Customer Reviews

P.S.: A Novel

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

"P.S." raises an interesting question: what if you had a second chance with someone who is -- or is very like -- your first and only real love? Helen Schulman makes a real effort to delve into the questions about love, lust, memories, and reincarnation... but she never quite figures out how to answer those questions.

Years ago, Louisa was in love with Scott Feinstadt, a sexy charmer who died abruptly, leaving her teenage emotions up in the air. Now she is thirty-eight, divorced from a sex-addicted husband, and living a dull life as a college admissions administrator. Enter F. Scott Feinstadt, a hunky young student who is the spitting image of her dead lover.

Soon Louisa has taken up with F. Scott again, feeling as if she's been given a second chance with the man she loved -- their age differences and different lives make no difference. But what does make a difference is Louisa's ex-husband and her catty best friend. And when her friend spills the beans about Louisa's two Scott Feinstadts, it may destroy her new relationship.

As an idea, "P.S." can't be matched. Schulman dives headfirst into a sort of metaphysical (and VERY physical) tale that just avoids being a Mrs. Robinson story. Is F. Scott a reincarnation, a son, or a cosmic sign? It's also a very compelling story of a woman approaching middle-age, who is looking back on a life devoid of passion and happiness.

What it lacks is a real answer to its own questions. Okay, the ending decides what F. Scott isn't -- but it never tells us what he is either. The similarities between him and his predecessor never quite get explained, but there are too many of them for it to be a coincidence. It sort of putters slowly to a stop, and Schulman's glossy writing can't hide its problems.

Louisa may also annoy readers, since she's a bit of a doormat -- she married a guy she didn't love and stays vaguely interested even though he's a louse. And she remains friends with a woman who seems determined to wreck her life. Why does she have anything to do with these losers? The confused F. Scott is a more likable guy, especially since he's definitely an upgrade from the original model -- he's sweeter, more sensitive, and more monogamous.

"P.S." has some good idea lurking behind the story, but Helen Schulman seems to have written it without a clear idea of how to explain it. An interesting yet very confusing read.

I had fun with this novel. It is a rather unique romance that gives you a new meaning to deja vu. Louise has just run into her childhood love. But it can't be. He died 20 years ago in a car wreck. Actually, it is a whole other person -- or is he? Everything seems to match, including date of birth and other characteristics. The heroine takes us in a witty and sensuous journey in which she tries to figure out who this mysterious person is.

I loved the characterization and witty dialogue. This is the first Helen Schulman novel I have read, and, believe me, it won't be the last. I highly recommend this title.

P.S. is a terrific romantic comedy with a twist. The twist is that there is a plausible story with strong characters. The emphasis in P.S. is much more on romance (or more like lust, love and sex) than on comedy, although it is very funny at times, and always told with humor. Louise has never truly gotten over her first love, Scott Feinstadt, who died in a car accident at 19 a few weeks after breaking up with her (for her best friend). Louise carried on, eventually marrying one of her professors ten years her senior. The marriage ultimately fell apart, but they remained very good friends, very close. Louise drifted along, never realizing the depths of her unhappiness until one day, she comes across F. Scott Feinstadt, a 24 year old man with a more than uncanny resemblance to that first love. Her best friend swings back into the picture, the exhusband gets involved, and Louise discovers some uncomfortable things about the life she has led so far.

While this has all the elements of a standard romantic comedy--unmarried woman, old relationship, new relationship, stumbling blocks in the way--it is much, much better than most. The story is very clever, with nothing outlandish or fairy tale like. It's also a little thought provoking. Schulman ruminates on the nature of relationships and loneliness, of how one can be married, yet still be totally alone. I really enjoyed this one and highly recommend it.

I thought this book was fabulous. I read it in two days. P.S. is both funny and touching-the writing is often so beautiful that I turned down the pages to read them again. Schulman really understands relationships and the complexities of loss and fulfillment. In her main character, Louise, she has created a woman who is filled with her mother's nagging and her own doubts. But Louise is also a strong character, smart and looking for the right kind of love. Not only is the writing wonderful, but the plot is beautifully orchestrated. I cannot say enough about this book.

