writing

I am an Elinoir Lipman fan. I enjoyed this book, especially the end. All of the sister's had to take a hard look at themselves. They had bought into their parent's world and the ideas and standards of that time, and it was this world that prevented them from living their lives to the fullest. How many of us reach fifty and realize we have been living someone else's version of what life is and not our own. Nash Harvey is the man many a female has run into in a vunerable moment. We want to believe it is love and that last chance for it only to have our dreams smashed back to reality after we have been taken for the fool. I found this to be enjoyable summer reading with more meat to the story and character development then other books designated as women's summer reading. I became engrossed in the lives of the characters and the story held my attention. I would recommend this to women to read. it addresses a vulnerable side of the female sex that they don't always want to show. It speaks of the relationships among sisters and the need for friends to sustain us through the hard times and laugh with us.

Lipman is a charming and funny writer who is full of wit and verbal sparkle. From its magnetic first sentence to its ingenious climax, this is a superbly entertaining book.

The Dobbin sisters, attractive red-headed spinsters Adele, Lois and Kathleen, live together in relative harmony until Adele's ex-fiance, the incorrigible, debonair and pathologically unreliable Nash Harvey, makes a sudden reappearance on their doorstep. But Nash soon finds out that scorned women do not make gracious hostesses. Yet the re-appearance of Nash Harvey, who deserted Adele Dobbin 30 years ago on the evening of their engagement party, throws the lives of the Dobbin sisters into disarray. Not only is Adele confused and upset, Lois has always had a crush on Nash, and now skittishly dyes her hair blonde.

My only concern with The Ladies' Man was that the narrative was in present tense. This took some adjusting to, and distracted me from the story too often. However, don't let that put you off, because The Ladies' Man is still a delightful novel for when you are in the mood for something light-hearted and cheerful.

This is only the 2nd book I've read by Elinor Lipman, but it certainly won't be the last. This one is even better than the other one I read, The Inn at Lake Devine. It is definitely funnier and kept me turning pages.

The Ladies' Man is set in Boston and tells the story of the three Dobbins sisters, Adele, Lois and Kathleen, all set in spinsterhood, and Nash Harvey, the man who dumped Adele on the night of their engagement party 30 years before. It seems Nash can't move forward in his life (relationship or otherwise) without first mending ways with Adele. So he leaves his girlfriend in California, flies to Boston (and of course, makes a date with Cynthia, his plane-mate), and shows up on Adele's doorstop out of the clear blue. Thing is, Adele is not willing to forgive him. Regardless, Nash's stay in Boston has an effect on her as well as her sisters and brother, Richard, in different and funny ways. And of course, Nash's "Ladies' Man" ways are evident from the very first page.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a simple story, but very interesting and fun to see what would happen next. I recommend The Ladies' Man as a quick, light read and one that will no doubt entertain readers 100 percent. Will be reading more by Elinor, guaranteed!