sungyena's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
4.25
medwards1771's review against another edition
4.0
Reminiscent of 80s family dynamics I've seen in pop culture: Nora Ephron, When Harry Met Sally, Fatal Attraction. Several chapters were harrowing to get through because of how much I related to Polly's anguish about making everything perfect so everyone will love her. I appreciated that it ended with Polly not choosing between Henry and Lincoln.
guitavla's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4.0
fdows's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.75
bibliotherapy's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
greensalbet's review against another edition
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.
laurelshaw's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
chrissiemwright's review against another edition
funny
reflective
sad
slow-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
fjasmineaddams's review against another edition
4.0
Laurie Colwin’s books are kind of like Nancy Meyers movies in that they’re all about rich white people in New York who wear expensive clothes and drink a lot of coffee and have love affairs. This one is also a very 80s “can she have it all?” type of story, so of course I devoured it guiltily and with great pleasure.
mariagprohens's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5