In Family Pictures, by Sue Miller (Gollancz, £13.95 in UK), the kernel of the story is the effect on a large family of its autistic member, Randall. It is set in America of the 1950s/60s. External events such as Vietnam are touched on but the essential tale is of this family. The conflict between the mother's protectiveness and the psychiatrist father's pride leads to a divorce. Each one of Randall's siblings brings baggage to their relationships and careers that each has to solve in his or her own way. Told from different viewpoints with technical adroitness, and redolent of the small foibles and incidents that occur in every family, it is a good read.