October 16, 2023
Gornick (The Peacock Feast) spins an immersive story of a Manhattan editor on her 60th birthday. Among those invited to Ana Koehl’s celebratory dinner are her stoner anesthesiologist husband, Henry; her best friend Fiona; her son, Simon, who has begun questioning his gender identity; and Lance, her long-term lover and proof positive that Ana is a “careful cheat.” Also invited are Ana’s semi-estranged brother George and her caustic mother, Jean, who sends her a terse email on the morning of her birthday detailing how much it cost to raise Ana (“Had I invested that money starting at your birth rather than spending it year by year on you, it would have grown with compound interest”). Gornick complicates the story by alternating Ana’s perspective with those of the other characters, including Henry, who meets with Fiona for lunch before Ana’s party. It turns out the two once had an affair, and Henry thinks they should tell Ana (“You need to be a bit less shtetl and a bit more français,” Fiona responds). Crisp and clever writing abounds, and Ana’s response during the climactic dinner scene to her mother’s cruelty is particularly piercing. Gornick strikes all the right notes in this complex and moving character study. (Nov.)Correction: An earlier version of this review misstated the protagonist’s occupation and mischaracterized the relationship between two other characters.
May 31, 2024
On the cusp of her 60th birthday, Ana takes stock of her relationships and complex family. Ana is a "book doula," an editor who helps authors bring their books into the world. Her husband, Henry, manages the pain of his debilitating back injury with marijuana, putting an end to their sex life. Ana's grown child, Simon, has just come out as a trans woman, and Ana's eccentric star-chitect father, recently deceased, has left the family a heap of money. Then there's Ana's pampered brother George, who unilaterally changed their father's will to benefit his children, and Ana's calculating mother, who bills Ana for the financial costs of raising her. Ana's years-long affair with journalist Lance seems to have run its course, but her best friend Fiona remains a steady sounding board. As Ana looks back on her life, she begins to embrace a new way of understanding, accepting, and forgiving. Gornick (The Peacock Feast) creates a cast of unique and relatable characters with an unusual story for each. Petrea Burchard narrates from each character's point of view. Her portrayal of Ana's character captures the clarity she achieves at this significant milestone. VERDICT A contemplative and enjoyable story of family relationships.--Joanna M. Burkhardt
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