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Emily Maxwell #2
Emily, Alone
Once again making the ordinary and overlooked not merely visible but vital to understanding our own lives, Stewart O'Nan confirms his position as an American master with Emily, Alone.
A sequel to the bestselling, much-beloved Wish You Were Here, O'Nan's intimate novel follows Emily Maxwell, a widow whose grown children have long departed. She dreams of visits from her grandchildren while mourning the turnover of her quiet Pittsburgh neighborhood. When her sister-in-law and sole companion, Arlene, faints at their favorite breakfast buffet, Emily's life changes in unexpected ways. As she grapples with her new independence, she discovers a hidden strength and realizes that life always offers new possibilities.
A sequel to the bestselling, much-beloved Wish You Were Here, O'Nan's intimate novel follows Emily Maxwell, a widow whose grown children have long departed. She dreams of visits from her grandchildren while mourning the turnover of her quiet Pittsburgh neighborhood. When her sister-in-law and sole companion, Arlene, faints at their favorite breakfast buffet, Emily's life changes in unexpected ways. As she grapples with her new independence, she discovers a hidden strength and realizes that life always offers new possibilities.
255 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
About the author
Stewart O'Nan
65 books1,254 followersStewart O'Nan is the author of eighteen novels, including Emily, Alone; Last Night at the Lobster; A Prayer for the Dying; Snow Angels; and the forthcoming Ocean State, due out from Grove/Atlantic on March 8th, 2022.
With Stephen King, I’ve also co-written Faithful, a nonfiction account of the 2004 Boston Red Sox, and the e-story “A Face in the Crowd.”
You can catch me at stewart-onan.com, on Twitter @stewartonan and on Facebook @stewartONanAuthor
With Stephen King, I’ve also co-written Faithful, a nonfiction account of the 2004 Boston Red Sox, and the e-story “A Face in the Crowd.”
You can catch me at stewart-onan.com, on Twitter @stewartonan and on Facebook @stewartONanAuthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,018 reviews
March 21, 2011
Stewart O’Nan may simply be genetically incapable of writing a bad book. His characters are written with precision, intelligence and detail; they’re so luminously alive that a reader can accurately guess about what they’re eating for dinner or what brand toothpaste they use.
In Emily, Alone, Mr. O’Nan revisits Emily, the Maxell family matriarch from a prior book, Wish You Were Alone. Anyone who is seeking an action-based book or “a story arc” (as taught in college writing classes) will be sorely disappointed. But for those readers who are intrigued by a near-perfect portrait of a winningly flawed elderly woman who is still alive with anxieties, hopes, and frustrations, this is an unsparingly candid and beautifully rendered novel.
Emily Maxwell is part of a gentle but dying breed, a representative of a generation that is anchored to faith, friends and family. She mourns the civilities that are gradually going the way of the dinosaur – thank you notes, Mother’s Day remembrances, and the kindness of strangers. Her two adult children have turned out imperfect – a recovering alcoholic daughter and an eager-to-please son who often acquiesces to an uncaring daughter-in-law.
With her old cadre of friends dwindling and her children caught up in their own lives, Emily fills her days with two-for-one buffet breakfasts with her sister-in-law Arlene, classical music, and her daily routine with her obstreperous dog Rufus, who
is instantly recognizable to anyone who has spent life with an aging, sometimes unruly, always goofy and loving animal.
Whether she’s caring for and about her Arlene, trying to keep up with family holiday traditions, keeping tabs on a house sale nearby, and trying to do the right thing in educating her children about executor’s duties, Emily struggles to find purpose. She recognizes that time is not on her side any longer and reflects, “The past was the past. Better to work on the present instead of wallowing, and yet the one comforting thought was also the most infuriating. Time, which had her on the rack, would just as effortlessly rescue her. This funk was temporary. Tomorrow she would be fine.”
The thing is, we all know Emily. She is our grandmother, our mother, our piano teacher, our neighbor. She is the woman who gets up each day and attends the breakfast buffet or participates in a church auction, or waits eagerly for the mail carrier or feels perplexed about preening teenagers who blast their stereo too loud. She is the one who wonders whether she should have tried a little harder with her kids, even though “she’d tried beyond the point where others might have reasonably given up.” She is the woman who senses that life is waning but still intends to hang on as long as possible and go for the gusto.
