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Review
'Elinor Lipman's social satire is Larry David without the high-pitched whine...It's hard (even annoying) to have to put her novels... down. Delightful... snappy and smart'
(LA Times )'Delightful... just because something is 'light' doesn't mean it's not masterful...exquisite... Lipman mesmerized me. She hypnotized me. I admit it freely: I fell victim to the Elinor Lipman Effect'
(Washington Post )'Sparkling...original, funny, achingly human characters'
(Entertainment Weekly )'Elinor Lipman's tenth book finds her at the top of her singular game... Lipman's comic touch remains light but never slight. She writes dialogue that sizzles with playful, effortless wit'
(National Public Radio )Product Description
THE FAMILY MAN is classic Elinor Lipman - irresistible, incisive and pure pleasure to read.
Henry Archer is a lawyer: successful, gay, lonely. Thalia, his estranged step-daughter, is about to embark on a risky plan to further her Hollywood career. Henry needs love; Thalia needs family. But is moving Thalia and her complicated love-life into the basement of his Manhattan townhouse a recipe for disaster? Or might chaos be the making of them all?
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
In this Austen-esque comedy of manners, filled with a bubbly assortment of likeable characters, The Family Man focuses on the middle-aged lawyer Henry Archer who finds himself caught up in a new kind of parenting situation that seems to be totally beyond control. After sending a letter of condolence to his ex-wife Denise, after her new husband suddenly dies of a heart attack, Henry doesn't realize that he's surreptitiously thrown Denise a lifeline. Finally catching up after several years, their meeting is full of recriminations even as Henry continues to wonder why he'd been young and selfish when he'd suddenly relinquished his rights as a parent. Adding to Henry's complicated retirement is Thalia, the coat-check girl who works at his local hair salon and who turns out to be his long-lost step daughter, and who innocently became the collateral damage in Henry's rather messy divorce from Denise. Thalia, an aspiring actress, appears well adjusted and content, but as the two pore their heart out to one another over a glass of wine (without Denise's knowledge), Thalia unfurls her secret plan to enter in to type of faux engagement current horror luminary and budding young movie star Leif Dumont.
Leif who aches to break into the big time, but so does Thalia, who will stop at nothing to use this as a way to get exposure. Determined to act like she's in love, Leif is trying to do his best to reciprocate in a way that repackages him as a desirable and attractive actor. Henry is initially supportive of Thalia's plan and glad officially re-meet with Thalia, but he chooses keeps the bourgeoning friendship with his neglected and estranged daughter from Denise who is still in the bad books for mortally offending everyone with thoughtless remarks at the funeral of her husband. While Denise whines about being left with nothing, she hooks Henry up with lovable Todd who eventually becomes the aging lawyer's voice of reason in his urbane and somewhat genteel topsy-turvy life.
Meanwhile, Lipman infects her novel with a jumble of different personalities, all proving to be Henry's nemesis and threatening his new role as dissembler, withholder, and covert social operator. Although Henry wants to make good in the promises he has made to himself with respect to the good deeds of early retirement, his new step-daughter - who suddenly ensconces herself in his maisonette apartment - threatens to become far too much of a distraction and is in danger of giving him his fair share of headaches.
Cleverly lampooning the New Yorkers, Lipman's novel bursts with energy and quirky characters as Henry unexpectedly finds true love and a soul mate in Todd who still hasn't told Lillian, his octogenarian mother that he's g*y. Packed with silly situations, clichéd but lovable characters, and incidences that almost defy logic, I wanted to like this novel more than I did. Still, Lipman's joke-fuelled dialogue propels the story lighting along and her pop-culture references give the story a contemporary feel. This is a witty, sly and self-deprecatory adventure into the world of a lawyer cum diplomat who finds love in a new kind of family. Ultimately, the novel's penchant for the innocent and the author's manner of humanizing even the most bizarre incidences make The Family Man a celebration the absurdities of the human condition and the willingness to endure even the most bizarre of circumstances for the sake of those whom we love. Mike Leonard May 09.
Leif who aches to break into the big time, but so does Thalia, who will stop at nothing to use this as a way to get exposure. Determined to act like she's in love, Leif is trying to do his best to reciprocate in a way that repackages him as a desirable and attractive actor. Henry is initially supportive of Thalia's plan and glad officially re-meet with Thalia, but he chooses keeps the bourgeoning friendship with his neglected and estranged daughter from Denise who is still in the bad books for mortally offending everyone with thoughtless remarks at the funeral of her husband. While Denise whines about being left with nothing, she hooks Henry up with lovable Todd who eventually becomes the aging lawyer's voice of reason in his urbane and somewhat genteel topsy-turvy life.
