A review by bunnieslikediamonds
Indiscretion by Charles Dubow
2.0
I'm thoroughly confused by the love for this book. There's nothing there. If it had been written by a woman it'd be classified as chick-lit. The characters are paper-thin caricatures. Maddy is the most beautiful, courageous, loving etc. woman on earth, though she doesn't know it. Oh no, I'm fat, she says, when being complimented, because apparently the male fantasy of the perfect woman doesn't include self-awareness. Her husband Harry is also wonderful. I'm not sure why or how, because that isn't shown, but I'm going to assume it is so since "people can't help loving him". Walter, the creepy narrator, is their best friend. He is in love with Maddy, doesn't date much because what's the point, and only wants her to be happy. He also loves Harry, because... that's right, he can't help it. For a guy as prone to analyzing other people's motives as Walter, I'm surprised it never occurs to him to see a shrink and get his own unhealthy fixation sorted out. Finally there is Claire. She looks good naked and... wait for it... loves Harry!
Harry and Claire have an affair. The description of this affair reminds me of those real-life stories in women's magazines I read when I was thirteen. You know, the earnest, badly written confessional, riddled with clichés and vanilla sex. Claire ponders: "Things are already very different from what they had been at first. Then it had all been new and exciting." Oh, Claire.
One thing I do not remember from those stories is the leg licking. Apparently men these days like to have the backs of their legs licked. Things have changed. There were many other details that confused me. When the happy bunch go frolicking on the beach, all swept up in their love for Harry, they bring egg-salad sandwiches, which seems reasonable, and home-made potato chips, which does not. I forgot to mention that these people are rich and frolick in the Hamptons. Maybe rich people make their own potato chips? Maybe that's how they got rich?
So confused. The book seemed to me shallow and bland and full of stereotypes. I don't feel bad for being so uncharitable about it, because so many others love it. Good for them.
Harry and Claire have an affair. The description of this affair reminds me of those real-life stories in women's magazines I read when I was thirteen. You know, the earnest, badly written confessional, riddled with clichés and vanilla sex. Claire ponders: "Things are already very different from what they had been at first. Then it had all been new and exciting." Oh, Claire.
One thing I do not remember from those stories is the leg licking. Apparently men these days like to have the backs of their legs licked. Things have changed. There were many other details that confused me. When the happy bunch go frolicking on the beach, all swept up in their love for Harry, they bring egg-salad sandwiches, which seems reasonable, and home-made potato chips, which does not. I forgot to mention that these people are rich and frolick in the Hamptons. Maybe rich people make their own potato chips? Maybe that's how they got rich?
So confused. The book seemed to me shallow and bland and full of stereotypes. I don't feel bad for being so uncharitable about it, because so many others love it. Good for them.