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sunbreak's review against another edition
3.0
The second half of the book needed the energy of the last 10 pages.
sksrenninger's review against another edition
3.0
I know it’s a fantasy, but I like books about domestic life in New York, and I love a book set pre-cell phone (or answering machine!). This was a sweet read about women's roles; personal, familial, marital, social expectations; and setting boundaries, but it was missing an electric spark for me; I give it a 3.5. Love the way the affair is resolved.
lthale's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
"It was not right to feel this happy, but it was also undeniable. The air outside was smoky with spring rain. The street was gray. The warehouses across the street were wet. Polly put down her cup. The pure feelings one had in adult life were complicated and mitigated, and they were dearly paid for, but worth everything they cost."
4.5 stars
On a recent trip to Nashville, I made my pilgrimage to Parnassus books. My goal was to purchase a "shelf talker" and I chose this one from Ann Patchett's "it's new to you" shelf, knowing absolutely nothing about this backlist from 1982. Well.
This is absolutely not a book for everyone. Polly, our protagonist, is a married, VERY privileged mother of two young children who is having an affair. And who also loves her husband. And whose eyes are opened by how scripted and expected her life is; how almost all of her choices have been made from a sense a duty- not longing, not passion, not based on her own desires or joys.
"No one would care that here feelings were real, or that she might be suffering. She was a producer of goods and services and image. None of these must be threatened, as all good tribe members know."
Polly does not make simple choices here, and many will be very bothered by the moral ambiguity here. I LOVED it. I also loved the snarky, quirky, very NYC sense of humor and laughed out loud multiple times. The tone reminded me a great deal of Standard Deviation by Katherine Heiny, which for me was a good thing! And the writing was wry and wise. I marked multiple passages throughout- more than I have in a long time. My only complaint is that got very repetitive in the middle quarter and I got tired of the same lamentations. Thus the half star deduction.
So reader, know thyself. If you think this might be for you, please pick it up! To be 40 years old, this could've been written this year- the only thing missing was cell phones. It was great contemplation on the expectations put on women by their families, society, and ourselves and leaves you with a lot of uncomfortable things to chew on. I'm eager to pick up another by her soon!
4.5 stars
On a recent trip to Nashville, I made my pilgrimage to Parnassus books. My goal was to purchase a "shelf talker" and I chose this one from Ann Patchett's "it's new to you" shelf, knowing absolutely nothing about this backlist from 1982. Well.
This is absolutely not a book for everyone. Polly, our protagonist, is a married, VERY privileged mother of two young children who is having an affair. And who also loves her husband. And whose eyes are opened by how scripted and expected her life is; how almost all of her choices have been made from a sense a duty- not longing, not passion, not based on her own desires or joys.
"No one would care that here feelings were real, or that she might be suffering. She was a producer of goods and services and image. None of these must be threatened, as all good tribe members know."
Polly does not make simple choices here, and many will be very bothered by the moral ambiguity here. I LOVED it. I also loved the snarky, quirky, very NYC sense of humor and laughed out loud multiple times. The tone reminded me a great deal of Standard Deviation by Katherine Heiny, which for me was a good thing! And the writing was wry and wise. I marked multiple passages throughout- more than I have in a long time. My only complaint is that got very repetitive in the middle quarter and I got tired of the same lamentations. Thus the half star deduction.
So reader, know thyself. If you think this might be for you, please pick it up! To be 40 years old, this could've been written this year- the only thing missing was cell phones. It was great contemplation on the expectations put on women by their families, society, and ourselves and leaves you with a lot of uncomfortable things to chew on. I'm eager to pick up another by her soon!
birdbeep's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
amlibera's review against another edition
4.0
This is a re-read. I love Colwin - her books are absolutely in my comfort zone. And her writing is gorgeous without being mannered (although her world is extremely mannered to almost a Wes Anderson level). This has never been my favorite of her books (I think that Happy All the Time is my favorite) and the story of a happily married, highly accomplished woman carrying on an affair has always struck me as problematic. Interesting that a lot of the GR reviews suggest that the book feels dated because this time around I was aware of a modern resonance that I hadn't felt earlier. The idea that the job of a modern woman is to be a complete homemaker, mother, wife, successful careerist, and fully self actualized felt like something very current indeed. Along with the impossibility of that task.
mastrisofha's review
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
unusualspring's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
medwards1771's review against another edition
4.0
Reminiscent of 80s family dynamics I've seen in pop culture: Nora Ephron, When Harry Met Sally, Fatal Attraction. Several chapters were harrowing to get through because of how much I related to Polly's anguish about making everything perfect so everyone will love her. I appreciated that it ended with Polly not choosing between Henry and Lincoln.
lnb's review against another edition
5.0
a perfect book!!!! this is exactly the kind of book i love to read