Meanwhile, Lipman infects her novel with a jumble of different personalities, all proving to be Henry's nemesis and threatening his new role as dissembler, withholder, and covert social operator. Although Henry wants to make good in the promises he has made to himself with respect to the good deeds of early retirement, his new step-daughter - who suddenly ensconces herself in his maisonette apartment - threatens to become far too much of a distraction and is in danger of giving him his fair share of headaches.
Cleverly lampooning the New Yorkers, Lipman's novel bursts with energy and quirky characters as Henry unexpectedly finds true love and a soul mate in Todd who still hasn't told Lillian, his octogenarian mother that he's g*y. Packed with silly situations, clichéd but lovable characters, and incidences that almost defy logic, I wanted to like this novel more than I did. Still, Lipman's joke-fuelled dialogue propels the story lighting along and her pop-culture references give the story a contemporary feel. This is a witty, sly and self-deprecatory adventure into the world of a lawyer cum diplomat who finds love in a new kind of family. Ultimately, the novel's penchant for the innocent and the author's manner of humanizing even the most bizarre incidences make The Family Man a celebration the absurdities of the human condition and the willingness to endure even the most bizarre of circumstances for the sake of those whom we love. Mike Leonard May 09.
Format:Paperback
I don't often reread book but I've just read this for the second time. Everything about it is a delight from the New York setting to the characters and dialogue. Henry and Todd are so lovely you want them as your best friends, and with these two in charge the plot careers merrily along, touching on some quite deep subjects - loneliness, abandonement, caring for elderly parents - without ever losing its light touch. Highly recommended for anyone who needs cheering up.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
40 reviews
23 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Another marvelous read...
21 April 2009
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Elinor Lipman's latest is another in a long line of great comedy-of-manner novels she's written. Maybe not quite as good as Lake Divine and Dearly Departed, but almost at that level.
There's something unique in Lipman's writing that I've tried to figure out in all ten of her novels. Her secondary characters are written as brilliantly as her main characters. I don't know how she does it - I guess that's why I'm a reader and not a writer - but maybe it's her wonderful dialogue. I'm left after reading her novels with the - unacted on, of course - urge to call her and ask her to write another novel, using the same characters, taking the storyline further. As all her novels are "stand-alones", it's clear she considers each one finished at the end.
She is a worthy successor to the late Laurie Colwin.
There's something unique in Lipman's writing that I've tried to figure out in all ten of her novels. Her secondary characters are written as brilliantly as her main characters. I don't know how she does it - I guess that's why I'm a reader and not a writer - but maybe it's her wonderful dialogue. I'm left after reading her novels with the - unacted on, of course - urge to call her and ask her to write another novel, using the same characters, taking the storyline further. As all her novels are "stand-alones", it's clear she considers each one finished at the end.
She is a worthy successor to the late Laurie Colwin.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
A charming book overall-but so very different from the Lipman I know and love
23 Dec 2009
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Ever since my days of only reading books with pastel covers and subsequent introduction to Isabel's Bed I have been a die hard Elinor Lipman fan. I've read everything she's published, own them all and love them all. I can very safely say she's never written a book-much less a chapter-that I didn't like.
When I started "The Family Man" though I thought that was all about to change. Lipman's normal writing style is very descriptive-lots of explained body language written into the text and historical background on characters and tons of detail about clothing, food and architecture. When you add in her slightly soap opera-ish plots with all of their melodrama and black humor you get these perfect, fun books with fast paced plots that aren't too serious and oodles of characters to fall in love with.
But Lipman's latest book is different. For one thing, "The Family Man" is about ninety percent witty dialog (all well written) with very sparse descriptions of anything-including the characters emotions. And then there's the plot-the reuniting of retired gay lawyer Henry Archer with his once upon a time adopted daughter Thalia after her second adopted father's death 24 years after he gave up a custody battle that had him painted as unfit because of his sexuality-and the subsequent changes in his love life and general happiness and interest level afterward. I know it sounds complicated but it's really, really not. This is a very simple book. The writing style is simple, the plot (which is barely even there, it's more of a gradual progression of events with a total lack of conflict) is simple and while the book does come off as rather charming it's almost a compete 180 from Lipman's other books. The whole thing kind of has the feel of a novella too it (think "Shopgirl" with less emotional depth and poignancy) including the length. Despite its deceptive 300 page total this is a very small book with large text and huge margins.
There's nothing really bad about this novel, but it really was not what I expected from Lipman. It's true that I've always enjoyed her books written in first person better than those written in third (and this one is in third) but that's not even really the issue. This book just reads like a different author altogether wrote it. As it stands on its own it's a cute, charming little book with a lot of snappy talk too it that I did enjoy but it doesn't really compare to Isabel's Bed,The Inn at Lake Devine or The Pursuit of Alice Thrift.
If I'd never read anything else by Lipman I'd say four stars, but with my experience of her other novels I have to admit to being disappointed by this one with its lack of detail and emotional characterization.
