Washington Post Book Reviews
For You
Wednesday February 23, 2011
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The Old Romantic
Louise Dean
Riverhead
ISBN NA
$25.95
Reviewed by Yvonne Zipp
It's almost upon us: the most romantic day of the year -- or the biggest con job since P.T. Barnum, depending on your view of Feb. 14. (Still, some of us will accept any excuse to eat chocolate.) It's also the season for love stories, poems and cards dripping glitter and sentiment. While these five novels might sound like the equivalent of a heart-shaped box, they are more for those who like their candy spiked with cayenne pepper. There isn't a conventional romance in the bunch. In fact, I defy Hallmark to create a greeting card to cover some of these scenarios.
2. Family reunions are so touching -- except when it's your family. Nick, social-climbing prodigal son, returns home after 20 years at the request of his younger brother in Louise Dean's remarkably astute comic novel, "The Old Romantic" (Riverhead, $25.95). His dad, Ken, an octogenarian who makes Archie Bunker sound like Miss Manners, wants a divorce from Nick's stepmom and is determined to reunite his family before availing himself of the services of the female funeral director he follows around. (Ken's plans would have a better chance of success if he could stop spewing invective whenever he opens his mouth.) Dean has perfect pitch when it comes to sending up the British working class, but she sneaks in just enough grace to give her characters a chance to prove Thomas Wolfe wrong: As long as you don't expect anyone to get out the good china, you can go home again.
Yvonne Zipp regularly reviews books for the Christian Science Monitor.
Copyright 2011 Washington Post Writers Group
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The Intimates
Ralph Sassone
Farrar Straus Giroux
ISBN NA
$24
Reviewed by Yvonne Zipp
It's almost upon us: the most romantic day of the year -- or the biggest con job since P.T. Barnum, depending on your view of Feb. 14. (Still, some of us will accept any excuse to eat chocolate.) It's also the season for love stories, poems and cards dripping glitter and sentiment. While these five novels might sound like the equivalent of a heart-shaped box, they are more for those who like their candy spiked with cayenne pepper. There isn't a conventional romance in the bunch. In fact, I defy Hallmark to create a greeting card to cover some of these scenarios.
3. It's that age-old story: Boy meets Girl. Boy realizes he prefers boys, but Girl is fun to hang out with, and besides, neither Boy nor Girl is any good at relationships. It's the setup for "Will & Grace," but Ralph Sassone takes a less campy approach in "The Intimates" (Farrar Straus Giroux, $24). Maize and Robbie meet in high school, date briefly, settle for friendship and then become roommates as both struggle with life after college. "The Intimates" is a bit of a misnomer, however: Robbie and Maize don't confide in anyone, even each other.
Yvonne Zipp regularly reviews books for the Christian Science Monitor.
Copyright 2011 Washington Post Writers Group
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