Mail [Paperback]

Mameve Medwed (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1998

Katinka O'Toole is desperately smitten by the postman's charming smile. Despite wearing Dior dresses to attract him, the affections of a corporate lawyer and her mother's advice and his dodgy past, she continues to hope that romance will flourish.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Mameve Medwed knows the neurotic, crazy-imagination mind of the freelance writer: the mornings spent toiling over first and second and third drafts, with an ear ever tuned toward the creak of the mailbox, only to find yet another batch of returned manuscripts. If this scenario sounds familiar, then you'll probably find comfort from Medwed's new first novel, Mail, an amusing send-up of the writer's life. Our heroine, Katinka O'Toole, is the ex-wife of a Joyce scholar (once her professor at Harvard, naturally) who sends off a steady stream of short stories from her rented Cambridge apartment. She's obsessed not only with the mail; she's in love with the mailman. An entertaining read, and a good gift for the mother who doesn't understand why you don't just meet a nice lawyer and settle down already. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

Anyone who has ever wielded pen in pursuit of a career as a professional writer will be able to identify with Katinka O'Toole, the bright and witty heroine of Medwed's debut novel, a frothy romantic comedy. A Harvard graduate and former wife of a much older Joycean scholar, the 31-year-old Cambridge resident has given up her job at Widener Library to take a chance on herself. Her mailbox becomes "an umbilical cord... the giver of pleasure and pain," and her new mailman becomes the man of her dreams. Louie Cappetti is a rough-around-the-edges kind of guy whose greatest charm, at least for the reader, is his empathy with Katinka's disappointments and triumphs. Her lust for Louie inspires Katinka to spritz Arpege before collecting the mail. But when Louie breaks his leg and is unable to complete his rounds, will Katinka remain constant? Or will she turn to awkward but decent lawyer Jake Barnes (fully intact, despite his name)? Medwed's talent is in the details, and there's a particularly funny ongoing bit involving a sack of flour that's supposed to teach a child the responsibilities of single parenting. She's also equally adept at small poignancies and manages to keep the reader guessing as to where?if not why?Katinka's affections will finally alight. Nice delivery. Simultaneous Warner audio.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (May 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446673757
• ISBN-13: 978-0446673754
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,846,522 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I don't know about you, but this is what I want in a book, December 29, 1999

By 

Elinor Lipman "Elinor Lipman" (Northampton, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mail (Paperback)

Such a funny, smart, satisfying novel! I rooted for its heroes, with all their lovable warts and failings, and laughed aloud at the sly social satire that captures a Joyce scholar/pompous ex-husband and a socially ambitious widowed mother in all their meddlesome glory. Delicious, warm and insightful like the best company. I recommend MAIL wherever I go, and delight in finding a friend who hasn't read it so I can wrap one up!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Pretty good but not up to the hype, October 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Mail (Paperback)

I was a bit disappointed with this novel. Though it got lots of rave reviews, I found the plot slow in parts. The writing was pretty good, although I found the frequent references to being a writer tiresome (e.g. "if I weren't a writer, I would say his eyes were as deep as pools" -- you ARE a writer so think of something better). I am always suspicious when the main character does an about-face in the last 40 pages of the book, so the ending was a letdown. But overall, I enjoyed reading the book. A light diversion, and the issue of class consciousness in the US is an interesting one that hasn't been explored as often as it might be.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Offbeat, but a little flat, November 9, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Mail (Paperback)

The main character of this novel is charming, the plot on its face is interesting, and the book is written with a fine sense of humor. However, it was difficult to understand the motivations of Katinka, the main character. Why is she so interested (from essentially the first page of the book) in her mailman, a man who is not written as particularly interesting, bright, or even available? The author gives us no clue as to whether Katinka is merely lonely, or an incurable romantic dreamer, or a social egalitarian, or perhaps simply immature. It seems we are just meant to take for granted that a Harvard-educated writer would form such a liaison. A series of other events then unfold, the motivations for some of which are also unclear.

Although I enjoyed this book, it was somewhat of a chore to read in spite of its light, breezy style, and I agree with the earlier reviewers who found it flat. However, I am impressed enough by Medwed to read her next novel when it comes out in paperback.