Scan barcode
A review by monitaroymohan
The Latecomer by Jean Hanff Korelitz
1.0
This was a weird book. Part of me is like, well, this is a character study of an inherently dysfunctional family. So, obviously it’s going to be weird. I didn’t mind the character study part. I found it engrossing and unputdownable. Each character is unique and fascinating in their own way.
My issue lies in how many shortcuts the author takes to exaggerate the storylines. Why does Stella decide to have an affair and a child with the man who put her in the hospital? Why does she agree to live a secret life as the other woman? It’s odd that all the characters have fully-formed characterizations but Stella, the Black woman, doesn’t.
And why does Rochelle fall for Lewyn? We know why he falls for her — but what’s her angle beyond being the love interest?
And lastly, are we all going to just ignore that Harrison is a racist, MAGA bigot? Everyone just accepts him into the fold because he’s family? Even the Black members of the family are a-ok with a guy who’s on Fox News? I’m sorry? This apparently came out in 2022, so please explain why the author thought it was totally fine to pretend that people like Harrison just have a different point of view, and not that people like Harrison are literally the reason for the systemic oppression and violence committed against people of colour, especially the Black community.
I also don’t know what the whole bit about Jewish Lewyn trying to become Mormon was all about. I know nothing about religion and its inclusion in entertainment is weird to me, so maybe it makes sense to others, but went over my head.
I think this is an interesting book, but it’s also pretentious with its chapter titles, and it completely misses the mark by positing the both sides have a right to say something perspective, which is ridiculous in the era of divisive, polarized culture wars where the loudest side keep saying the marginalized are silencing them.
My issue lies in how many shortcuts the author takes to exaggerate the storylines. Why does Stella decide to have an affair and a child with the man who put her in the hospital? Why does she agree to live a secret life as the other woman? It’s odd that all the characters have fully-formed characterizations but Stella, the Black woman, doesn’t.
And why does Rochelle fall for Lewyn? We know why he falls for her — but what’s her angle beyond being the love interest?
And lastly, are we all going to just ignore that Harrison is a racist, MAGA bigot? Everyone just accepts him into the fold because he’s family? Even the Black members of the family are a-ok with a guy who’s on Fox News? I’m sorry? This apparently came out in 2022, so please explain why the author thought it was totally fine to pretend that people like Harrison just have a different point of view, and not that people like Harrison are literally the reason for the systemic oppression and violence committed against people of colour, especially the Black community.
I also don’t know what the whole bit about Jewish Lewyn trying to become Mormon was all about. I know nothing about religion and its inclusion in entertainment is weird to me, so maybe it makes sense to others, but went over my head.
I think this is an interesting book, but it’s also pretentious with its chapter titles, and it completely misses the mark by positing the both sides have a right to say something perspective, which is ridiculous in the era of divisive, polarized culture wars where the loudest side keep saying the marginalized are silencing them.