The Dearly Departed (Paperback)

But then King George is full of surprises. Home for the first time since high school, Sunny finds herself reassessing the place. She has ample reason to regret her teenage years (poor, no father, only girl on golf team, dead carp found in golf bag). But how far can a grudge take you in life? Can we ever really know the truth about our parents? What state of mind does it take to shoot par? Lipman addresses such questions with her customary lighthearted touch, sketching out her ensemble cast with rapid and comical strokes. (Witness, for example, anorexic congressional candidate Emily Ann Grandjean's most characteristic tic: "constant sips from a large bottle of brand-name water, then the ceremonial screwing of its cap back on once, twice, full-body twists as if volatile and poisonous gases would escape without her intervention." ) In the end, all loose ends are neatly tied up and all single characters are suitably paired--in other words, the author once again produces the kind of visceral satisfaction readers associate with her work. It's hard not to devour an Elinor Lipman novel in one sitting; put this one away for a time when you won't have to put it down. --Mary Park, Amazon.com --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review
'Elinor Lipman is that rarest of things, a charming and funny writer who is also very wise.' Arthur Golden, author of Memoirs of a Geisha 'Excellent vivid characters, shrewd observations, superb dialogue and a strong plot.' Leo McKinstry, Sunday Telegraph 'Even though The Dearly Departed is shot through with divorce and infidelity, one carries away a feeling that love, intimacy and shared DNA are at the heart of a good life.' William Sutcliffe, Independent on Sunday 'As joyously funny as Lipman's bestselling The Ladies Man but more deeply felt.' Good Housekeeping

Sondra 'Sunny' Batten and Fletcher Finn are unwillingly thrust into contact by the death of their parents - her mother, his father - who, together have been found dead from carbon monoxide poisoning. The relationship between their parents, and their possible relationship to each other, becomes a source of gossip for others and curiosity for themselves as they deal with the aftermath of the unexpected joint death. Sunny and Fletcher's responses over the ensuing weeks are woven into a clever portrayal of small-town America and the claustrophobic minutiae of its citizen's daily lives. Despite the subject matter, this is a mild, gentle story whose intrigue whispers from the sidelines: are Sunny and Fletcher really half-siblings? What kind of life was Sunny's mother Margaret leading here? Frivolous vignettes of the side-characters intersperse what main action there is - the sobbing doctor who shames his wife by his public mourning for Margaret; the teenager who shoots the Chief of Police then swans into the local cafe wearing a stolen Rolex; the spoiled little-rich-girl congressional candidate for whom Fletcher is reluctantly working. The style of this novel would once have merited the description 'comedy of manners', and the writing often seems to hail from an earlier era, so that it comes a shock to find the odd sprinkling of F-words. Lipman - author of 'The Inn At Lake Devine' - allows her characters to reveal themselves as if without assistance from her. The happy ending comes as no particular surprise, but amiably draws the reader as towards the last cherry in the bowl. (Kirkus UK)

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