In Anna Karenina, Tolstoy famously wrote, s her own perfect example -- content with friends and work and satisfied to be single at age thirty-three...
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Nov 18, 2007
marg
rated it: 
The only thing worse than chick lit is pretentious chick lit. This book was so awful - it was actually recommended to me and apparently I will need to be more selective about what suggestions I honor. I agree with the premise, that that dumb line about happy families being all alike is not true and the implication that there is nothing interesting about happiness, while being something I myself have often said, is certainly simplistic - however, to create an entire novel about that is in itsel
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May 31, 2011
Libby
rated it: 
In "Anna Karenina," Leo Tolstoy opens with the statement, "All happy families are alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."
"Nonsense!" replies Rachel Kadish's protagonist, a 33-year old assistant professor of English.
"Oh yeah?" says the rest of the novel. "I'll show you! Sort of."
There is a lot to like about this book, which aggressively champions happiness and love, albeit through the words of a More...
"Nonsense!" replies Rachel Kadish's protagonist, a 33-year old assistant professor of English.
"Oh yeah?" says the rest of the novel. "I'll show you! Sort of."
There is a lot to like about this book, which aggressively champions happiness and love, albeit through the words of a More...
Sep 27, 2010
Patricia
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Jun 13, 2010
Stephanie
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Sep 22, 2009
Katherine
rated it: 
From the opening pages: "For people who claim to want happiness, we Americans spend a lot of time spinning yarns about its opposite. Even the optimistic novels end the minute the good times get rolling... Let me be clear: some of my best friends are tragic novels. But someone's got to call it like it is: Why the taboo? What's so unspeakable about happiness?"
Tolstoy Lied was impressively honest. Rachel Kadish brilliantly pulls out the American obsession of unhappiness/ trag More...
Tolstoy Lied was impressively honest. Rachel Kadish brilliantly pulls out the American obsession of unhappiness/ trag More...
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May 07, 2009
Joyce
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"Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." So said Tolstoy. Tracy Farber is going to prove him wrong. Just as soon as she gets tenure. Or maybe getting married will get in the way. Severe interdepartmental strife in her Manhattan university's English department may get in the way of all of these plans.
In the end, "Peple misunderstand happiness. They think it's the absence of trouble. That's not happiness, that's luck. Happiness is the More...
In the end, "Peple misunderstand happiness. They think it's the absence of trouble. That's not happiness, that's luck. Happiness is the More...
Jan 11, 2012
Tori
rated it:
Another random library find. The premise is something I've wondered about and discussed with some of my other reader friends: are happy people inherently uninteresting, and therefore not worth writing about? While the book sounds like (and is) fancy chick lit, I was willing to give it a swing to see if it came to anything worthwhile. Unfortunately, it doesn't prove much of anything, except that happiness is difficult to find, and no one is ever truly 100% happy, except for maybe a brief, shining
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May 10, 2009
Catherine
rated it:
Ow. This academic novel cut too close to the bone, what with the internecine struggles and the insinuation that having a nervous collapse will harm your academic career less than taking too long to defend your dissertation (um, see what I mean?). Her academic colleagues seemed pretty stereotypical, although definitely recognizable archetypes.
I've seen it described as smart chick-lit, and I think I resent the notion that any novel dealing with a single woman is inherently "chic More...
I've seen it described as smart chick-lit, and I think I resent the notion that any novel dealing with a single woman is inherently "chic More...
Mar 12, 2009
Redlilly24
rated it:
I am giving this book three stars for the writing. The writing is very educated, you can tell the author got a good education on how to write a book but not particularly a talent. Thus to me this story she is trying to sell is masked by good writing, take away the writing and the story is a flop, nothing new, nothing profound. It feels as though the author is trying way to hard to inrtoduce something new and fresh about love and relationships, yet it fails. Honestly, I did not find anything inte
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Apr 17, 2007
Alena
rated it:
This book follows a young English professor as she tries to get tenured and sort through her feelings on love and happiness. The plot got weaker throughout the book (too melodramatic), but I enjoyed the commentaries on literature and a look into the world of professors.
Apr 17, 2009
Ashley
rated it:
Had I not been feeling terrible for 4 days of my spring break with ear infections in both ears, I probably would not have finished this book. Although, in Kadish's defense, the chances of me falling in love with a book immediately after reading my most-loved Franny and Zooey are slim to none.
Basically, I felt like she's just recently realized that love/feminism/companionship/art/religion are- at times- paradoxical, and- at most times- messy. It's all well and good that she's real More...
