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The romantics
Niederhoffer, Galt.
Adult Fiction NIEDERH
From Publishers' Weekly:
In film producer Niederhoffer's wan second novel (following A Taxonomy of Barnacles), a love triangle takes center stage among an amorous group of nine Yale friends known to each other as "The Romantics." As the group reunites for the marriage of Lila Hayes and Tom McDevon at a Maine estate six years after graduation, Niederhoffer omnisciently narrates the rivalry between wealthy blonde Lila and raven-haired Laura, her maid of honor and former roommate--"the Nick to Lila's Gatsby." Laura and Tom dated early on in college, and their continuing relationship haunts Tom and Lila's over the ensuing years, which naturally causes friction. After the rehearsal dinner, the entire wedding party, minus Lila, embarks on a raucous evening of drinking and reminiscing. Neither the characters nor the story convince as Niederhoffer repeats thin stereotypes in a vain attempt to strengthen the plot: Laura the ethnic outsider; Tom the complex man yearning for an uncomplicated relationship; Lila the uncomplicated beauty with all of the necessary social accoutrements. The rest of the cast serves as background noise in this forgettable postcollegiate exercise. (July) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
From Library Journal:
Niederhoffer's debut novel, A Taxonomy of Barnacles, centered on an upper-class Manhattan family. The wealthy continue to fascinate the author in her sophomore effort that focuses on the lives of a group of friends who meet at Yale. Their predilection for having love affairs with one another had the other students on campus dubbing them "The Romantics." Opening ten years after college, the novel centers on Laura, the single Jewish member of the Romantics' Wasp-y and superwealthy enclave. Laura's great college love was Tom. After Tom and Laura broke up, Tom took up with Lila, Laura's beautiful and popular yet consistently disliked roommate. Throughout Tom and Lila's relationship, Tom continued to talk to and see Laura, leading all to assume that the Tom and Lila pairing was a farce. But no--now the Romantics have come together again for Tom and Lila's wedding at Lila's amazing oceanfront country house in Maine. Lila's intimidating mother, Augusta, is running the occasion like a tight ship. Laura, the maid of honor, is devastated; the rest of the group thinks perhaps Tom is marrying Lila to get a piece of her sizable inheritance. The night before the wedding, as the crew parties on a small boat off the coast, Tom disappears. Did he drown? Did he run away? Laura and her friends try to solve the mystery before the wedding begins. Once again, it's interesting to read about how the wealthy live. From Augusta's fretting about the centerpieces to Laura's longing, the emotions run from shallow to deep. Niederhoffer weaves the characters together in an intense, crisp story line that will appeal to readers who enjoyed her first book. For most fiction collections.--Beth Gibbs, Davidson, NC (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Niederhoffer, Galt.
Adult Fiction NIEDERH
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From Publishers' Weekly:
In film producer Niederhoffer's wan second novel (following A Taxonomy of Barnacles), a love triangle takes center stage among an amorous group of nine Yale friends known to each other as "The Romantics." As the group reunites for the marriage of Lila Hayes and Tom McDevon at a Maine estate six years after graduation, Niederhoffer omnisciently narrates the rivalry between wealthy blonde Lila and raven-haired Laura, her maid of honor and former roommate--"the Nick to Lila's Gatsby." Laura and Tom dated early on in college, and their continuing relationship haunts Tom and Lila's over the ensuing years, which naturally causes friction. After the rehearsal dinner, the entire wedding party, minus Lila, embarks on a raucous evening of drinking and reminiscing. Neither the characters nor the story convince as Niederhoffer repeats thin stereotypes in a vain attempt to strengthen the plot: Laura the ethnic outsider; Tom the complex man yearning for an uncomplicated relationship; Lila the uncomplicated beauty with all of the necessary social accoutrements. The rest of the cast serves as background noise in this forgettable postcollegiate exercise. (July) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
From Library Journal:
Niederhoffer's debut novel, A Taxonomy of Barnacles, centered on an upper-class Manhattan family. The wealthy continue to fascinate the author in her sophomore effort that focuses on the lives of a group of friends who meet at Yale. Their predilection for having love affairs with one another had the other students on campus dubbing them "The Romantics." Opening ten years after college, the novel centers on Laura, the single Jewish member of the Romantics' Wasp-y and superwealthy enclave. Laura's great college love was Tom. After Tom and Laura broke up, Tom took up with Lila, Laura's beautiful and popular yet consistently disliked roommate. Throughout Tom and Lila's relationship, Tom continued to talk to and see Laura, leading all to assume that the Tom and Lila pairing was a farce. But no--now the Romantics have come together again for Tom and Lila's wedding at Lila's amazing oceanfront country house in Maine. Lila's intimidating mother, Augusta, is running the occasion like a tight ship. Laura, the maid of honor, is devastated; the rest of the group thinks perhaps Tom is marrying Lila to get a piece of her sizable inheritance. The night before the wedding, as the crew parties on a small boat off the coast, Tom disappears. Did he drown? Did he run away? Laura and her friends try to solve the mystery before the wedding begins. Once again, it's interesting to read about how the wealthy live. From Augusta's fretting about the centerpieces to Laura's longing, the emotions run from shallow to deep. Niederhoffer weaves the characters together in an intense, crisp story line that will appeal to readers who enjoyed her first book. For most fiction collections.--Beth Gibbs, Davidson, NC (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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