Laurie Colwin Criticism
Laurie Colwin, an esteemed American short story writer, novelist, and essayist, has captured the attention of literary critics and readers alike with her distinctive exploration of the lives of educated and upper-class individuals. Born in New York City in 1944, Colwin's work is often compared to that of Jane Austen for its focus on manners, privacy, and happiness within marital and familial settings. Her narratives delve into human love and happiness, examining these themes through a lens of fiction of manners. While some, such as Carolyn See, critique her narrow thematic scope, others like Robb Forman Drew celebrate her witty and literate style.
Colwin's debut work, Passion and Affect, marked the beginning of a notable literary career that spanned from 1974 until her untimely death in 1992. Her novels, including Family Happiness and A Big Storm Knocked It Over, are praised for their polished rhetorical style and for capturing the intricacies of romantic and familial dynamics. Critics like Amy Richlin have noted the almost magical realism in the way Colwin depicts the good fortune of her characters.
The reception of Colwin's work is dual-faceted; reviewers such as Martha Southgate suggest a limited focus, while others like Pearl K. Bell celebrate her exploration of domestic life and her portrayal of modern relationships. Her works offer a unique perspective that combines contemporary sensibilities with the charm of classic literature, as noted by critics such as Dorothy Rabinowitz and Helen Chasin, who appreciate her blend of social observations with personal growth.
Colwin's novels, such as Shine On, Bright & Dangerous Object and The Lone Pilgrim, navigate themes of love, loss, and self-discovery with an optimistic tone. Critics like Holly Eley and the Saturday Review note her insightful depiction of modern romance, which is often enhanced by humor despite critiques of her characters' self-involvement. Colwin's work, including Happy All the Time, exemplifies her ability to craft narratives that balance sweetness with complexity, as observed by Frances Taliaferro.
While some critics such as John Romano see a lack of depth in exploring complex emotions, others like J. D. O'Hara and Martha Spaulding commend her for crafting engaging narratives filled with charm and relatability. The comedic elements in her work, akin to a Seventies comedy of manners, are highlighted by Eliot Fremont-Smith and Ross Feld, further emphasizing her distinctive style.
Contents
- Principal Works
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Colwin, Laurie (Vol. 23)
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New Books: 'Shine On, Bright & Dangerous Object'
(summary)
In the following essay, Dorothy Rabinowitz argues that Laurie Colwin's novel Shine On, Bright & Dangerous Object revitalizes the theme of self-discovery through its elegant narrative and protagonist's journey from bereavement to love, marked by sharp social observations and complexity beneath its seemingly slender plot.
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The Widow Didn't Weep
(summary)
In the following essay, Helen Chasin analyzes Laurie Colwin's novel "Shine On, Bright and Dangerous Object," highlighting its exploration of love, loss, and personal growth through the experiences of protagonist Olly Bax, whose journey towards adulthood is marked by introspection and her keen sensibility.
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Isolated Cases
(summary)
In the following essay, Anne Barnes explores Laurie Colwin's short stories, highlighting how their precise character portraits and focus on themes of isolation within relationships create compelling narratives that, while occasionally struggling with adolescent love, effectively convey obsession and eccentricity through Colwin's delicate and economical writing style.
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Girl Gets Second Boy
(summary)
In the following essay, Gabriele Annan critiques Laurie Colwin's novel "Shine On, Bright and Dangerous Object" as a wish-fulfillment romance that, despite its intellectual veneer, adheres to a predictable narrative where the protagonist, Olly, finds unexpected love with her late husband's brother, Patrick.
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Many Stories
(summary)
In the following essay, Joyce Carol Oates critiques Laurie Colwin's "The Lone Pilgrim" for its focus on stereotypical romantic themes and superficial characterization, yet praises Colwin's skillful writing and enthusiasm which render her stories fascinating, ultimately recognizing "A Girl Skating" for its depth beyond romance.
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Glimpses into the Heart
(summary)
In the following essay, Allen Wier critiques Laurie Colwin's The Lone Pilgrim as comprising predictable stories about wealthy young women, characterized by superficial narratives and sentiments, with characters portrayed as self-absorbed and lacking depth, though some stories show minor improvement.
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Books of the Times: 'The Lone Pilgrim'
(summary)
In the following essay, Anatole Broyard examines Laurie Colwin's "The Lone Pilgrim," highlighting its exploration of themes such as adultery, love, and yearning through vivid and poignant imagery, ultimately portraying the complexities and vulnerabilities of human relationships.
