Alistair's Reviews > Ms. Demeanor

Lipman has carved a particular niche in contemporary American literature. Of course, this is a gross simplification of her life’s work in writing, as I’ve only read a fourth of her output. She writes what she knows about: middle-to-upper-middle- class Manhattan-ites. And she does it extraordinarily well. It gives me a sense of “what if”? (And can’t we all be aspirational, possums?). If I was a successful lawyer, recently suspended for lewd behaviour in public; if I had an identical twin, a successful dermatologist, and two attractive, well-versed parents; and lived in a building that had an actual name! And then met a divertingly attractive person, who also happens to live in the same building under house arrest, like moi. How spooky is all of this? (Apologies to Dame Edna whom I seem to be channeling right now!)
Enjoy.
I did.