, a host of colorful characters demands their attention, including Teddy's hilarious aunt and uncle, a beautiful divorcée, a desperate former soap opera star, and a menacing stranger who threatens the very core of the family. As events spiral out of control, the family struggles to discover what “the rich part of life” really is.

Creating the perfect balance of humor and pathos, Jim Kokoris takes us on an unforgettable journey through the ups and downs of this revelation of unexpected wealth.

“Mr. Kokoris's talent is evident on every page.” —Howard Bahr, author of The Black Flower and The Year of Jubilo

“Jim Kokoris has created the rarest of literary gems— a narrator who is pure of heart yet entirely authentic.” —T. Greenwood, author of Nearer than the Sky and Breathing Water

“A hilarious gem . . . A wonderful comic novel on a par with Richard Russo.” —Richard Rushfield, author of On Spec