Misty realize that she had spent a good deal of her life ready to ward off some terrible low blow. She did not believe that most people were decent or kind. She had never believed that life went along smoothly. She did not believe that life left you alone to be happy in this world. Vincent believed all these things. He thought that his happy vistas and Misty’s grim vision fused into one full-balanced picture of the world
That was what a moral system was: it helped you be good when you weren’t very nice. From Vincent, Misty learned that goodness and stupidity were not necessarily linked. You could be good and smart.
I read this book many many years ago in my twenties. I have no idea why I picked it up. Probably the title. At the time it was out of my comfort zone, but I remember I enjoyed it very much. I’ve recently seen this title by Laurie Colwin mentioned and raved about by some of my favorite reviewers, so I decided to re-read it. I really didn’t remember a thing about it. It was a sheer delight.
Set in 1970’s Manhattan, and positively reeking with the vibe and atmosphere of privilege, we follow two life-long friends, themselves fairly normal guys though very different, and their love for, courtship, and marriage to two very unusual women. Unusual for them, and just unusual period. I wish I could encapsulate them in words, but words fail. They are quirky to the point of being peculiar. But maybe they weren’t so unusual for the times and their milieu. I don’t know. They were certainly outside my experience. Endlessly unpredictable, loveable, and entertaining, I felt like I was, with them, on the edge of my seat constantly. They are not hilarious women, quite the contrary, but I was constantly chuckling and shaking my head at them in wonderment.
We meet Guido’s Holly first. Guido is smitten at first sight, but Holly is unimpressed.
“Are you still working on your thesis? I’m almost finished,’ said Guido. I can never remember what it’s on,” said Paula. “Medieval property law and its relationship to courtly love,” said Guido. Holly Sturgis snickered.
Yet, despite her lack of warmth and cool self-possessed detachment, Holly loves him and they get married. She is very accomplished.
Holly had no ambitions to speak of, except to live nicely from day to day. It amazed Guido that she knew so much and did so little with it
… [insert a very long list of a smattering of Holly’s talents and skills]
Guido had once recited this list to Vincent, including the fact that Holly spoke French and Italian. “Does she fly on commercial airlines?” Vincent had asked. “Of course she does. Why?” “Anything short of a transport carrier would crash under the weight of those accomplishments,” Vincent had said.
She is a domestic goddess and creates a beautiful home and life for Guido, despite his constant state of bewilderment over what is going on in her head. The reader is also very intrigued about and interested in Holly. She keeps Guido and us on our toes. But with Guido, it is more that just curiosity. “…when Holly came back from so little as a trip around the corner to buy a bunch of parsley, Guido felt his life had been saved.”
We are still trying to get a handle on Holly when Vincent meets Misty. Another largely closed book.
One morning, Vincent had discovered a girl named Misty Berkowitz. He found her sitting in her office, slumped over her old-fashioned calculator stirring her coffee with a fountain pen. She had amber-colored hair that fell into her eyes and small gold spectacles that slipped down her nose. She looked bored and misanthropic. The sight of her caused Vincent’s heart to leap in an unexpected manner
“I see,” said Vincent. “Why can’t I simply take you out for lunch?”… I don’t permit myself to be taken out for lunch.” “Is that some sort of militant stand?” “No,” said Misty. “I’m just not that sort of girl. I don’t go in for all that adorable socializing. I think it’s stupid and disgusting.” “I see,” said Vincent. “You’re not very nice, are you?” “No,” said Misty.
“Well, now, said Vincent “is Misty your real name, or is it short for something?”…:It’s real said Misty. “How did you get a name like that?” “Because my mother is a jerk,” she snarled.”
And like Holly with Guido, Misty improbably falls in love with Vincent who is her opposite in everyway. Like Guido, Vincent is equally at sea with Misty. But despite her difficult ways, as Misty reflects one day, “How happy Vincent would have been to know how often she thought of him, how secretly she doted on him.”
We follow the two couples’ married lives. There is drama in the workplace, we meet the families, Holly gets pregnant, Holly disappears for awhile. Twice. Once to a nunnery. Holly has a baby. We meet some of their off-beat friends and acquaintances,
“Is Sybel a runaway slave?” said Vincent. “Or is there something wrong with her feet? She seemed to have some sort of shackles on her ankles.” “Those are her leg weights,” said Misty. “She says they keep her calf muscles clear and full of physical intelligence.” “She ought to try wrapping one around her head,” said Vincent.
Towards the end, we meet a cousin of Holly’s whom Misty realizes should have been Vincent’s perfect match, at least on paper.
Gem stood for a part of Vincent that was not second nature to Misty—the part that was sporty and larky and on cheerful terms with the world, the part that had grown up sailing and fishing. Suppose Vincent got tired of someone who was not second nature to him?
It turns out this is one of those “slice of life” novels that I seem to gravitate to on a regular basis except for the setting, which is not early or mid-century England. Also, it’s funnier. I was reminded of another recently-discovered-by-me author, Amy Poeppel. So A Comedy of Manners, if it must be categorized. I see that this review is full of quotes. If you were the least entertained, interested, or amused by these samples of Laurie Colwin’s writing. I highly recommend this book. Because there are literally gems and nuggets like this on every single page.
