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A review by lthale
Family Happiness by Laurie Colwin
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!