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Moveable Feast
(summary)
In the following essay, Pogrebin explores the appeal and personal conflict of enjoying Laurie Colwin's fiction, highlighting its portrayal of elite, culturally self-involved women who are admirable yet oblivious to larger societal issues.
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Short Stories: 'The Lone Pilgrim'
(summary)
The critic praises Laurie Colwin's The Lone Pilgrim for its insightful and humorous exploration of modern romance through a collection of 13 perceptive stories that blend traditional fiction of manners with a witty contemporary sensibility.
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Safe Landings
(summary)
In the following essay, Holly Eley discusses Laurie Colwin's "The Lone Pilgrim," highlighting Colwin's use of humor and her ability to explore complex themes of love and independence without falling into sentimentality, particularly in stories where heroines navigate romantic and familial relationships.
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New Books: 'Shine On, Bright & Dangerous Object'
(summary)
- Colwin, Laurie (Vol. 5)
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Colwin, Laurie (Vol. 84)
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Family Happiness
(summary)
In the following review, she faults the storyline of Family Happiness as weak and implausible.
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Can We Stand Happiness?
(summary)
In the following favorable review, Steinfels maintains that Family Happiness is "not great literature but an extremely satisfying read on a cold Saturday afternoon."
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Another Marvelous Thing
(summary)
In the following mixed review, Drew discusses the characters and structure of the short story collection Another Marvelous Thing.
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Slim Pickings
(summary)
In the following review, Southgate offers a negative appraisal of Home Cooking, suggesting that reading too much Laurie Colwin can feel self-centered and narrow-minded, despite her talent and humor in other works.
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The Art of Eating Words
(summary)
In the excerpt below, Schinto discusses the symbolic role of food and cooking in Home Cooking and in Colwin's fiction.
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An Awful Time Living a Perfect Life
(summary)
In the following unfavorable review, Kakutani analyzes the characterization of Colwin's protagonist in Goodbye without Leaving.
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Be True to Your School
(summary)
Below, McCormack offers a positive assessment of Goodbye without Leaving. Like a lot of us, Geraldine Coleshares is having a little trouble finding her place in the universe. As a failed graduate student, successful rock-and-roll back-up singer, reluctant wife, and enchanted mother, never has a person with so rich a mixture of life experiences been so despairing of its value. In Goodbye Without Leaving, novelist Laurie Colwin gives us a comic version of the quest for life's meaning in which her main character is a combination of Woody Allen with rhythm and Janis Joplin on Prozac.
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Guilty Pleasures: The Fiction of Laurie Colwin
(summary)
In the following essay, Richlin provides an overview of Colwin's fiction.
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A Big Storm Knocked It Over
(summary)
In the following excerpt, Bell furnishes a laudatory review of Colwin's last novel, describing it as a treasure beyond counting and highlighting Colwin's exploration of the domestic territory, focusing on family life and the pursuit of happiness.
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Family Happiness
(summary)
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Colwin, Laurie (Vol. 13)
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J. D. O'Hara
(summary)
In the following essay, J. D. O'Hara discusses Laurie Colwin's novel Happy All the Time, highlighting its departure from typical dramatic themes by focusing on happiness, friendship, and normalcy, and commending Colwin's ability to craft a witty, engaging narrative through clear prose and relatable characters.
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Martha Spaulding
(summary)
In the following essay, Martha Spaulding praises Laurie Colwin's novel Happy All the Time for its charming characters and witty storytelling, embodying a lighthearted and humorous approach that appeals to the romantically inclined, despite its seemingly uneventful plot.
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Eliot Fremont-Smith
(summary)
In the following essay, Eliot Fremont-Smith praises Laurie Colwin's Happy All the Time as a witty and elegant narrative that reflects the nuances of love and friendship, likening its charm to a blend of Manet's artistry with Koren's reinterpretation, underscoring the book's blend of high romantic passion and comedy.
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Ross Feld
(summary)
In the following essay, Ross Feld examines Laurie Colwin's novel Happy All the Time, highlighting how it inventively constructs a Seventies comedy of manners through its charming, effervescent narrative, and explores themes of love and personal growth during the characters' thirties.
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John Romano
(summary)
In the following essay, John Romano argues that Laurie Colwin's "Happy All the Time" is a charming and witty social comedy featuring well-adjusted characters, yet it lacks depth in its portrayal of happiness, as it shies away from more complex emotions such as energy and desire.
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Frances Taliaferro
(summary)
In the following essay, Frances Taliaferro praises Laurie Colwin's Happy All the Time for its ability to depict genuinely happy relationships without descending into blandness, arguing that the novel balances sweetness with complexity through its nuanced characters and events.
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J. D. O'Hara
(summary)
- Further Reading