I've been reading Lionel Shriver's "the post-birthday world" upon the recommendation of the learned NPR book review lady who interviewed Shriver on the air. I found the premise enticing: a woman in a safe, solid relationship falls for a dangerous, dashing snooker player. The novel then follows her down two paths: one, in which she resists temptation and stays with her partner and the second, in which she gives in and goes after the snooker player. The whole thing takes place in England and is fraught with references to Indian restaurants.
For those of us who have buckled in for the long-term with a love-partner (Bob and I joke about future diaper-changing and bib-wearing), it is pretty much a given that at some point, some other hot piece of ass is going to come along and give us a mental run for our money. There is no greater high than new oogly feelings, except maybe heroin. I do not recommend using heroin.
Well, Ms. Shriver understands that too, because no matter which path the protagonist of this novel takes, she's hosed. The snooker player is a borderline-abusive douche who takes over her life. But when she stays with Lawrence, her partner of a decade, he comes across as smarmy and inattentive. In either interweaved story, she just seems lost, malcontent, bratty, sad, and generally unpleasant. Maybe she should just ditch both guys.
At any rate, Ms. Shriver is a balls-out brilliant writer. I salute any novelist who can navigate unreliable narrators and rather dislikable characters the way she can.
I forgot to write about last night's Gift From Bob. Bob's dentist shows her patients CABLE TELEVISION while she cleans and drills, so Bob watched the Food Network while getting dental work. During which time he saw a spot about baked fruit, so last night Bob brought home plums, blackberries, mangos and Three Peaches (like the NMH song) and sprinkled the tops with sugar and baked for twenty or so minutes. When paired with HEB 1905 Vanilla ice cream, it was the most delicious, delightful convergence of fruit and sugar and it brought the word "compote" back to our daily conversations. Thank you, Bob!
Posted by Zerd at May 8, 2007 03:10 PM