The View from Penthouse B

Every time I read an [a:Elinor Lipman 63681 Elinor Lipman https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1482327276p2/63681.jpg] book, I wonder, “where does she come up with these wacky situations?” (I'm hoping it's not real life, but the old adage is “write what you know” so maybe. . .)In this case, the reasons why the three main characters are unmarried and unemployed vary, but each stems from a unique neurosis. All of their wacky circumstances are brought to life with sparse description and vivid dialogue that makes the story sail right along.Possibly most entertaining were the ways Lipman expressed Margot's ex-husband “helping” the patients at his gynecological practice conceive—a practice that landed him in prison. Euphemisms abounded. Hysterically.Overall, it's a story of coping with good friends and a little time. Well worth reading.

One of my new favorite authors. Characters are just complicated enough and the dialogue is hilarious.

I had the odd experience of feeling like most of the action and plot in this book was stuffed into the last quarter. I also like the characters very much but wasn't sure why I was supposed to care about them: they seemed stuck, but the stasis wasn't very compelling.