Customer Reviews

The Family Man

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Elinor Lipman's latest is another in a long line of great comedy-of-manner novels she's written. Maybe not quite as good as Lake Divine and Dearly Departed, but almost at that level.

There's something unique in Lipman's writing that I've tried to figure out in all ten of her novels. Her secondary characters are written as brilliantly as her main characters. I don't know how she does it - I guess that's why I'm a reader and not a writer - but maybe it's her wonderful dialogue. I'm left after reading her novels with the - unacted on, of course - urge to call her and ask her to write another novel, using the same characters, taking the storyline further. As all her novels are "stand-alones", it's clear she considers each one finished at the end.

She is a worthy successor to the late Laurie Colwin.

Ever since my days of only reading books with pastel covers and subsequent introduction to Isabel's Bed I have been a die hard Elinor Lipman fan. I've read everything she's published, own them all and love them all. I can very safely say she's never written a book-much less a chapter-that I didn't like.

When I started "The Family Man" though I thought that was all about to change. Lipman's normal writing style is very descriptive-lots of explained body language written into the text and historical background on characters and tons of detail about clothing, food and architecture. When you add in her slightly soap opera-ish plots with all of their melodrama and black humor you get these perfect, fun books with fast paced plots that aren't too serious and oodles of characters to fall in love with.

But Lipman's latest book is different. For one thing, "The Family Man" is about ninety percent witty dialog (all well written) with very sparse descriptions of anything-including the characters emotions. And then there's the plot-the reuniting of retired gay lawyer Henry Archer with his once upon a time adopted daughter Thalia after her second adopted father's death 24 years after he gave up a custody battle that had him painted as unfit because of his sexuality-and the subsequent changes in his love life and general happiness and interest level afterward. I know it sounds complicated but it's really, really not. This is a very simple book. The writing style is simple, the plot (which is barely even there, it's more of a gradual progression of events with a total lack of conflict) is simple and while the book does come off as rather charming it's almost a compete 180 from Lipman's other books. The whole thing kind of has the feel of a novella too it (think "Shopgirl" with less emotional depth and poignancy) including the length. Despite its deceptive 300 page total this is a very small book with large text and huge margins.

There's nothing really bad about this novel, but it really was not what I expected from Lipman. It's true that I've always enjoyed her books written in first person better than those written in third (and this one is in third) but that's not even really the issue. This book just reads like a different author altogether wrote it. As it stands on its own it's a cute, charming little book with a lot of snappy talk too it that I did enjoy but it doesn't really compare to Isabel's Bed,The Inn at Lake Devine or The Pursuit of Alice Thrift.

If I'd never read anything else by Lipman I'd say four stars, but with my experience of her other novels I have to admit to being disappointed by this one with its lack of detail and emotional characterization.

Three stars. I'd wait for the paperback version folks, or get this one from the library before committing to buy.

In Elinor Lipman's "The Family Man," Henry Archer is a recently retired and unattached attorney who happens to be gay. Henry has a shallow, self-centered, and grating ex-wife, Denise, whose third husband, Glenn Krouch, recently passed away at the age of seventy. All of a sudden, Denise tries to weasel her way back into Henry's good graces. She seeks free legal advice, since Krouch's two sons from a former marriage have inherited pretty much everything from their late father. Denise gets a monthly allowance, monitored by the older son and executor, Glenn Junior. It seems that her stepsons are holding her to a prenuptial agreement, "a hideously airtight legal document," that may even force her to leave her ten room apartment on Park Avenue in New York City.

Henry has no desire to become his ex-wife's buddy or knight in shining armor. When he visits Denise, however, he notices photos of Thalia, his stepdaughter whom he hasn't seen since she was a little girl. Much to his shock, he realizes that Thalia works in the salon where he has his hair cut. Henry decides to reacquaint himself with this now lovely twenty-nine year old woman, who is an aspiring actress and a delightful human being. They soon become fast friends, and Henry does his utmost to make up for the decades during which he and Thalia were separated.