Basically, I felt like she's just recently realized that love/feminism/companionship/art/religion are- at times- paradoxical, and- at most times- messy. It's all well and good that she's real More...
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Oct 27, 2011
Miri
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I’ve finished reading Tolstoy Lied: A Love Story just a few minutes ago and the book had me thinking about happiness and its true meaning. It made me realize that you can never gain happiness without beating the odds, which are loneliness, anger and heartaches. You can never truly say you’re happy without feeling lonely, angry or heartbroken.
People misunderstand happiness. They think it’s the absence of trouble. That’s not happiness, that’s luck. Happiness is the ability to live well a More...
People misunderstand happiness. They think it’s the absence of trouble. That’s not happiness, that’s luck. Happiness is the ability to live well a More...
Nov 09, 2011
Caitlin
rated it: 
I thought this book would be a romantic comedy type story. It was much deeper than I anticipated and I loved it. It is well-written with a narrative voice that sucks you in. You care about Tracey and even as she makes mistakes you find yourself rooting for her. Her premise is that Tolstoy pulled the wool over everyone's eyes and literature has followed his principle ever since he wrote in Anna Karenina(my favorite book) that "Happy families are all alike and unhappy families are unhappy in
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Dec 15, 2009
Alan
rated it:
The "lie" that Tolstoy allegedly told, which gives this novel its title, is the famous first sentence of "Anna Karenina": "Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."
Rachel Kadish, in setting out to disprove this obviously false statement, declares her aim of writing a book that takes happiness and love seriously. Her heroine, Tracy Farber, states the thesis on page 160 (it's also the thesis of an ambitious academic st More...
Rachel Kadish, in setting out to disprove this obviously false statement, declares her aim of writing a book that takes happiness and love seriously. Her heroine, Tracy Farber, states the thesis on page 160 (it's also the thesis of an ambitious academic st More...
Oct 30, 2008
Mary
rated it:
This book kind of did a number on me. I finished it on the last day of a trip, when I was feeling sort of tired and a little sick. So: reading, but with vulnerabilities. The novel's heroine is a literature professor who wants to debunk Tolstoy's line from Anna Karenina: "Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." She says that would mean that "a person must be unhappy in order to be interesting." So she tells us her engaging love story, whi
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Aug 23, 2011
L
rated it:
If you enjoy a book about books for which a quote like this is the least bit appealing then this book might be for you.
"I love the escape. Academics aren't supposed to say that, but it's true. I love to dive into somebody else's vision, nightmare, utopia, whatever. I love how books put a dent in our egos..."
True, this books is chic lit which will put some people off from the start, but if given a chance it captivates with countless ideas that keep making me stop More...
"I love the escape. Academics aren't supposed to say that, but it's true. I love to dive into somebody else's vision, nightmare, utopia, whatever. I love how books put a dent in our egos..."
True, this books is chic lit which will put some people off from the start, but if given a chance it captivates with countless ideas that keep making me stop More...
Jul 26, 2011
treehugger
rated it:
Oh the beautiful smart language, the satire of workplace/academic politics, the hilarious gay professional ally...
Downsides: trite love descriptions, disappointing closure to romantic climax, possibly incorrect depiction of bipolar disorder? So much self doubt, and lots of obfuscation in characters' thoughts and dialogue so that there were a few passages I read more than 4 times and still didn't know what I was expected to take away from it...
Overall, great smart (yet light e
Downsides: trite love descriptions, disappointing closure to romantic climax, possibly incorrect depiction of bipolar disorder? So much self doubt, and lots of obfuscation in characters' thoughts and dialogue so that there were a few passages I read more than 4 times and still didn't know what I was expected to take away from it...
Overall, great smart (yet light e
Mar 19, 2008
Kate
rated it:
About six pages in, I realized I needed to keep a pen handy while reading this book. By the time I was through, I had more favorite lines circled than some of the books I read for undergrad. Fueled by her career, satiated on books, and supported by trusted friends, Tracy Farber had turned her back on the prospect of love. Haunted by the topic of happiness and Tolstoy's assertion that 'Happy families are all alike every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way,' Tracy embarks on a personal and pr
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Mar 23, 2011
Nima
rated it:
I loved the basic argument about whether only stories with sad endings could be considered good literature. This has long been something which I felt was a limiting parameter in how we evaluate what is considered quality writing. This is well written, nicely paced mystery and love story. One of my favorites.
