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ardaigle's review against another edition
4.0
CBR Bingo - Adulthood
Laurie Colwin is a writer I had never heard of, but this book was gifted to me by my husband who heard about it on an NPR interview when another author said it was their favorite book of all time and he thought I might like it (I know, so sweet. Don't tell him I told you). This book will not race to the top of my "favorite of all time" list but I did enjoy it and am glad to know her story. Colwin died suddenly at the young age of 48 of an aortic aneurysm. In the 1980s and 90s, she was well known for her non-fiction food writing, but her fiction captivated audiences with her realistic portrayals of womanhood and life in New York.
Now onto the book: this is the story of a crisis of character for Polly, who has all the trappings of a successful life: comes from a good family, a successful lawyer husband, and mother to two beautiful children. She works out of the home, though her pushy mother doesn't understand why, and to any who know her she is the perfect caretaker of all in her world. But Polly is secretly unfulfilled and begins an affair with a family friend.
Let's address the funny elephant in the room: my husband gifted me a book about a 40-year-old woman who is in the midst of a mid-life crisis and has an affair. (Rimshot). That said I found this book very relatable (not in THAT way) because Polly's struggles with trying to be and do it all are timeless for the modern American woman.
Tonally this series was sort of a blend between one of my favorite YA series, Cynthia Voigt's Tillerman Cycle, and (a much less tragic) Revolutionary Road, as we watch Polly wrestle with isolation and obligation and awakening. Much like Dicey in the Tillerman Cycle, we see Polly come to terms with her choices and the weight of family as she decides where and how she can make a stand for her own wants and needs.
Overall I liked this book and the writing and wish that Colwin had more time to gift us with her thoughtful and introspective novels.
Laurie Colwin is a writer I had never heard of, but this book was gifted to me by my husband who heard about it on an NPR interview when another author said it was their favorite book of all time and he thought I might like it (I know, so sweet. Don't tell him I told you). This book will not race to the top of my "favorite of all time" list but I did enjoy it and am glad to know her story. Colwin died suddenly at the young age of 48 of an aortic aneurysm. In the 1980s and 90s, she was well known for her non-fiction food writing, but her fiction captivated audiences with her realistic portrayals of womanhood and life in New York.
Now onto the book: this is the story of a crisis of character for Polly, who has all the trappings of a successful life: comes from a good family, a successful lawyer husband, and mother to two beautiful children. She works out of the home, though her pushy mother doesn't understand why, and to any who know her she is the perfect caretaker of all in her world. But Polly is secretly unfulfilled and begins an affair with a family friend.
Let's address the funny elephant in the room: my husband gifted me a book about a 40-year-old woman who is in the midst of a mid-life crisis and has an affair. (Rimshot). That said I found this book very relatable (not in THAT way) because Polly's struggles with trying to be and do it all are timeless for the modern American woman.
Tonally this series was sort of a blend between one of my favorite YA series, Cynthia Voigt's Tillerman Cycle, and (a much less tragic) Revolutionary Road, as we watch Polly wrestle with isolation and obligation and awakening. Much like Dicey in the Tillerman Cycle, we see Polly come to terms with her choices and the weight of family as she decides where and how she can make a stand for her own wants and needs.
Overall I liked this book and the writing and wish that Colwin had more time to gift us with her thoughtful and introspective novels.
traciemasek's review against another edition
5.0
How much I liked this kind of sneaked up me. I picked this up from the library knowing nothing about it other than it had a very strong recommendation from a friend that I don't even have super similar reading taste as. I blew through in a few days, a record considering I was starting to wonder if I'd forgotten how to read during quarantine.
I was immediately sucked into the 1980s Manhattan world of Polly and her garbage rich asshole family--it had almost a fantasy aspect to it but I can't tell if that's just because the 80s seem so distant and rich idiots seem so much like Not Real People. I love the descriptions of the characters so, so much and this made me want to read every single thing Laurie Colwin ever wrote.
I was immediately sucked into the 1980s Manhattan world of Polly and her garbage rich asshole family--it had almost a fantasy aspect to it but I can't tell if that's just because the 80s seem so distant and rich idiots seem so much like Not Real People. I love the descriptions of the characters so, so much and this made me want to read every single thing Laurie Colwin ever wrote.
minty's review against another edition
3.0
I love books about depressed women; this was not wry or funny in the way of most of these kinds of books, but still enjoyable, in so much as spending time with a very rich woman who is deeply unhappy is.
sungyena's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
4.25
guitavla's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.0
fdows's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.75
bibliotherapy's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
greensalbet's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.0
Laurie Colwin is very skilled at writing about adultery. In this book Polly Solo-Miller meets her husband in college, falls in love, and they marry. They produce two children, and he blends into the upper-class rhythms and codes of behavior expected from Polly's biological family.
Polly is a people pleaser who never puts her needs above those of others; she is also suggestible which leads to family members, especially her mother Wendy, taking advantage of her.
Polly is deeply committed to her family, her children Dee Dee and Peter, and her husband Henry Demarest, but she knows something elemental is lacking between them. A good ten years into their marriage, Polly runs into a painter friend, Lincoln, from childhood, at his art opening. The two are instantly smitten. Lincoln is a loner who can't envision living within the constraints of marriage, and Polly can't imagine upsetting the duties and joys of her family life.
The book is a push-pull between Polly's conscience and heart. She hates deceiving her siblings, parents, and husband, but she is also tired of the many ways in which her family takes her for granted. The affair eventually forces her to confront her husband and ask for what she needs. He does his best to become a better communicator who is engaged with the family when he's not working.
My only complaint with the book is that Polly keeps rehashing the same points as she deliberates between the competing allegiances that are pulling at her heart strings. However, Colwin is a gifted enough writer to bring new language and images to each cycle of guilt and frustration Polly experiences.
Polly is a people pleaser who never puts her needs above those of others; she is also suggestible which leads to family members, especially her mother Wendy, taking advantage of her.
Polly is deeply committed to her family, her children Dee Dee and Peter, and her husband Henry Demarest, but she knows something elemental is lacking between them. A good ten years into their marriage, Polly runs into a painter friend, Lincoln, from childhood, at his art opening. The two are instantly smitten. Lincoln is a loner who can't envision living within the constraints of marriage, and Polly can't imagine upsetting the duties and joys of her family life.
The book is a push-pull between Polly's conscience and heart. She hates deceiving her siblings, parents, and husband, but she is also tired of the many ways in which her family takes her for granted. The affair eventually forces her to confront her husband and ask for what she needs. He does his best to become a better communicator who is engaged with the family when he's not working.
My only complaint with the book is that Polly keeps rehashing the same points as she deliberates between the competing allegiances that are pulling at her heart strings. However, Colwin is a gifted enough writer to bring new language and images to each cycle of guilt and frustration Polly experiences.
laurelshaw's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5