Sort of Rich [Paperback]

James Wilcox (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 16, 1999

"Fate-a chance meeting in a New Orleans souvenir shop-has propelled Gretchen Peabody, former Manhattanite, into a new life as the wife of a fetching former widower in Tula Springs, Louisiana. Gretchen's culture shock, as she acquaints herself with her husband's bizarre household, whose denizens include a handyman/mystic and a stolidly Teutonic housekeeper, is but a prelude to the richly moving and comic story that begins to unfold when fate intrudes once again."

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This wonderful, insightful, hilarious story of a classic marriage mismatch reveals Wilcox ( Modern Baptists, Miss Undine's Living Room ) at his best. Fortyish, unmarried Gretchen, of old New York family and money, literally runs into widower Frank Dambar (unaccountably pronounced "Denner") in a souvenir shop in New Orleans. Instant chemistry turns quickly to marriage, she moves into his Tula Springs, Louisiana, home, and though infatuation remains (Frank likes to fantasize that she's a maid), in all other areas of life, the two might as well be from different planets. Devoted old housekeeper Mrs. Howard and odd handyman Leo, as well as the lingering influence of dead wife Jane, add to the household tension. Warmly recommended for all fiction collections.
- Ann H. Fisher, Radford P.L., Va.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

From "one of the most promising fiction writers on the national scene" (Los Angeles Times) comes "an exceedingly well-crafted tale of blind spots and self-delusions, alternately hilarious and sobering."--Time --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Back Bay Books (September 16, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316940445
• ISBN-13: 978-0316940443
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #875,563 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Embedded in culture, August 29, 2007

By 

Mary E. Sibley (Carneys Point, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Sort of Rich (Paperback)

Gretchen and Frank Dambar are being visited by Gretchen's cousin Henry. Henry is heedless of bourgeois scruples. Instead of feeding the catfish he jumps right into the pond. Gretchen feels her friends are drifting to the right. They talk about nannies and step children.

The author has juxtaposed a native of Louisiana with someone from New York City and has illustrated the misunderstandings caused by the existence of two different cultures. The result is amusing and reasonable, at least to some extent. Differences and areas of potential disagreement include money, family servants, relatives, and friends. He thinks she is neurotic, particularly about money, and she thinks there is something wrong with his relationship with the handyman.

The Dambars are newlyweds but they are also middle-aged. Other people expect them to be able to read the social cues without difficulty. Frank Dambar appeals to his handyman to try to understand his new wife and to consider that they have a shared interest in philosophy. Gretchen learns in the end what living in a small town means as she encounters secrets and deaths.

James Wilcox is so funny that he can make a reader enjoy shopping at Wal-Mart with his characters.

5.0 out of 5 stars Dysfunctional or loveable?, February 14, 2008

By 

Frances D. Granatino (Malvern, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sort of Rich (Paperback)

Fans of Jonathan Franzen's "The Corrections" will love James Wilcox's work. His characters are both lovable and horrific; reading the book is like watching a train wreck that is almost about to happen. His Woodstockian handyman, Leo, acts as a nice foil to two mature folks who have fallen in love, haphazardly, and now have to deal with the consequences. And all this set in Tulsa Springs, in the deep south. Faulkner would have raised his glass to this author. Really great stuff, and the straight-faced comic relief is worth the price of admission. And far be it from me to give the plot away.