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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
4.1 stars really? I also question the back of the cover for 'Passion and Affect', my version anyway, stating 'Fourteen funny, perceptive tales, about the disconcerting and wildly absurd condition of urban adulthood'. Like is it, actually funny? Will anyone chortle reading this? Not really, and for the most part the stories are not so much detailing this 'wildly absurd condition' of adults in a metropolitan setting, but rather opening the blinds- only just a peek- into the fairly comfortable, for the most part, life of a character that has the luxury of being an academic/ wealthy/ connected- who is dealing with some problem, I would say typical to all people- relationships mostly.
I think the problem is as such, I decided I would start reading all of Laurie Colwin's books. I started with 'Happy All The Time' (which interestingly enough, two of the stories in this book basically expand into 'Happy All The Time') and I found it charming and appealing- it was like being a Peeping Tom into these wealthy, carefree character's lives. I read 'Goodbye Without Leaving' which I loved: the character's, the music references, adulthood and all that jazz. But anytime I would find the book on Goodreads within maybe three reviews someone often mentions: her Jewish characters (is there a reason why people always make this a point? I'm not an American, so maybe it's a cultural reference lost) and that she died tragically young. Forty is young, it is also not young. And reading through her books I can't stop thinking about whether these books would be held to such, seemingly, high acclaim if they had been published in the current day and age. Would readers be able to 'sympathise' with rich, affluent, educated, some- not all- snobby characters? Would we care? I don't know, and I don't know why I have such a grudge because for the most part they are pleasant books to read that have reliably good ending, and Colwin has a lovely writing style.
The problem reading this is that, and I may be crucified by someone who can be bothered to read this review, I don't think she is a great short story writer. Or, totally reasonably, it could just be me. I cannot remember the stories before the two 'The Girl with the Harlequin Glasses' and Passion and Affect' appeared in the book, and I paid more attention because I recognised the characters. Though, let's be honest, the snobbishness of Vincent and Misty made me constantly think, 'mate, you think you're any better?' while rolling me eyes. But BUT, I am glad I made it to the flip side of the book because, I don't know what it is, it was like Colwin had changed writing style, somehow, after those two stories. 'The Man who jumped into the water' had a seriousness that I found lacking somewhat in the previous stories, it was good. 'Mr Parker' I would recommend as a Colwin short story to other people, because it is all the things that she leaves unsaid that make it a great read. 'The Big Plum' reminded me of Stephen King's short story 'The Man who Loved Flowers' but from another perspective. The one that made me go, 'actually this book may have something', is the story 'A Road in Indiana'. Wonderful. It chronicles the marriage between Pat and Richard and every paragraph has a sentence that makes you understand so much more than what is just written down, such as this note taped on the icebox at home written by Richard:
'It read: P.Fac. meeting today. Home 6.30 or thereabouts. Fridge filthy, I might add. R'.
But reading this story, I thought maybe I like it because it reminds me of Lucia Berlin or Raymond Carver, except not as succinctly sparse. Not a bad thing. So after this, I have one more Colwin to read sans the two food memoirs. Let's see how it all fares.
I think the problem is as such, I decided I would start reading all of Laurie Colwin's books. I started with 'Happy All The Time' (which interestingly enough, two of the stories in this book basically expand into 'Happy All The Time') and I found it charming and appealing- it was like being a Peeping Tom into these wealthy, carefree character's lives. I read 'Goodbye Without Leaving' which I loved: the character's, the music references, adulthood and all that jazz. But anytime I would find the book on Goodreads within maybe three reviews someone often mentions: her Jewish characters (is there a reason why people always make this a point? I'm not an American, so maybe it's a cultural reference lost) and that she died tragically young. Forty is young, it is also not young. And reading through her books I can't stop thinking about whether these books would be held to such, seemingly, high acclaim if they had been published in the current day and age. Would readers be able to 'sympathise' with rich, affluent, educated, some- not all- snobby characters? Would we care? I don't know, and I don't know why I have such a grudge because for the most part they are pleasant books to read that have reliably good ending, and Colwin has a lovely writing style.
The problem reading this is that, and I may be crucified by someone who can be bothered to read this review, I don't think she is a great short story writer. Or, totally reasonably, it could just be me. I cannot remember the stories before the two 'The Girl with the Harlequin Glasses' and Passion and Affect' appeared in the book, and I paid more attention because I recognised the characters. Though, let's be honest, the snobbishness of Vincent and Misty made me constantly think, 'mate, you think you're any better?' while rolling me eyes. But BUT, I am glad I made it to the flip side of the book because, I don't know what it is, it was like Colwin had changed writing style, somehow, after those two stories. 'The Man who jumped into the water' had a seriousness that I found lacking somewhat in the previous stories, it was good. 'Mr Parker' I would recommend as a Colwin short story to other people, because it is all the things that she leaves unsaid that make it a great read. 'The Big Plum' reminded me of Stephen King's short story 'The Man who Loved Flowers' but from another perspective. The one that made me go, 'actually this book may have something', is the story 'A Road in Indiana'. Wonderful. It chronicles the marriage between Pat and Richard and every paragraph has a sentence that makes you understand so much more than what is just written down, such as this note taped on the icebox at home written by Richard:
'It read: P.Fac. meeting today. Home 6.30 or thereabouts. Fridge filthy, I might add. R'.
But reading this story, I thought maybe I like it because it reminds me of Lucia Berlin or Raymond Carver, except not as succinctly sparse. Not a bad thing. So after this, I have one more Colwin to read sans the two food memoirs. Let's see how it all fares.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was a mixed bag for me. There were some stories I enjoyed and some I didn't like at all. Through it all, though, I did appreciate Laurie Colwin's skilled writing.
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
i’ve been so slow about reading all month, but it was a comfort to return to some of colwins works. i will forever maintain that misty, vincent, holly, and guido are colwins warmest and funniest characters and i will always have a soft spot for them.
standouts for me were of course the girl with the harlequin glasses, passion and affect, along with the water rats, a road in indiana, mr parker, wet, and the big plum. colwin was such an acute understanding and ability to put abstract human feelings into words and her writing always leaves me with a profound sense that someone has picked apart at my most private inner thoughts. she writes a lot about relationship troubles but they are often trivial little ones that we don’t pay much attention to in other people, but all feel nonetheless. i felt this particularly in the story “wet” when carl feels betrayed by the discovery that lucy swims every single day and has never mentioned it to him, because it’s a part about his wife completely separate from him and he finds it difficult to reconcile that he can’t share it with her. in this story and others i think colwin does a great job at showing the emotional turmoil and hysteria of some of life’s silly little unknowns.
standouts for me were of course the girl with the harlequin glasses, passion and affect, along with the water rats, a road in indiana, mr parker, wet, and the big plum. colwin was such an acute understanding and ability to put abstract human feelings into words and her writing always leaves me with a profound sense that someone has picked apart at my most private inner thoughts. she writes a lot about relationship troubles but they are often trivial little ones that we don’t pay much attention to in other people, but all feel nonetheless. i felt this particularly in the story “wet” when carl feels betrayed by the discovery that lucy swims every single day and has never mentioned it to him, because it’s a part about his wife completely separate from him and he finds it difficult to reconcile that he can’t share it with her. in this story and others i think colwin does a great job at showing the emotional turmoil and hysteria of some of life’s silly little unknowns.
reflective
slow-paced
These stories are written simply but so effectively -- she says so much in so few words, and in words that sometimes seem distant and dispassionate but really aren't -- she stands back from her characters to show their traits, and we care about them, flaws and all. There are many moments of humor as well -- she has a dry, blunt style that made me chuckle quite a few times.
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated