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A review by greensalbet
Family Happiness by Laurie Colwin
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.