What's with Baum?

In "What's with Baum?", Asher Baum, a middle-aged Jewish journalist turned novelist, grapples with a cascade of personal and professional crises, including a failing marriage and the fallout from a troubled relationship with his successful younger brother. As he navigates anxiety over his turgid literary career and a series of questionable choices, including an impulsive kiss with a journalist, he stumbles upon a secret that could unravel his already fragile life. Woody Allen's debut novel delivers a sharply crafted exploration of a man's neuroses, set against the backdrop of the New York publishing scene, blending humor with poignant reflections on life's emptiness.