Fraz Penzig

Fraz Penzig is the novel’s protagonist. He is a middle-aged, white, Jewish man living in New York City. He is married and has two young children. After being laid off from his previous job, he became a follower and assistant to self-help guru Hark Morner. Fraz struggles with the increasing dysfunction of his marriage, and he also struggles with doubts regarding he belief in the power and efficacy of Hark’s teachings. Nonetheless, Fraz attempts to be a devoted disciple of Hark, despite the fact that this devotion may be contributing to Fraz’s marital problems.

After Fraz’s daughter suffers a head injury and goes into a coma, Fraz’s zeal of Hark’s teachings redoubles. Fraz begins to use exercises created by Hark as a form of prayer in the hope that it will help Lisa awake from her coma. Lisa does eventually awake...