Elinor Lipman is the undisputed queen of the contemporary comedy of manners, and once again, she serves up a frothy and witty soufflé with farcical overtones, a somewhat silly and lightweight plot, romantic entanglements, and amusing banter. The author never takes her subject matter too seriously. Instead, she has fun getting her offbeat cast of characters into and out of outlandish situations. Her theme is the importance of relationships between parents and children, husbands and wives, and any other configuration that works. During the course of this warm and witty novel, Henry finally lets go of the past and embraces the future with renewed optimism and joy. He finally experiences the great satisfaction of loving someone special and being loved in return.

This book was sharp, easy reading and had interesting characters. The reparte between Henry and his daughter is quite engaging. The only problem was that this book really went nowhere. An insubstantial plot and an ending that was a let down for no other reason than its lack of oomph. I wanted to give it four stars because it was really enjoyable, but by the time I read the epilogue, it fell below 3.49 stars...and I rounded downwards.

If Elinor Lipman's new novel, The Family Man, were a movie, you'd come out of the theater at the end with a smile on your face, and sated from an extra large tub of popcorn. Protagonist Henry Archer is a recently retired gay attorney living alone in a prime Manhattan townhouse. After Henry consoles his divorced wife Denise following the death of the man she left Henry to marry, he reconnects with his stepdaughter Thalia who has been out of his life for many years. The comedic exploits of these characters and a broad supporting cast made me care about them and what happened in their lives. That's perfect summer reading if you're looking to read a light-hearted novel. While life in Manhattan doesn't match the experience of an average American, the characters in The Family Man are recognizable in every community, the plot is playful, and most readers will find pleasure from reading this novel.

Rating: Three-star (Recommended)

Pour a glass of lemonade, slide into a hammock, and immerse yourself in The Family Man by Eleanor Lipman, a delightful summer read that's both witty and moving. After 25 years, divorced, gay, genteel New Yorker Henry Archer is reunited with his stepdaughter, wannabe actress and coatcheck girl, Thalia Krouch, which changes his life in unpredictable ways, helping him create a blended family like no other.

Eleanor Lipman's books manage to be heartwarming and sweet without making you long for insulin. You like her characters, despite their flaws, and she reveals them artfully. For example, Todd, Henry's gay friend, works in an upscale home linens store. As Henry stands by, Todd assists a young woman with finding perfect ways to disguise a hideous antique Thanksgiving tablecloth given to her by her mother-in-law by suggesting things such as covering one of the larger Pilgrim's heads with a turkey platter. The reader can see the tablecloth, imagine the client enjoying Todd's witty advice, and understand why Henry, a former lawyer, is drawn to him.

The dialogue is clever and witty without being cruel, a difficult task managed deftly by Ms. Lipman.

If you enjoy the lighter side of well-written fiction, you'll have fun with this book. Don't read too quickly; you'll want more when it's over.

Elinor Lipman's The Family Man is a delight. The protagonist, Henry Archer, is a stand-up guy and wonderful company, but then, in the end, so are all of Lipman's characters. Her world is full of inherent goodwill with no sappiness, which is no small feat. There is kismet and serendipity aplenty as the plot rollicks along, guided by Lipman's cheerful hand. As a writer, she is generous to everyone, large and tiny characters alike; New York-y random encounters--Henry's boyfriend comforting a worried bride with an ugly tablecloth at his job at Gracious Home, Henry and Todd talking at dinner, about when and how Todd should come out to his mother, with the couple at the next table--are some of the book's most charming.

This is a world, natch, where Todd's mother has always known he was gay, and just wants him to be loved. Lipman handles "the gay thing" deftly--or, rather, doesn't really handle it at all; it's a plot point, but not the defining fact of the book by a long shot. Or maybe it is. It is, after all, called The Family Man, and in the end Henry, and a number of other people as well, who have been a little bit too lonely for a little bit too long, end up with a family far more multi-gendered, multi-dimensional, multi-generational--and witty--than any of them would have imagined possible.

