Good Reads / Community Library Notes
Alternate Sides
Anna Quindlen
Review by Priscilla Comen
Alternate Sides
Anna Quindlen
Review by Priscilla Comen
Alternate Sides, by Anna Quindlen, is the story of Nora and Charlie Nolan. They live on a cul de sac with neighbors, the Fisks, the Leamans, the Rizzolis, the Festermachers, and George and Betsy. They all have parking space in the communal garage. The Nolans don’t. But when they get one, Charlie is elated. He and Nora have twin college-age children, Rachel and Oliver, who still live at home. They have a dog, Homer. Nora is the director of a museum that exhibits valuable, rare jewelry. But Bob Harris, Charlie’s boss, wants to hire her to run his foundation. She says no, and her husband Charlie gets drunk. Charity is their faithful maid who has raised their twins from birth to college with after-school cookies and loving care. She is the source of most of the intelligence on the block.
Author Quindlen describes New York City in detail, from the corner deli to the old man with a sign on the opposite corner asking for money. He has been to university and is pleased that Nora talks to him. When Nora met Charlie, he simply said, “You…are…great”. Since that time, they have all changed. New York has changed, but they still love it. The parking lot has become the bone of contention. When Ricky, the fix-it man, parks in the way of their cars, George puts up a sign, and increases the fee for parking there. They must have keys to the chain that locks the lot. When Jack Fisk can’t get his car out, he takes his golf club and beats it on Ricky’s van. Then he hits Ricky on his leg. Jack says it was an accident, but Ricky ends up in the hospital in big trouble with his leg. Jack is taken to the police station overnight. The tabloids print the story in wild terms, and the dead end street becomes infamous. Rachel says it’s because Ricky is poor and brown skinned, and Jack is a “scum bag.” Nora and Charlie argue over what is the truth.
Author Quindlen describes the feelings and activities of the residents of the block., Every year the Festermachers have a Christmas party and invite only the residents. Nora still walks downtown to the museum, and walks her dog Homer, even though her nose hairs freeze. She goes to the hospital to visit Ricky where his wife yells at her not to give any more clothes to their children. Charlie says they must all stand behind “the accident theory.” He wants to move to a small town with a golf club where he’d be a big shot. Nora loves her city.
This is the story of a city: New York. It’s always changing, always new, but built over the old; the pizza parlor over the shoe repair, the creek beneath the concrete and tar. Do Nora and Charlie stay together or will their different view points cause trouble? Will Nora change jobs and become the director of a foundation? The bum on the corner says New York is a state of mind. Author Quindlen gets it right. Find this warm, sensitive story on the new fiction shelf of your Mendocino Community Library.
Author Quindlen describes New York City in detail, from the corner deli to the old man with a sign on the opposite corner asking for money. He has been to university and is pleased that Nora talks to him. When Nora met Charlie, he simply said, “You…are…great”. Since that time, they have all changed. New York has changed, but they still love it. The parking lot has become the bone of contention. When Ricky, the fix-it man, parks in the way of their cars, George puts up a sign, and increases the fee for parking there. They must have keys to the chain that locks the lot. When Jack Fisk can’t get his car out, he takes his golf club and beats it on Ricky’s van. Then he hits Ricky on his leg. Jack says it was an accident, but Ricky ends up in the hospital in big trouble with his leg. Jack is taken to the police station overnight. The tabloids print the story in wild terms, and the dead end street becomes infamous. Rachel says it’s because Ricky is poor and brown skinned, and Jack is a “scum bag.” Nora and Charlie argue over what is the truth.
Author Quindlen describes the feelings and activities of the residents of the block., Every year the Festermachers have a Christmas party and invite only the residents. Nora still walks downtown to the museum, and walks her dog Homer, even though her nose hairs freeze. She goes to the hospital to visit Ricky where his wife yells at her not to give any more clothes to their children. Charlie says they must all stand behind “the accident theory.” He wants to move to a small town with a golf club where he’d be a big shot. Nora loves her city.
This is the story of a city: New York. It’s always changing, always new, but built over the old; the pizza parlor over the shoe repair, the creek beneath the concrete and tar. Do Nora and Charlie stay together or will their different view points cause trouble? Will Nora change jobs and become the director of a foundation? The bum on the corner says New York is a state of mind. Author Quindlen gets it right. Find this warm, sensitive story on the new fiction shelf of your Mendocino Community Library.