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39th out of 93 books
—
8 voters
The Future of Love
Set in New York in 2001, Abbott's debut novel invites us into the lives of good people grappling with the hard choices and the sacrifices they must make to find love. In the manner of a contemporary Edith Wharton, Shirley Abbott exposes the inner lives and the tangled relationships of eight characters--before and after New York's tragedy--and forces both them and the reade...more
Hardcover, 306 pages
Published
March 25th 2008
by Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill
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Apr 07, 2008
Mike
rated it
1 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
maybe someone who's never thought about a 9/11 novel....ah, can that, too--read a better one
See the thread on Paul West's The Immensity of Here and Now. No use multiplying discussions of 9/11 fiction...
This has multiple characters intersecting, some realizing the stagnation of their own lives and pushing through it, helpfully transformed by terrorist attack into better human beings. Some are narcissists and close-minded clods, and their essential traits are (satirically?) exposed and reinforced by the events. You may recall this plot from Clare Messud's _The Emperor's Children_ (far be...more
This has multiple characters intersecting, some realizing the stagnation of their own lives and pushing through it, helpfully transformed by terrorist attack into better human beings. Some are narcissists and close-minded clods, and their essential traits are (satirically?) exposed and reinforced by the events. You may recall this plot from Clare Messud's _The Emperor's Children_ (far be...more
It always feels good to finally finish reading a book that I started months ago. I really think I got this last Spring, read a few chapters than got distracted by something else. It wasn't a bad book, when I started reading it again I kept at it, mostly I think to see how it would end. Everyone in the book seems to be cheating on each other, and oddly enough, I actually didn't disapprove of them cheating, because the person who they were married to seemed like a bitch, and I was happy when one o...more
Shirley Abbott's book is not a comedy despite the plug on the cover suggesting it a modern comedy of manners. It is a serious novel about relationships. Set in New York before, during, and after 9/11, it alternates a rotating cast of character perspectives. What Abbott does best and with incredible insight is capture the unspoken part of relationships, the things that people think but choose not to say. I was not surprised to learn after completing the novel that Abbott is herself a senior citiz...more
The Future of Love chronicles the lives of eight interwined individuals leading up to and after the attacks on September 11, 2001.
While Shirley Abbott's writing was skillful and the characters (mostly) realistic--I especially enjoyed Antonia--ultimately I was left feeling rather blah about the book. There wasn't anything that I particularly disliked, though Mark's storyline seemed a bit farfetched to me, but it could also be said that there wasn't anything I particularly liked about the book ei...more
While Shirley Abbott's writing was skillful and the characters (mostly) realistic--I especially enjoyed Antonia--ultimately I was left feeling rather blah about the book. There wasn't anything that I particularly disliked, though Mark's storyline seemed a bit farfetched to me, but it could also be said that there wasn't anything I particularly liked about the book ei...more
This novel follows the interconnected lives of eight New Yorkers just prior to and just after September 11th. The common thread to all eight characters is that they are all looking for love, but they don’t necessarily find it in the expected places. The story is centered around Antonia, a widow in her 70’s who is having an affair with a married man named Sam. Antonia’s daughter, Maggie, is married to Mark who is having an affair with their daughter’s preschool teacher. Sam has been in a loveless...more
Pretty good book overall, kept me reading, though I couldn't really connect with any of the characters. They were all pretty miserable, lying individuals. But maybe that was the point. I didn't like how everyone was cheating on everyone and never saw the consequences, although I guess maybe being stuck miserable in a life you hate is consequence enough. I myself enjoyed how 9/11 was interwoven into the story. Very somber story overall.
This book tells the story of eight different couples, and the various choices, sacrifices, and struggles that they each encounter in finding and keeping love. It shows each of the people both before and after the 9/11 New York Tragedy. The characters were easy to relate to, even though at times it was hard to follow. It was interesting to see how the differences in the relationships, and even how each person interacted with each other, post 9/11. Even though you don’t realize how something like...more
This is a 9/11 book, and it is about the effect it had on different families and couples. Of course, there have been quite a few novels with similar themes written since then. It actually picked up after the horrific events of 9/11 and the story moved along faster. Some of the characters were more fully fleshed out than others. I was not that enthusiastic about this book when I began, but enjoyed more it as I went along.
I really liked this book. Admittedly, I am biased because it is about nere-do-wells and childlike adults not getting it together throughout Brooklyn and New York. But it was thoughtfully observed, nuanced, and moving. And I am so freaking excited to determine that Shirley Abbott has written other books, all of which I now plan to check out and read!
I really enjoyed this book even though it was sad. It is set in NYC about a family. A recently widowed mother, her friends and her daughter and daughter's husband are the main characters. It is a before and after 9/11 perspective of the life of this complex family of characters.
While I didn't think I wanted or needed to read another 9/11 book this piece of fiction was complex and different enough to hold my attention. Each character approached life and love in their own way- enough to feel very real to me. Worth reading.
Not a Pulitzer-winner, but an easy, light read that I devoured quickly. Another 9-11 story (why am I drawn to morbidity!?) about a group of people whose lives are more intertwined than they'd ever imagined or hoped.
One man has to make a huge choice: start over with a scatter-brained lover or stick with his faithful-yet-bland wife and child? (Ultimately, he chooses both.) Another woman introduces her grown daughter to her lover, a man who adores his palatial homestead more than his wife. A gay c...more
One man has to make a huge choice: start over with a scatter-brained lover or stick with his faithful-yet-bland wife and child? (Ultimately, he chooses both.) Another woman introduces her grown daughter to her lover, a man who adores his palatial homestead more than his wife. A gay c...more
The book is about eight different couples and their encounters in finding love. It was okay but many of the characters were not fully developed.
A very satisifying story about the year in the life of a multigenerational family. Nice interweaving of characters and life and it was a change from a sweeping saga over many years.
i heart ny.
The Future of Love was an entertaining read about the intertwined love lives of four couples. It involves affairs, death and of course love. It's set right before, during and right after 9/11 in Manhatten. The description of what the characters go through on that day is well written.
Eh. I didn't really get into this book. It didn't keep my attention.
I enjoyed this one -- good characters, plenty of wit -- but when it turned into another 9/11 tale I was a bit disappointed. I suppose that a book that starts on a September day in New York City and drops a lot of hints about Bush's first term should have alerted me to what was about to happen. It seemed jarring, though, and unnecessary.
I'm more than halfway done and am completely wrapped up in all the characters' stories! I wondered if I would like one of these 9/11 books--this one is excellent!
Very interesting novel. The cover is beautiful too. ^_^
Jun 06, 2008
Michelle
added it
I love all of Shirley's books.
Feb 20, 2008
Lynn
marked it as to-read
Starred recommendation in Booklist
Jun 04, 2013
Melissa
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May 01, 2013
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Shirley Abbotts three critically acclaimed memoirs have been called illuminating, spellbinding, and powerful. The New York Times called The Bookmakers Daughter, a haunting memoir, People said it was an elegant and evocative portrait, and USA Today praised Abbott as a graceful and sensitive memoirist. Newsweek lauded Womenfolks as a genuine pleasure to read and the Atlanta-Journal Constitution call...more
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