We all know that kid. This is how Todd, one of my favorite characters in "The Family Man", is described when introduced into the story, and of course one just gets it. That's how all the characters are in this book, funny and relatable and you care what happens to them, even the schmucky ones.
I always love the protagonists of Lipman books for this reason and Henry Archer is no exception, my favorite ever, tied with Harriet of "Isabel's Bed". Henry enters into his new paternal role at once tentatively and wholeheartedly, desperately wanting to be appropriate, reconciling his feelings of practically every kind toward Thalia's mother, Denise, and trying to chart the territory of fatherhood and friendship to and with an adult, childlike woman. Plus, starting a new relationship with someone wonderful and hilarious. Plus, grieving the recent loss of a dear friend.
It's wholly satisfying. It's a funny story with unexpected twists and turns and I felt great the whole time I was reading it.

This is a truly lovely book - I have the hardback with the lovely pic of the guy outside the New York house and it is simply a joy to hold in one's hands. Reading it is lovely too, in the same way that eating sweets is lovely.
Another reviewer said that this wasn't like a Lipman book and there I have to differ. In many ways, this was classic. All the characters do that Lipman thing, 'what's that I'm reading in your expression?', 'what am I hearing here?' followed by a mind-reading insight into the other character - and they all do this, even the removal man.
Also, all of her characters ask questions the 'wrong' way round - ie the words what, where, why etc always come at the end of sentences. No offence to people who speak like this! I'm sure it isn't wrong, but I've never met anybody who does this. I'm assuming it's a Jewish/ Yiddish thing but I always think of it as a Lipman thing.
The story is light to non-existent, and consists mostly of much hand-flapping and gossipy confiding from the two gay men and their young adult 'daughter', very much like the guys in The Birdcage if you've seen that (or the French original).
Also the Bette Midler type character is present and correct, blowsy as ever and a lot of fun too. There's a film star thrown in too but I never felt I quite got the measure of him and his presence felt somewhat strained.
Everybody in this book is full-on, force ten adorable. There are no exceptions. Everybody just loves everybody else, and even the old lady in denial about her son's sexuality turns out to be a big liberal sweetheart who just can't wait to play houses with her new blended family.
I enjoyed reading this but I just felt that the whole thing lacked any kind of threat, conflict or potential to actually think 'oh no! what's going to happen next!' as you knew that what was going to happen next was that a beautiful, rich and stylish New Yorker was going to say something adorable, witty or loving to another beautiful, rich and stylish New Yorker.
Henry was the most interesting character for me, but I wish I knew more of his back story - he was presented fully formed. His love interest didn't entice or tease us at all - it arrived wrapped in ribbons and presented like a gift at the beginning and grew in a 'romcom montage' style, absolutely problem free and perfect. Hmmm.
One last thing - Henry rolls his eyes to hear somebody call his daughter 'Thay-leeah' (her name is Thalia) but this is exactly how I'd pronounce it if I hadn't been told otherwise - and Lipman doesn't tell us otherwise. Maybe she knows so many Thalias she thinks this should be a given. It wasn't for me! Maybe I'm a dreadful philistine, destined to insult any Thalia's I may meet in the future.
Three stars and roll on Lipman's next offering - I love her, but this book is in the like category.

Elinor Lipman is known for producing smartly written, amusing stories of modern day people facing modern day problems. In her latest outing, The Family Man, she introduces us to an array of unusual characters ranging from charming Henry Archer the single, retired and quietly gay attorney and his ex-wife the distraught, recently widowed an absolutely self-centered Denise Krouch to their aspiring actress daughter Thalia and her pretend boyfriend Leif, a quasi Hollywood star who is trying to jump start his career by shedding his "creepy character-horror movie" persona in order to reinvent himself as a desirable lothario.

Add to this mix a 24 year old pre-nuptial agreement, the delivery of a eulogy that can only be described as a faux-pas, some complicated but amusing family circumstances and you have a delightful and humorous narrative romp through some absurd (and some not so absurd) situations that are guaranteed to keep you chuckling.

No further details will be divulged here lest it ruin the experience of reading this droll offering.