Apr 30, 2010
Natalie
rated it:
This book was somewhat unexpected and though at times predictable, there is a lot that I thought I could predict and turned out to be wrong. It is a bit quircky but has a good sense of humor. Though some of the plot ends up being a bit strange somewhere close to the end, it is a good casual read.
Jan 03, 2009
Kelsey
rated it:
I think this appeals to a particular crowd (twenties, women with jobs or are involved in academia, single more than coupled) but has a wonderful weaving tale.
I think it is a clever premise and appreciated the read more than most because I currently fall into all categories listed above.
I think it is a clever premise and appreciated the read more than most because I currently fall into all categories listed above.
Dec 26, 2008
Amanda
rated it:
Ugh, does not want!
Pretentious, condescending pseudo-intellectual crap. Basically chick-lit, but not even that well-written. Kadish attempts to gain ballast by spewing her sophomoric word-vomit from the mouth of an "I'm way cooler than this petty academia" professor whose very "I'm way cooler"-ness defeats the purpose of the whole critique. A great read for people who really wish they were reading pulp but want to look smart.
Pretentious, condescending pseudo-intellectual crap. Basically chick-lit, but not even that well-written. Kadish attempts to gain ballast by spewing her sophomoric word-vomit from the mouth of an "I'm way cooler than this petty academia" professor whose very "I'm way cooler"-ness defeats the purpose of the whole critique. A great read for people who really wish they were reading pulp but want to look smart.
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Jul 30, 2009
Jennifer
rated it:
3.5 stars
Interesting premise and some funny and wise lines. The plot itself was OK, but I found parts of the novel irritating. First, the novel has no chapters, only parts. True, there are breaks in the prose--but why no chapters? And early in the book the stream of consciousness style seemed contrived to allow the author to make witty comments on various topics--especially about the nature of dating and love. But in the end it was an interesting read and showed insight into the worl More...
Interesting premise and some funny and wise lines. The plot itself was OK, but I found parts of the novel irritating. First, the novel has no chapters, only parts. True, there are breaks in the prose--but why no chapters? And early in the book the stream of consciousness style seemed contrived to allow the author to make witty comments on various topics--especially about the nature of dating and love. But in the end it was an interesting read and showed insight into the worl More...
Dec 31, 2011
Patricia
rated it:
I liked this book. It's not your average read; it has some surprises. There were times I wanted to impose my own preferences on the heroine, or shout at her, or shake her, but we all have to live with our own realities, and I enjoyed reading her reality.
Aug 16, 2010
Alison
rated it:
A readable, if not always convincing, novel set in a university English department. While I found the writing to be lively and insightful, the plot, characters, and efforts to show the absurdity of academic politics all felt a bit flat.
Mar 22, 2008
Catherine
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Overall, I would rate the book as predictable chick-lit. The characters are maybe different than standard fare- she's an American lit professor at a New York university, not-yet-tenured, and clashing increasingly with a colleague in the department- but meeting The Guy is inevitable.
What I liked most about this book was the feminist-intellectual perspective on something as commonplace as love. She's her own person, she doesn't need a man, she has important career considerations to thi More...
What I liked most about this book was the feminist-intellectual perspective on something as commonplace as love. She's her own person, she doesn't need a man, she has important career considerations to thi More...
Jan 30, 2010
Heather
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I thought that it was overly wordy and the author tried too hard to make it seem intellectual. It had some good points but I thought that the plot was weak and predictable.
Jul 27, 2009
Leslie
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I have a soft spot for books about women who think too much and this book certainly falls into that category. I wish I liked all chic lit books as much as this one.
Feb 15, 2009
Rhodora
rated it:
A happily single english professor comes to grip with what love means. Very well written and compelling book. The author knows how to twist the emotions.
Aug 11, 2008
Merle
rated it:
Took me a long time to finish this book because some rush hour knocked it out of my hands as I was getting on the subway and let it fall between the train and the platform so that it was staring up at me from the tracks. So...I've finally finished it.
I'm a Tolstoy fan, so I was thrilled at the idea of that coupled with real chick lit. That's what I got. Not rocket science, but more tolerable than most chick lit (which I have a soft spot for) in that she is clearly well read and has grea More...
I'm a Tolstoy fan, so I was thrilled at the idea of that coupled with real chick lit. That's what I got. Not rocket science, but more tolerable than most chick lit (which I have a soft spot for) in that she is clearly well read and has grea More...
