In the Family Way: An Urban Comedy

by Lynne Sharon Schwartz

Roy, a psychotherapist, and his first wife, Bea, a caterer, are the characters around which this hilarious and unpredictable novel revolves. The other players include their four children, their assorted friends and lovers, as well as Roy's subsequent two wives, one of whom he steals from a patient. Not to mention Bea's lover--the Russian imigri superintendent--her lesbian artist sister, and her caustic mother, the landlady of the chaotic building. Throughout the novel, Bea and Roy struggle to redefine the idea of family without giving up the fantasy of endless self-gratification. Entanglements, betrayals, couplings, and uncouplings abound, as each person seeks love and happiness in the free-for-all '90s.

Genres: Fiction

336 pages, Hardcover

First published October 6, 1999

About the author

Lynne Sharon Schwartz (b. 1939) is a celebrated author of novels, poems, short fiction, and criticism. Schwartz began her career with a series of short stories before publishing her first novel, the National Book Award–nominated Rough Strife (1980). She went on to publish works of memoir, poetry, and translation. Her other novels have included the award-nominated Leaving Brooklyn (1989) and Disturbances in the Field (1983). Her short fiction has appeared in theBest American Short Stories annual anthology series several times. In addition, her reviews and criticism have appeared in numerous magazines and newspapers. Schwartz lives in New York City, and is currently a faculty member of the Bennington Writing Seminars.

Reviews

[Judy Mann · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a lousy book. I'm stunned. This woman is usually a really good writer- but this..? Syrupy, cloyingly cute, stupid.
I am absolutely stunned.
In the first 5 pages she has already flooded us with SO MANY names of people that we don't know let alone give a damn about- that I became downright irritated. And curiously even after I was vaguely able to decode this "delightfully neurotic" family and figure out just who the hell was who- it was still a stupid stupid book. Delightful. That seems to be what she 's aiming for. "Quirky". Delightfully quirky. Puke.
There's no grounding. They're all out there being their adorable selves.
There is not one person in this ridiculous family that actually tells the truth.This book is like a Norman Rockwell painting of neurotic Jews- all eating supper and yelling at each other in such a charming, delightful way.
There you have it. I didn't care about any of them. I didn't believe any of them and frankly I didn't want anything to do with any of them.
Stupid book.Really stupid. Don't read it. JM

[Sirilee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite a surprisingly incomplete ending, this book merits 5 stars (or 4.75). Most of it is entertaining, fun to read, coherent, well-developed characters, a good story, nicely written. Much more than a lot of present day novels have. I recommend.

[Peggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A soap opera in book form.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story kept me interested, but you need a scorecard to keep track of all the family intersections.

[Grisell G. Ch. · Rating 3 out of 5]

El concepto me pareció interesante, aunque es extraño que casi no hay información sobre este libro en internet.

[Terri C · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rated 4 of 10. Read in 2000.

[Lesley Potts · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pre-internet days, I read a novel by Lynne Sharon Schwartz but I can’t remember which one its was, only that I loved it and made a mental note of the author’s name. I must have bought this paperback copy secondhand somewhere. It has a blue garage sale sticker on the cover. I can’t remember exactly where it came from or when it took up residence on my to-be-read bookshelf.

It’s a real paean to the 1990s, starting with the curlicue font on the cover. Set in New York apartment building, complete with a superintendent and a doorman, it’s like Seinfeld, except the characters aren’t just friends, they are all related in some way. Wives, ex-wives, brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, and lovers. It’s a world where going to see R.E.M. is very cool for young people, and dying your hair green is very radical.

While Seinfeld was comic genius, this novel is just contrived, especially the ending. I suppose even the last episode of Seinfeld left something to be desired, but this ending was just silly. Other reviewers have mentioned how the long cast of characters makes it difficult to work out what’s actually going on, and I would agree with that. Unless it’s an Outlander book, a family tree at the beginning serves as a warning.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Lynne Sharon Schwartz's short stories, so when I found this in the bargain bin, I had to have it. The setup is like the plot of an early Woody Allen film. Jewish family, with lots of siblings and kids, and half-siblings, psychotherapy, lesbian couples, artists, intellectuals, and the Vietnam War. It sounds like a crazy setup, but it was enjoyable, if uneven.

Some things I liked:

* Tony becomes obsessed with finding his Vietnamese roots.
* Danny and his confusion when it comes to his career.
* Sarah/Shimmer.
* The granny with green hair.
* Jane, because she's cool, as is the sister of her boyfriend, who arrives from Paris.
* Bea and Dmitri

I don't like Roy, I guess. In the movie version, he might be played by Woody. This one isn't so neurotic and explicitly Jewish (I don't even remember if Roy was Jewish or displayed any Woody-like tics), but whatever. Roy was married to three women in this book, plus the one in Vietnam...so 4.

[Dell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun enough. Must suspend belief to swallow some of the family scenarios.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is my repeat book - as soon as i finish it i start it over and the characters are like my family. i love it!

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting read, quite a cast of characters, a little twisted and unrealistic at times, but enjoyable once you cna keep everyone straight!

[Juli · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5