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jchant's review
4.0
I'm sure I must have read this book when it came out, because I love Elinor Lipman, but I certainly didn't remember much about it. This was a fun read with engaging and quirky characters. The narrator, Jonathan Davis, was excellent.
natesbookstack's review
5.0
This was my third Lipman. I also met Elinor Lipman on the book tour for the first two books I Can’t Complain, a delicious book of essays, and The View from Penthouse B. To say we had a wonderful interaction is an understatement, she was SIMPLY DIVINE! The Family Man is a wonderful comic novel that keeps the reader tucked into bed or lounging on a couch even when one isn’t doing that. Instantly I fell for the character of Henry who is a (in my opinion) contented homosexual. I loved having a contented homosexual. His budding relationship with Todd made me swoon. The over the top characters of Denise and Thalia only made me love this book more. Elinor Lipman truly knows how to write a wild madcap comedy and make it wonderful and delicious and not mundane or lame.
ksherman712's review against another edition
2.0
I just didn’t enjoy this book. Yes there were funny parts, and it all ends up “well”, but it just wasn’t FUN for me.
heather_books's review
4.0
I heard an interview with the author on NPR, she lives in Western Massachusetts, and the lead-in was "a modern-day Jane Austin", my interest was piqued.
While a fine family-relationship novel, it isn't exactly Austin-esque. I liked the characters and the setting of modern-day Manhattan, it lacked the humor that I find in many of Austin books. But, I loved the protagonist Henry, and his step-daughter Thalia, and the characters of Todd and Lillian.
My two quibbles with the book is that the "name dropping" of modern technology (Myspace, Youtube, Craigslist, etc.) will date and aggravate readers in the future, and not help achieve the period as I think the author hopes for. Just like watching movies with cell-phones that are outdated by the time the move is released, it is a distraction not an addition.
The ending was TOO rushed to try and tidy up everything, while satisfying to know what happens, it didn't keep the same tempo of the rest of the book. But, it may make a fine movie script.
In terms of "modern" Austin - I felt that Morningside Heights by Cheryl Mendelson is more in keeping with that title.
While a fine family-relationship novel, it isn't exactly Austin-esque. I liked the characters and the setting of modern-day Manhattan, it lacked the humor that I find in many of Austin books. But, I loved the protagonist Henry, and his step-daughter Thalia, and the characters of Todd and Lillian.
My two quibbles with the book is that the "name dropping" of modern technology (Myspace, Youtube, Craigslist, etc.) will date and aggravate readers in the future, and not help achieve the period as I think the author hopes for. Just like watching movies with cell-phones that are outdated by the time the move is released, it is a distraction not an addition.
The ending was TOO rushed to try and tidy up everything, while satisfying to know what happens, it didn't keep the same tempo of the rest of the book. But, it may make a fine movie script.
In terms of "modern" Austin - I felt that Morningside Heights by Cheryl Mendelson is more in keeping with that title.
giovannnaz's review against another edition
3.0
Really a 3.6 or 3.7. I'm really a sucker for her books--nothing stunning, but just solidly written stories about people with great humor throughout.
janine1122's review against another edition
3.0
This was a cute, fun book, and different from what I've been reading lately. It was a nice change of pace.
The cast of characters here are really what the book is all about, and it's a kooky bunch, to be sure. I did love Henry, though I found his choices questionable at times. Okay, most of the time. Your crazy, fairly deceitful ex-wife? Why talk to her?! And then the whole Thalia thing--I have to admit, I totally expected that to come back around to bite him. And their reunion started out so strange! I also kind of loved that Thalia was much more like her mother than any of the characters were every willing to admit, since Denise has alienated so many people.
I adored Henry and Todd's relationship. It was so cute and sweet, and when Todd entered the picture, it felt like he had been there all along.
I also really enjoyed the ending, although it did feel a bit rushed. I liked the idea presented of family, and how sometimes family isn't who you think it is, or who it should be. Life is unexpected, but not always bad, and sometimes you just have to roll with the punches and see where you land. I liked how things landed here -- it made me happy :)
The cast of characters here are really what the book is all about, and it's a kooky bunch, to be sure. I did love Henry, though I found his choices questionable at times. Okay, most of the time. Your crazy, fairly deceitful ex-wife? Why talk to her?! And then the whole Thalia thing--I have to admit, I totally expected that to come back around to bite him. And their reunion started out so strange! I also kind of loved that Thalia was much more like her mother than any of the characters were every willing to admit, since Denise has alienated so many people.
I adored Henry and Todd's relationship. It was so cute and sweet, and when Todd entered the picture, it felt like he had been there all along.
I also really enjoyed the ending, although it did feel a bit rushed. I liked the idea presented of family, and how sometimes family isn't who you think it is, or who it should be. Life is unexpected, but not always bad, and sometimes you just have to roll with the punches and see where you land. I liked how things landed here -- it made me happy :)
ktyler's review against another edition
3.0
Henry Archer is a gay bachelor living a solemn existence until he sends a note to his ex-wife, Denise, offering condolences for her husband's sudden death. Unexpectedly, Henry reconnects with his step-daughter, Thalia, who is both charming and disarming. With Thalia in his life, Henry begins to become The Family Man, surrounding himself with a group of family and friends.
While there is little substance to the book, it is delightful and frothy. Lipman has an amazing ear for dialogue and a canny sense of human nature and frailty. At times I was reminded of the witty banter in an old Hepburn and Tracy film. By the end of the book, I felt the premise wore a bit too thin, but I still found the characters charming enough to make up for all the silliness of the plot.
Recommended for those looking for a light, uplifting read.
While there is little substance to the book, it is delightful and frothy. Lipman has an amazing ear for dialogue and a canny sense of human nature and frailty. At times I was reminded of the witty banter in an old Hepburn and Tracy film. By the end of the book, I felt the premise wore a bit too thin, but I still found the characters charming enough to make up for all the silliness of the plot.
Recommended for those looking for a light, uplifting read.
londonmabel's review against another edition
3.0
A really charming read about a step-father and daughter reuniting, and the new friendships forming around that. Not high on the tension meter, but I liked everyone so much that I enjoyed it.
jensreadinglife's review
4.0
There are a lot of lukewarm reviews of this book but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was exactly the light and happy fare I was looking for. I adored Henry as a character and found this to be a charming book.