Elements of Style, the Pulitzer Prize—winning playwright Wendy Wasserstein’s first novel, is a scathing comedy about New ...
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Jul 20, 2010
Nick
rated it: 
It's sad to read this four years after Wasserstein's early death. (Apparently the book itself was published posthumously as well.) It's not necessarily moving, but Elements of Style is very funny. In my estimation there's only one character for whom the reader is supposed to care (Dr. Frankie Weissman, with whom the book begins and ends), which has clearly made it difficult for many reviewers here to care about the book as a whole. But if you take this as a skewering of the world of the Uppe
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Sep 03, 2008
Jessica
rated it: 
Loved it! Light and delightful at first, but Wasserstein's insights into human nature are quietly observed. I deeply admire her ability to show multiple aspects of her characters, so that in varying turns I felt compelled, repulsed, and compassionate for the same character.
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Jul 28, 2010
Carol
rated it: 
Thought it would be a good light summer read, and its about NYC, and I like the F.Scott Gitzgerald/jay McInerney social scene books that take you into other social structures. They set a pretty scene and make me feel glad I'm not part of it at the same time. I give it three stars because I think she did what she set out to do and because as silly as it got at times, I was still turning the page. It's a story about upper east side rich people in the two years following 911 and who hooks up and br
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May 11, 2011
esterb
rated it:
What a great book! It made me laugh, it made me cry — in the positive sense of the word — it made me bump into things (and people…sorry!) because I didn’t have time to look up from the book, it was so absorbing that even my boyfriend, who reads a lot himself, got a little impatient with me when after the x-th time I still didn’t answer him.
On the cover of the book it says it is a modern-age Jane Austen and I can relate to that. The critic on society and cultural rules are plenty re More...
On the cover of the book it says it is a modern-age Jane Austen and I can relate to that. The critic on society and cultural rules are plenty re More...
Feb 05, 2009
Critics felt traitorous calling Wendy Wasserstein's debut novel, published so soon after her death, a bit of a disappointment, but many agreed that what works so well on stage (the Pulitzer Prize? and Tony Award?winning play The Heidi Chronicles) does not translate well to prose. Some critics thought the novel possessed the verve and "charmingly neurotic" heroine (USA Today)__a Wendy stand-in__of her best-known work and praised Wasserstein's keen eye for social satire. Others called El
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Oct 13, 2007
Marlies
rated it:
It was a little lame, but I still liked it. I was expecting more from Wendy, but the poor thing is no longer with us, so ....
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Oct 26, 2011
Rachel
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Elements of Style follows the lives of several of New York’s Upper East Side socialites and their families in the year following 9/11. The back cover calls this book a comedy and describes it as “madcap”. I didn’t think it was humorous at all. Most of the characters are selfish, vapid and materialistic (which I expected seeing as they are wealthy society people) but in a sad and pathetic way, not in a funny way. I expected this to be a fun, chick-lit book and was disappointed.
I listene More...
I listene More...
Jun 12, 2010
Patricia
rated it: 
Oh, how I detested this book. This was disappointing, as I enjoy Wasserstein's plays, and was hoping that this book would recapture some of that magic. Alas, it didn't. Stuffed full of entirely unlikeable, incredibly wealthy Manhattenites, who attempt to navigate their very privileged lives in a post 9/11 world. I could care less about them, their "problems" and their entirely vapid hopes. I only finished reading this novel because it was the only thing in the house and it was slightly
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Dec 28, 2009
Inge
rated it:
It takes a true New Yorker to fully understand the culture of the Upper East Side. It also takes a true New Yorker to be able to satirize it, mock it, and completely pull it apart.
You can't help but love a book that references Lewis Carroll, Go Away Big Green Monster, Midwood High School, and the New York Society Library.
Wasserstein plays with the reader's emotions and loyalties until the very end. It's so difficult to decide whether or not the characters are worthy of any compassion More...
You can't help but love a book that references Lewis Carroll, Go Away Big Green Monster, Midwood High School, and the New York Society Library.
Wasserstein plays with the reader's emotions and loyalties until the very end. It's so difficult to decide whether or not the characters are worthy of any compassion More...
Feb 15, 2008
*Christie*
rated it: 
First off, there will be spoilers so if you want to read this book and don't like to know anything before you read it (like me) then don't read on!
What was this? I love Wendy Wasserstein as a playwright. I couldn't wait to read this book! I thought that it would be a witty satire on New York's "finest" (not the firefighters, the Upper East Siders) after 9/11. I was sorely mistaken.
The first few chapters are delightful and engaging, but soon, you long for the b More...
What was this? I love Wendy Wasserstein as a playwright. I couldn't wait to read this book! I thought that it would be a witty satire on New York's "finest" (not the firefighters, the Upper East Siders) after 9/11. I was sorely mistaken.
The first few chapters are delightful and engaging, but soon, you long for the b More...
Aug 16, 2009
Luann
rated it:
Such a disappointment as I love Wasserstein's work. Perhaps she simply didn't live long enough to hold onto this one and work it through. There are moments throughout where her wit, warmth and intelligence shines, but the last quarter of the book was awful enough that I tossed the book across the room -- literally. Dearly wish she had lived long enough to continue to write and to work on what would have been a fine novel -- I know she had it in her -- but this aint it.
Jul 07, 2009
Fred
rated it:
Pretty lame and superficial, especially in 'this economic climate' [my least favorite phrase:]. I didn't care about any of the characters. They weren't poorly written, but I just don't care about contemporary New York society ladies and their 'troubles'--just not what I needed right now. And I never want to hear the the saying "Grand Canyon of need" ever again.
If Wendy Wasserstein rises from the dead, she should stick to plays.
If Wendy Wasserstein rises from the dead, she should stick to plays.