I'm a bit surprised at some of the reviews below that seem to have expected a crime novel's resolution. The "mystery" never quite being resolved isn't disappointing because that's not truly the focus of the book. It's a reverie, a dream, a story about Louise's journey out of herself, getting unstuck in every possible way. I also think a little knowledge is clearly a dangerous thing when someone complains about the 3rd person POV only showing us the main character. That's because it's 3rd person limited, folks, not omniscient--and a wise choice it is, or there wouldn't be enough tension.

I thought the POV, the language, the wit, the sexuality, everything about this book was magical, surprising, compelling. I reviewed it professionally for the Jerusalem Report Magazine and on NPR's (former) The Todd Mundt Show and felt glad to have those opportunities to bring it to readers' attention. Here's the conclusion of my capsule NPR review: "This a magical, romantic book. The prose is lustrous, the tone comic, the characters deeply imagined and sympathetic. An unusual, unforgettable novel." And here's the last graf of my Jerusalem Report review: "Schulman (author of 'The Revisionist') has a keen eye for New York's colorful street life, which she can invest with the romance of 'The Great Gatsby'when she wants to. She beautifully juggles the comedy and rage flaring up unexpectedly in any intimate relationship and she writes sex scenes as original, elegant and complex as Mary Gordon's in 'Spending' or Lisa Zeidner's in 'Layover.' Poignant and luminous, this is a book to read aloud, to re-read, to urge on friends."

Funny and smart characters. Wonderful plot. I enjoyed this book immensely and read it in a day! Highly recommended.

I saw the movie first - which made me a fan of topher Grace - and since the end was so "unfinished", I had to read the book. And I loved it, well written, I read it in a couple of days! I got completely into the story.
Totally recommend it!

They just made a movie based on this book and Laura Linney will be playing Louise, Topher Grace (Eric Foreman from That 70's Show) will be playing F. Scott, and Marcia Gay Harden will be Missy. I got excited, bought the book, and read it in a record 3 hours, while imagining these characters like they were in a movie with those stars playing them. It was great. I'm glad Topher Grace will be in the movie version, but after reading this book, I think Toby Maguire could have probably played a nice F. Scott also. This book had so many twists and was delicious from beginning to end. I couldn't put it down. I kept thinking, Helen Schulman, don't let me down now and let this be juicy from start to finish and she sure didn't let me down. It only dragged on a little cuz all I really cared about reading was the romance between Louise and her 24 year old look-a-like-returned-from-the-dead guy. I didn't care about what the ex-husband had to say or what her brother did that was so bad..yada yada...but I guess the author had to include some extra stuff to make it a complete book. Missy the bitchy bestfriend is exactly how a bitchy bestfriend should be, harsh but gives it to you real and straight. This book is definitely worth it so buy it.

Louise Harrington ended her 10-year marriage to her former astronomy professor Peter, and now, four years later, she's still lonely and no happier than she was during their marriage. At age 37, she fears she is facing a lonesome spinsterhood. Louise and Peter are still very much involved in each other's lives and see each other several times a week. Their marriage seemed to end because of apathy and neglect. Louise's best friend since high school, Missy, lives across the country in Hollywood , but they talk to each other regularly.

Louise's recent promotion in the admission department at Columbia University involves her in reviewing all applications, and she comes across an application from a student bearing the same name as her high school flame, Scott Feinstadt, who had died suddenly in a car accident on his way to college nearly 20 years ago. Out of curiousity, Louise calls F. Scott, ostensibly to review his application, but they immediately end up as lovers. In some weird time-warp, Louise believes that he is her first lover from so many years ago, the one she never got over. Missy, who had stolen Scott from her years ago, somehow finds out about this new relationship, and gets involved. Although they're supposedly best friends, it seems her life-long goal has been to interfere in Louise's affairs.

Through some improbable plot twists and turns, Louise explores her relationships with Peter, Missy, the deceased Scott, her brother and her mother, eventually arriving at a better understanding of herself. P.S. is an interesting, quirky, humorous exploration of a woman looking for love and meaning in her life. At just over 200 pages, it's an entertaining way to spend a few hours.

This book was horribly written, it drags on to no climax. The characters seemed faceless and immature. The main character needs to get a life! Waste of $$