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esabel 's review for:
Ms. Demeanor
by Elinor Lipman
This book was fine. I read it without reading the full description so I was a bit surprised that it turned murder mystery-esque in the middle there and then they didn't really ever resolve that. In fact, a lot of the story feels unresolved. We never learn how or why FitzRoy really died or why she accused Jane of her murder. We never really learn what happens to Dani and her brother. Or what happens to Mandy (only that she received a fine). Or anything about Jackleen's relationship with Duncan. I was also put off by how much lying Jane and Duncan did while acting in a professional manner (Jane to the Prince sisters and Duncan lying to the Count about being required to sell the apartment if the buyer met the asking price). That left a bad taste in my mouth, especially since FitzRoy's death was billed as karma at the end.
There was also very little about Jane and Perry's relationship. It seemed a lot of it happed 'off stage' so the romance felt forced and stilted to the reader. They didn't seem to have a lot of chemistry and go from fuck buddies to engaged without so much as a single conversation about their feelings, the future, or even saying 'I love you' first!
This is the first Elinor Lipman book I've read so I'm not sure if this is just her style or not, but the dialogue was really unusual in this book. We'd get the start of a conversation, but then in the middle the author would just switch over to summarizing parts of the conversation, then switch back to actual dialogue. Here's an example:
"Before he could question me further I said, 'The next step is a letter of recommendation from your current employer.'
He didn't seem delighted with his new prospects.
'No?' I asked. 'What's wrong? It it because I told a few white lies?'
There was also very little about Jane and Perry's relationship. It seemed a lot of it happed 'off stage' so the romance felt forced and stilted to the reader. They didn't seem to have a lot of chemistry
This is the first Elinor Lipman book I've read so I'm not sure if this is just her style or not, but the dialogue was really unusual in this book. We'd get the start of a conversation, but then in the middle the author would just switch over to summarizing parts of the conversation, then switch back to actual dialogue. Here's an example:
"Before he could question me further I said, 'The next step is a letter of recommendation from your current employer.'
He didn't seem delighted with his new prospects.
'No?' I asked. 'What's wrong? It it because I told a few white lies?'