Nov 19, 2011
Christine
rated it:
I don't often abandon a book, but I just can't hang in there with this one. It reads like an early draft that Wasserstein never had the chance to flesh out. Brittle and skeletal, without either the bracing wit or empathy for the characters that is notable in her plays. I was inspired to pick this up after reading the recent biography of Wasserstein, Wendy and the Lost Boys, but the novel leaves me cold and a little sad.
Oct 21, 2007
Sam
rated it:
Like others, I expected this to be easy, fun reading with a critical eye exposing the upper echelon of New York City money. Unfortunately the story fell far short of my expectations, particularly in the critical aspect. The structure of the story does not lend itself to this criticism, except through the obvious commentary by the author in her descriptions of monetary excess, and her editorializing through the "thoughts" of her characters. Almost all of the characters feel flat and
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Oct 11, 2010
Jenny
rated it:
I picked this up because I really admire(d) Wendy Wasserstein. I was wary of this when I started reading it--it seemed like standard fare chick lit--but it really picked up steam and I ended up really enjoying it. The characters were rather seductive, not everyone's fates turned out as I had assumed, and I was sorry when it ended. Not deep or serious reading, but fun!
Jun 25, 2011
Rebecca
rated it:
A book with a million characters and they all interacted and at the same time, nothing happened. I am reading reviews on amazon, trying to remember what this book was about, and none of the reviews are giving me anything. Essentially, this book was kind of a waste of time. Characters, some stories, but nothing happens.
Grade: D+
Grade: D+
Dec 13, 2008
Taryn
rated it:
I think the characters were all meant to be despised, but I'm still not sure that's what the author wanted to have happen. Maybe she wanted them to seem real by all of their flaws, but they just came off as selfish, snobby, and immoral. I kept waiting for a redeeming factor and it never really came.
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Jan 29, 2012
Ann
rated it:
I'm not entirely sure what the author's point was for this book. I guess maybe to show the depravity and shallowness of New York socialites? I'm not sure. It also dealt a lot with uncertainly of life in New York after 9/11. Maybe I should think of this as naturalism? I'll decide someday. This wasn't exactly chick-lit, but it seemed to be a close cousin, and it was entertaining on a long car ride. But I was still confused by many choices the characters made. Two characters randomly began an affai
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Aug 15, 2010
Robin
rated it:
I picked this book up during the summer and while I am re-reading Cransford and other books I have. I come back to reading this book. It talks about women in New York and how they are friends, but then they have some falling out between friends. It sounds so high schoolish but it is an enjoyable read.
Apr 26, 2011
Kirstin
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Loved this book! Read for acting class...and worked on performing one of the characters. This book really reminded me of my years living in New York. Also very "Housewives of NYC" if you like that tv show...this is sort of a fictional novel that would feel similar to that.
Jul 25, 2011
Carol
rated it:
At first, I thought I would not connect with this book. The shallow characters, as I first perceived them, did not invoke sympathy. As the story progressed, the real individuals, not their society column veneer, emerge. Many unresolved relationships at the closing.
May 17, 2009
Judy
rated it:
This was a quick read... it reminds me of a TV series like Sex and the City. I loved Wendy's plays and since this book was published after she died, I wanted to read it. I liked "Frankie" a lot.. and figured she might have been fashioned after Wendy herself.
Apr 26, 2010
Cynthea
rated it:
i was hoping that this would be good beach, "summer" reading, and while i love wasserstein, i hated this book.
i didn't find any of it funny. i found it pathetic and disgusting. it droned on, and on, and on. it was predictable. the characters i think i was supposed to sympathize with and like, were boring and uninteresting. it was way too voyeuristic, but not in a good or exciting way, just in an icky way. i enjoyed the devil wears prada more - i hated and simultanouisly lov More...
i didn't find any of it funny. i found it pathetic and disgusting. it droned on, and on, and on. it was predictable. the characters i think i was supposed to sympathize with and like, were boring and uninteresting. it was way too voyeuristic, but not in a good or exciting way, just in an icky way. i enjoyed the devil wears prada more - i hated and simultanouisly lov More...
Apr 20, 2009
Valerie
rated it:
I enjoyed the story. The characters pissed me off and were quite shallow, but overall it was entertaining and worth the time. I listened to it on CD so I might not feel the same if I had been sitting down and reading it versus listening while driving.
Jun 01, 2010
Jamie
rated it:
I didn't love it while reading it - I think it's because the characters are not entirely likeable. But the characters stuck with me for awhile. Interesting insight into NYC east side lifestyle. Not a very appealing one - to me anyway.
Apr 03, 2010
Nancy
rated it:
I checked out this audio-book from the library. I was in a hurry and just grabbed the first thing I hadn't heard or read. The reader was good. The subject matter was interesting. Rich New York socialites aren't really my cup of tea, but the characters were interesting.
Jan 28, 2009
Donje
rated it:
I thought most of the characters were shallow. I am not sure if that is what it is supposed to be or not. I almost felt the shallowness was the purpose of the book. I was disappointed in the ending, but I won't tell you why!:)
Jan 03, 2009
Paul
rated it:
It is the Great Gatesby retold in high new York society with a real sense of humor. Proof positive that Janis Ian is right, and love is only for beauty queens and not ugly ducklings. I couldn't put this down it was so good.
Aug 06, 2009
Kathy
rated it:
Fluffy, fluffy, fluffy! Not really a literary challenge. It was suggested to me that Wasserstein is a good choice for competitive prose pieces, so I read this one. It was a fun read, but not really one that my students could use in competition. Guess I will have to try some others.
Feb 07, 2010
Bev
rated it:
Listened to this one on tape a while back, not too long after Wasserstein's death. She died way too young! Not up to the quality of her plays, but not as terrible as some people here have indicated, either.
