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July 17, 2006
The Inn at Lake Devine by Elinor Lipman
Welcome to the Darien Library’s first ever online community book discussion. A few brief comments about how this will work:
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Not finished with the book yet? Don't worry. Join us at anytime during the on-going session.
I’ll introduce a new topic for discussion periodically over the next month. You can add your own topics, questions or thoughts at any time. So this should be a rather free form chat much as if we were all in a room together.
Click here on the title, The Inn at Lake Devine, for more information. When the ‘Darien Library Catalog’ screen appears, click on the 'Learn More' highlighted box. Then click ‘Syndetics’ and choose the reviews you want.
Click here to read the New York Times review.
The New York Times review said the book, “waltzes fearlessly through a minefield of identity politics, Anti-Semitism, intermarriage, ethnic cuisine” as “some of the unlikely, loaded subjects of this witty romantic comedy.” Other reviews say the book expertly combines tragedy and romance in a provocative comedy full of sparkling social mischief. Lipman has chosen a challenging backdrop for her humor. So, did the book tickle your funny bone?
Posted by marianne at July 17, 2006 08:00 AM
Comments
Good summer read. The funniest line was when Natalie said her summer job working for her fruit vendor dad was rubbing the fuzz off of peaches when a customer wanted nectarines. If you liked this book, pick up any of Suzanne Strempek Shea's books that deal with Polish Catholic families living in Western MA - especially "Selling the Lite of Heaven". Some humor mixed in with a good family story.
Posted by: connie at July 17, 2006 05:11 PM
I liked that line too, Connie. I laughed out loud reading that sentence, although overall I didn't think this was a laugh out loud funny book, even though it was very humorous. I think most of the humor came from her satire of Jewish-Christian relationships, for example Mr. Fife, who overcompensated when he found out Natalie was Jewish, and Kris and Nelson's experiences at the Catskills resort. Of course, the way Natalie unwittingly took revenge on the Berrys was the funniest part of all.
Posted by: Emily at July 18, 2006 02:16 PM
I liked the book--my first by Elinor Lipman. But like Emily, I didn't find it laugh out loud funny. It was, however, humorous, and the characterizations were well done. As a non-Jew, I felt a wee bit uncomfortable with the blatant anti-Semitism expressed by Mrs. Berry, but the author handles this and some other sensitive topics with skill and humor. Anyone who has ever accompanied a friend or family member to a club, restaurant, or other establishment not open to the public at large, can relate to Natalie's feelings as the outsider in the extended Berry family. Well worth reading and a quick read!
Posted by: Judy at July 18, 2006 06:59 PM
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was fun, but also serious in many ways. I was shocked when Robin was killed off. I loved the reference to Pappagallo shoes! I had forgotten about those.
Posted by: Cathy at July 26, 2006 12:02 PM
I thought the book was a pleasant quick read but far from the funniest I've read. The characters were stereotypes but in general it was entertaining.
Shades of "Marjorie Morningstar"!
Posted by: Jeanne at August 2, 2006 11:38 AM