'The Descendants:' George Clooney Plays a Middle-Aged Dad

Just caught this trailer for a new George Clooney movie, slated to open in December, based on the novel The Descendants by Kaui Hart Hemmings. Clooney plays the dad of two daughters who is forced to become more involved in their lives and actually parent them after his wife goes into a coma following a boating accident.

I haven’t read the book yet – though I may after watching this movie promo – but Clooney looks like he might be really affecting in this. He hasn't been in a really good film since Up in the Air, where some critics said he played a character that was very similar to himself.

Anyone read the book? Recommend it?