ALTERNATE SIDE
By Anna Quindlen
Anna Quindlen has been a favorite author of mine for several years, so I was excited to have the chance to read and review her latest, Alternate Side, the story of a couple who live in a well-to-do neighborhood in Manhattan.
Several pages in, I became slightly disenchanted, as the story went on for what seemed like forever about a parking lot on the dead-end street where the neighbors lived. The lot does play a significant role in the book, and I’m sure it was meant to also be symbolic of something, as well. I haven’t tried to figure out what, exactly.
For the most part, I stayed annoyed with most of the characters, as they were primarily elitist and self-centered, showing only an occasional glimpse of humanity. Without giving any spoilers, I’ll say that the “unexpected act of violence” brought out very little in the way of concern in anyone, except for a token bit from Nora, the main character. Nora herself was one of my least favorite characters, and although her husband, Charlie, didn’t win any points regarding the “act of violence,” I did find myself feeling a bit sorry for him as I think he could have been a better person if he had been married to someone else.
I was also put off by the very sexist attitudes in the book, exhibited in such lines as, “Charlie was an investment banker…No one really knew what that meant except other finance guys, and they liked the fact that they spoke a secret language that others, especially women, couldn’t understand.” And this, at a dinner party, “The men would talk across the table to each other about work, and the women about their children.” I haven’t yet decided if Ms. Quindlen was poking fun at this behavior, if she was buying into it, or just reporting life as she sees it. I’m sincerely hoping it’s the first option, but since I lost interest in the book early on, I won’t be pursuing her intent.
On the positive side, the story is well-written, and I believe there are plenty of others who will enjoy reading it, and will take it with more of a grain of salt than I did.
I sincerely thank NetGalley and Random House for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
Reviewed March 2018
House of Black and Blue 