A review by geoffreylittle
You Can Be Right (or You Can Be Married): Looking for Love in the Age of Divorce by Dana Adam Shapiro

5.0

Mr. Shapiro writes a book on his favorite subject (one also explored in his recent film Monogamy): the shit love puts us through. The book is one story after another (is literally him interviewing scores of folks, some he barely knows) of divorce. But in each story, the take-aways are many, and the meta is: you survive. And in some cases, you thrive knowing now what you did not know then. Shapiro lets the storytellers reveal how they could not have *not* had the life they had. Their personalities are richly displayed, and you can sometimes see the neediness or wild pathos still burning right in front of you. Still, they are framed with much compassion by Shapiro: they went into relationships because it was the best they knew, much like our own experiences.

I am the same age as the author more or less, also never married. I too am only a few parties away from being the creepy old guy no one can remember inviting. "You..." is a pleasing chill pill of hey - the grass is always greener, and be careful what you wish for. The details in each of these vignettes are expertly framed. Those interested in fodder for fictional characterization will be much pleased. Some of these stories were one act plays - fully formed!

Don't worry, the book is not a downer. In his supersharp style, he leaves you smiling with a great story at the end.

One of the best and most original reads of 2012 so far. Well done.