A review by kath_m
The Emperor's Children by Claire Messud

4.0

One of the reviews of this book described it as a classic comedy of manners. Another compared it to an Edith Wharton tale. I agree on both accounts. On the surface it's just the story of three 30-something adults coming into their own in NYC pre- and post-9/11. It was an oddly compelling book. I found myself reading only a few chapters at a time and then abadonning it without a second thought until I made it to the last few chapters. It's good, strong writing with some words I need to add to my vocabulary list. Two degrees in English notwithstanding, I ran across more than a dozen words I couldn't define on the spot and some I have honestly never seen before. A refreshing change in a novel, wouldn't you say?