Rebecca Makkai's review is a wonderful read in itself. Intelligent, insightful, emotionally resonant without giving away too much of the book. I can't wait to explore the work of both Makkai and Tessa Hadley.
15
I like Tessa Hadley's work very much and have read all her books. I'll seek out "Late in the Day" and read this latest one,too.
However, if I were someone who didn't know her, then based on this hopelessly confusing review I would definitely conclude that this was an author/a book I'd not bother looking for.
If I were Ms.Hadley, I'd not be at all pleased with this review.
3
@Hochelaga. Are you sure your response is the reviewer’s fault? The review is clear and incisive.
9
Is everything brilliant?
3
When are we going to insist that female writers create fully fleshed out male characters as well?
Female characters are are given a depth and complexity in this novel yet the novelist seems to feel no compunction or a generosity of spirit towards its male protagonists.
Imagine the amount of bile and vitriol that would have been generated if a male author had doled out the same treatment to his female characters today.
This double standard needs to end.
14
I am curious if you have read the book? To me, Ms. Hadley's characters are all three-dimensional, complex, flawed and usually like able despite their flaws. To those who checked the "recommend" box, have you already read this book? Or anything by Tessa Hadley? I have read several of her short stories and I am currently reading one of her novels. I haven't come across any one dimensional characters of either gender.
33
@BoingBoing
Don't ridiculous. Christine is the main character. Everyone else is a supporting player. Lydia is no more fleshed out than Alex. Ditto Grace and Isobel. And how can you say there's no generosity of spirit towards Zachary? Unless your tongue is in your cheek??
23
@BoingBoing When has there ever been a double standard? It's a straw man argument. I wonder if the fact that Hadley got reviewed in the NYT helps fuel your outrage. I've heard so much about the snarky and sometimes cannibalistic New York literary scene; perhaps this is an example of it. You know what's the best thing to do when a colleague's success pisses you off? Write a book about it. Maybe they'll make it into a movie.
3