Three stars. I'd wait for the paperback version folks, or get this one from the library before committing to buy.
When I started "The Family Man" though I thought that was all about to change. Lipman's normal writing style is very descriptive-lots of explained body language written into the text and historical background on characters and tons of detail about clothing, food and architecture. When you add in her slightly soap opera-ish plots with all of their melodrama and black humor you get these perfect, fun books with fast paced plots that aren't too serious and oodles of characters to fall in love with.
But Lipman's latest book is different. For one thing, "The Family Man" is about ninety percent witty dialog (all well written) with very sparse descriptions of anything-including the characters emotions. And then there's the plot-the reuniting of retired gay lawyer Henry Archer with his once upon a time adopted daughter Thalia after her second adopted father's death 24 years after he gave up a custody battle that had him painted as unfit because of his sexuality-and the subsequent changes in his love life and general happiness and interest level afterward. I know it sounds complicated but it's really, really not. This is a very simple book. The writing style is simple, the plot (which is barely even there, it's more of a gradual progression of events with a total lack of conflict) is simple and while the book does come off as rather charming it's almost a compete 180 from Lipman's other books. The whole thing kind of has the feel of a novella too it (think "Shopgirl" with less emotional depth and poignancy) including the length. Despite its deceptive 300 page total this is a very small book with large text and huge margins.
There's nothing really bad about this novel, but it really was not what I expected from Lipman. It's true that I've always enjoyed her books written in first person better than those written in third (and this one is in third) but that's not even really the issue. This book just reads like a different author altogether wrote it. As it stands on its own it's a cute, charming little book with a lot of snappy talk too it that I did enjoy but it doesn't really compare to Isabel's Bed,The Inn at Lake Devine or The Pursuit of Alice Thrift.
If I'd never read anything else by Lipman I'd say four stars, but with my experience of her other novels I have to admit to being disappointed by this one with its lack of detail and emotional characterization.
Three stars. I'd wait for the paperback version folks, or get this one from the library before committing to buy.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
"If possible, let bygones be bygones."
7 May 2009
Format:Hardcover
In Elinor Lipman's "The Family Man," Henry Archer is a recently retired and unattached attorney who happens to be gay. Henry has a shallow, self-centered, and grating ex-wife, Denise, whose third husband, Glenn Krouch, recently passed away at the age of seventy. All of a sudden, Denise tries to weasel her way back into Henry's good graces. She seeks free legal advice, since Krouch's two sons from a former marriage have inherited pretty much everything from their late father. Denise gets a monthly allowance, monitored by the older son and executor, Glenn Junior. It seems that her stepsons are holding her to a prenuptial agreement, "a hideously airtight legal document," that may even force her to leave her ten room apartment on Park Avenue in New York City.
Henry has no desire to become his ex-wife's buddy or knight in shining armor. When he visits Denise, however, he notices photos of Thalia, his stepdaughter whom he hasn't seen since she was a little girl. Much to his shock, he realizes that Thalia works in the salon where he has his hair cut. Henry decides to reacquaint himself with this now lovely twenty-nine year old woman, who is an aspiring actress and a delightful human being. They soon become fast friends, and Henry does his utmost to make up for the decades during which he and Thalia were separated.
Elinor Lipman is the undisputed queen of the contemporary comedy of manners, and once again, she serves up a frothy and witty soufflé with farcical overtones, a somewhat silly and lightweight plot, romantic entanglements, and amusing banter. The author never takes her subject matter too seriously. Instead, she has fun getting her offbeat cast of characters into and out of outlandish situations. Her theme is the importance of relationships between parents and children, husbands and wives, and any other configuration that works. During the course of this warm and witty novel, Henry finally lets go of the past and embraces the future with renewed optimism and joy. He finally experiences the great satisfaction of loving someone special and being loved in return.
Henry has no desire to become his ex-wife's buddy or knight in shining armor. When he visits Denise, however, he notices photos of Thalia, his stepdaughter whom he hasn't seen since she was a little girl. Much to his shock, he realizes that Thalia works in the salon where he has his hair cut. Henry decides to reacquaint himself with this now lovely twenty-nine year old woman, who is an aspiring actress and a delightful human being. They soon become fast friends, and Henry does his utmost to make up for the decades during which he and Thalia were separated.
Elinor Lipman is the undisputed queen of the contemporary comedy of manners, and once again, she serves up a frothy and witty soufflé with farcical overtones, a somewhat silly and lightweight plot, romantic entanglements, and amusing banter. The author never takes her subject matter too seriously. Instead, she has fun getting her offbeat cast of characters into and out of outlandish situations. Her theme is the importance of relationships between parents and children, husbands and wives, and any other configuration that works. During the course of this warm and witty novel, Henry finally lets go of the past and embraces the future with renewed optimism and joy. He finally experiences the great satisfaction of loving someone special and being loved in return.
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