Fly Away Home
Publication date/ Length: 2010 / 397 pages
First line: Breakfast in five-star hotels was always the same.
Synopsis (from the jacket cover): When Sylvie Serfer met Richard Woodruff in law school, she had wild curls, wide hips, and lots of opinions. Decades later, Sylvie has remade herself as a the ideal politician’s wife — her hair dyed and straightened, her hippie-chick wardrobe replaced by tailored knit suits. At fifty-seven, she ruefully acknowledges that her job is staying twenty pounds thinner than she was in her twenties and tending to her husband, the senator.
Review: I’m a fan of Weiner’s fiction and this novel was a welcome reprieve from the pain of losing my dog, as well as a quiet respite snuggled into a wild, fun weekend with my niece and nephews. I would not consider this her very best — Good in Bed and In Her Shoes were stronger — but I definitely recommend her latest effort to other fans.
One issue with Fly Away Home was the premise, which unfortunately seems a bit tired nowadays. Cheating politicians and their long-suffering wives just aren’t that interesting — or fresh — even though Weiner’s focus on the wife and daughters was interesting. The other issue was that the daughters were not overly sympathetic characters — especially the older one. The younger daughter, Lizzie, seemed as pale in her characterization as her personality was supposed to be within the narrative. I would have liked more spunk with Lizzie — and certainly more compassion from Diana. But Sylvie, the mother of the two girls, and her own mother were very well-wrought and three-dimensional. I would love to see an entire novel on Sylvie’s mother, quite honestly!
So, while I enjoyed this novel and look forward to Weiner’s next, I was a bit disappointed that it didn’t seem fresher. Any one else read this yet? Am I being too harsh?
I felt the same way – I enjoyed the book, but felt it was almost a treatment for the screenplay. Destined to become a fairly predictable romantic comedy starring Sally Field? Diane Keaton? I did like it, but not as much as her earlier books.
Interesting review- I’m looking forward to reading this because I like the author so much. I loved Good In Bed and Little Earthquakes. Thanks for the reminder that JW has another book out!