Good Things I Wish You by A. Manette Ansay
paperback 250 pages
published by Harper Perennial in 2010
ISBN-13: 978-0-06-123995-3
In Good Things I Wish You, A. Manette Ansay weaves together the fictional story of modern day writer, Jeanette and that of her subjects Clara Schumann and Johannes Brahms. While researching this historical friendship that is widely considered a romantic relationship, Jeanette poses the question, can men and women ever just be friends?
From the beginning chapter, where we accompany Jeanette in meeting Hart on their first date, we watch as that question unfolds itself in her own life. Switching between past and present, Ansay explores the relationship between men and women. The question is not answered in Jeanette's case until the end of the book but the getting there is a tender and real study in the way we interact with each other. A recurring theme in the book is the thought that "there are things between men and women that do not change." And as often as the author proves that this could potentially be wrong, she shows us several ways of how it is right.
There is nothing gripping about this novel, no sitting on the edge of your chair, but you might find that you keep getting pulled back by the ease of the prose and the intelligence behind the idea. Ansay writes her dialogue as though she had tape recorded people talking and then copied it down. It is not incredibly traditional and might feel jarring until you get used to it... though its uniqueness and may just keep you reading.
I'm giving it 3 stars = Me Likey: Enjoyable! Particularly for fans of the genre.
A. Manette Ansay is the author of eight books, includingVinegar Hill, Midnight Champagne (a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award), and Blue Water. She has received the Pushcart Prize, two Great Lakes Book Awards, and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. She teaches in the MFA writing program at the University of Miami. Connect with A. Manette Ansay:
About A. Manette Ansay
This book was given to me for an honest review by TLC Book Tours.
I'm glad you enjoyed this one so much! Thank for being a part of the tour. :)
Posted by: Heather J. @ TLC Book Tours | Friday, July 16, 2010 at 08:09 PM