Talking in Bed (Paperback)

~ (Author) "THEY MET at a hospital nurses' station, a smooth, flesh-toned, bent elbow of a desk separating two hushed corridors, an axis around which wheeled all..." (more)
Key Phrases: Paddy Limbach, Evan Cole, Didi Limbach (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Antonya Nelson's first novel examines the complexities and ironic inconsistencies of romantic intimacy that she's tackled in her highly acclaimed short stories. Talking in Bed focuses on two married couples on the verge of middle age. Psychologist Evan Cole and his wife Rachel, a lawyer, befriend Paddy (a roofer) and Didi Limbach (a Mormon housewife). The two couples forge an awkward, yet comforting friendship that leads to an affair between Paddy and Rachel. As the dynamics between the characters shift, each tries to keep life from spinning out of control by grasping desperately at love. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

Fans of Nelson's three short-story collections (one of which, The Expendables, won the Flannery O'Connor Award for short fiction) will not be disappointed in her first novel, a provocative portrayal of the psychology of domestic crisis. This is the story of a bizarre and compelling friendship between Evan Cole, a clinical psychologist with a somewhat dysfunctional family, and Paddy Limbach, a roofer who has no idea how to keep a roof over his family's heads. Their attachment begins when both their fathers die within moments of each other at the same hospital. Theirs is an attraction of opposites: invited to Evan and Rachel's house for dinner, Paddy and Didi bring wine coolers, which hardly go with the gamehens Rachel has made. Indeed, Nelson pits all of her superbly realized characters in opposition to one another, generating great tension between friends, husbands and wives, parents and children, brothers and sisters. Envy, adultery and forgiveness figure in the plot, but the telling is never relentless or overbearing. Nelson's fine wit illuminates the comic within the tragic as she paints a stunningly nuanced portrait of the complexities and paradoxes of domestic life.
Copyright 1996 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: 288 pages
• Publisher: Scribner; 1 edition (February 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684838001
• ISBN-13: 978-0684838007
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #772,186 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Maybe worth your time, March 27, 2004

By	jmz "jzarate12" (Fremont, ca United States) - See all my reviews

If you're the type of person that analyzes everything, then I think you would like Talking in Bed. If you don't like analyzing and just want to get through your day and life as it hits you, then Talking in Bed will drive you crazy. I'm stuck somewhere in-between these two types of people, so even though I was slightly annoyed by the character's over-analyzing of everything (even having a puppy -- which is just a small paragraph in the book, not even part of the book as a whole), I did finish the book. I think if a good editor came along and stripped out about 100 pages or so of Ms. Nelson's novel, then Talking in Bed would have appealed more to me.

It's just a bit too much for a situation that happens in life (marriage falling apart, death in family, infidelity -- not really new and shocking at this point of my life). I'm not even sure if at the end of the novel that the characters have grown at all or learned anything from their experiences. Only one character seemed to come to terms with something he did (killed his father -- but you have to read the book to understand that's not as mental as it may sound), and once he told his wife about doing it two years later, he was instantly absolved and mentally healthier. I just find that hard to believe.

Talking in Bed has some pretty heavy content but it's not content that I think is necessarily worth the time getting through. Use your best judgment based on your personality, otherwise you may be completely annoyed that you spent the money on the book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Surprised to be So Touched and Moved, May 30, 2001

By	Ricky Hunter (New York City, NY United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Antonya Nelson's Talking in Bed is a wonderful book. I became enraptured by the three main characters and fell head long into their lives. The triangle they form changes all their lives forever and even the resolution is equal parts both satisfying and disturbing because these three people will never be the same. That is both good and bad as it is the world outside of fiction. I give the author many points for making me care so much about these people (and even the main couple's children are given marvelous, small places to shine). The book is smart and very touching without becoming sentimental. There are no epiphanies only small decisions and deceits that reverberate. A wonderful read.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good Story--Expected More, August 24, 1998

By A Customer

What I loved most about this novel was that it was set in my hometown. Ms. Nelson has a good feel for the city and she certainly placed the characters in the right neighborhoods for their socio-economic ranks.

However, I had a difficult time believing that the affair would last so long before Evan did anything. This part was the only reason why I didn't like the book as much. It would take nearly a year from the time he discovers his wife is having an affair to wake up from his Jodi-coma? I can't imagine a Chicago guy doing this...or rather not doing anything.

Minor drawback perhaps, but a key one for this reader. Looking forward to the next work.