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Title details for The Family Man by Elinor Lipman - Wait list

The Family Man

by Elinor Lipman
Jonathan Davis
Audiobook
0 of 1 copy available
Wait time: About 4 weeks
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0 of 1 copy available
Wait time: About 4 weeks
A hysterical phone call from Henry Archer's ex-wife and a familiar face in a photograph upend his well ordered life and bring him back into contact with the child he adored, a short-term stepdaughter from a misbegotten marriage long ago. Henry is a lawyer, an old fashioned man, gay, successful, and lonely. Thalia is now 28, a hopeful actress, estranged from her newly widowed crackpot mother—Denise, Henry's ex. Hoping it will lead to better things for her career, Thalia agrees to pose as the girlfriend of a former child star and current horror movie luminary who is down on his romantic luck. When Thalia and her complicated social life move into the basement of Henry's Upper West Side townhouse, she finds a champion in her long lost father, and he finds new life—and maybe even new love—in the commotion.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    April 1, 2009

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9780792762607
      • File size: 285766 KB
      • Duration: 09:55:20

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      A diverse group of characters comes together in this light and humorous story, which is delightfully read. Jonathan Davis deftly portrays a cultured and successful middle-aged gay man, his flamboyant partner, his elderly Jewish mother (who is prone to Yiddish phrases), his scheming ex-wife, his overly dramatic stepdaughter, and her monotone boyfriend. Davis masterfully delivers the characters' witty repartee and the elegant descriptions of the magazine-perfect New York City brownstone with basement maisonette. Secondary characters, such as the proprietors of the local ethnic eateries and specialty shops, also come to life. This is a fun-filled romp in the big city. E.V.B. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine
    • Publisher's Weekly

      Starred review from February 9, 2009
      A divorced gay man's vanquished paternalism returns when he reconnects with his long-lost stepdaughter in Lipman's hilarious and moving 10th novel. Set in New York, the book opens with Henry Archer phoning his ex-wife, Denise, to offer condolences over the death of her husband, the man Denise divorced then-closeted Henry for. Upon visiting Denise, Henry notices photos of now grown stepdaughter Thalia, a charming wannabe actress he recognizes from the hair salon in his neighborhood, and determines to reenter her life. What ensues is a heartwarming reconnection as Henry and Thalia relearn what it means to be a father and daughter, respectively. When Thalia is hired by a PR firm to play the role of real-life girlfriend to a struggling actor, Henry's fatherly instinct and legal background compel him to ask Thalia to move in with him and to serve as her attorney. During the process of managing Thalia's career, Henry also grows closer to Denise, meets a handsome man and rediscovers the joy of family. The plot alone will suck in readers, but Lipman's knack for creating lovable and multifaceted characters is the real draw.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      George Newbern narrates Elinor Lipman's entertaining comedy with zest and an appreciation of its mix of improbability and realism. The blend of screwball and social humor focuses on Henry, a sympathetic retired lawyer who came out as gay late in life. His comfortable life on New York's Upper West Side is upended by a needy ex-wife, a handsome home design expert who lives with a mensch of a mother, and a rediscovered stepdaughter whose love life is convoluted. Many amusing complications ensue. Newbern's pleasant tenor has an audible smile, and his crisp performance matches the zippy dialogue and pell-mell action. The male characters occasionally sound similar, but no matter. Newbern knows this is fun and delivers. A.C.S. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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