Books in Brief

amanda bright@home, by Danielle Crittenden (Warner, 368 pp., $23.95)

IN this charming novel, Danielle Crittenden gives us a year in the life of Amanda Bright: mother of two, wife of Bob Clarke, and resident of Washington, D.C. Amanda is a graduate of Brown who gave up her career to stay home with the kids. Bob is a Justice Department lawyer. His public-sector job is a source of pride for them, but also the cause of their money shortage.