The fact that Stewart O’Nan can take an “invisible woman” – someone we nod to pleasantly and hope she won’t engage us in conversation too long – and explore her interior and exterior life is testimony to his skill. Mr. O’Nan writes about every woman…and shows that there are no ordinary lives, just extraordinary ones.
In Emily, Alone, Mr. O’Nan revisits Emily, the Maxell family matriarch from a prior book, Wish You Were Alone. Anyone who is seeking an action-based book or “a story arc” (as taught in college writing classes) will be sorely disappointed. But for those readers who are intrigued by a near-perfect portrait of a winningly flawed elderly woman who is still alive with anxieties, hopes, and frustrations, this is an unsparingly candid and beautifully rendered novel.
Emily Maxwell is part of a gentle but dying breed, a representative of a generation that is anchored to faith, friends and family. She mourns the civilities that are gradually going the way of the dinosaur – thank you notes, Mother’s Day remembrances, and the kindness of strangers. Her two adult children have turned out imperfect – a recovering alcoholic daughter and an eager-to-please son who often acquiesces to an uncaring daughter-in-law.
With her old cadre of friends dwindling and her children caught up in their own lives, Emily fills her days with two-for-one buffet breakfasts with her sister-in-law Arlene, classical music, and her daily routine with her obstreperous dog Rufus, who
is instantly recognizable to anyone who has spent life with an aging, sometimes unruly, always goofy and loving animal.
Whether she’s caring for and about her Arlene, trying to keep up with family holiday traditions, keeping tabs on a house sale nearby, and trying to do the right thing in educating her children about executor’s duties, Emily struggles to find purpose. She recognizes that time is not on her side any longer and reflects, “The past was the past. Better to work on the present instead of wallowing, and yet the one comforting thought was also the most infuriating. Time, which had her on the rack, would just as effortlessly rescue her. This funk was temporary. Tomorrow she would be fine.”
The thing is, we all know Emily. She is our grandmother, our mother, our piano teacher, our neighbor. She is the woman who gets up each day and attends the breakfast buffet or participates in a church auction, or waits eagerly for the mail carrier or feels perplexed about preening teenagers who blast their stereo too loud. She is the one who wonders whether she should have tried a little harder with her kids, even though “she’d tried beyond the point where others might have reasonably given up.” She is the woman who senses that life is waning but still intends to hang on as long as possible and go for the gusto.
The fact that Stewart O’Nan can take an “invisible woman” – someone we nod to pleasantly and hope she won’t engage us in conversation too long – and explore her interior and exterior life is testimony to his skill. Mr. O’Nan writes about every woman…and shows that there are no ordinary lives, just extraordinary ones.
May 3, 2017
I have been binge reading Stewart O'Nan novels lately and this book, 'Emily, Alone' is a reread for me. This is the story of 80 year-old Emily Maxwell. Emily is a widow.. she has lost her husband and her children and grandchildren are scattered across the country. Emily spends her time with her old dog Rufus and her sister-in-law Arlene. This story COULD have been a sad one.. after all, Emily is an elderly woman trying to cope with her loneliness and attempting to come to terms with all of the end of life' issues that people her age must consider. But the story actually WASN'T sad at all. The story was written with humor, compassion and an understanding which came across on every page. Emily's life and struggles make it apparent that no matter how long people live, they continue to struggle with many of the same issues they have struggled with throughout their lives. And I have to mention how amazing it was to me that Stewart O'Nan could create such an authentic character in Emily. He had me convinced that he truly KNEW how it felt to be a widowed, lonely 80 year-old woman.
Of course, another aspect of this story that I enjoyed was the setting. The story takes place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania....a city I have lived in or near for much of my adult life. The setting included descriptions of landmarks I am familiar with....from the breakfast buffet at the Eat'n Park restaurant where you are likely to see the 'over 65' crowd on just about any morning of the week to the beautiful gardens in the springtime at the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens to probably my favorite location as of late, the majestic gothic style Cathedral of Learning on the University of Pittsburgh campus (H2P!!!)..... I could clearly follow Emily's daily travels in my mind and wouldn't have at all been surprised to run into her at any of these places.
This story really IS a poignant treasure and reminded me once more just why Stewart O' Nan is one of my favorite writers!
Of course, another aspect of this story that I enjoyed was the setting. The story takes place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania....a city I have lived in or near for much of my adult life. The setting included descriptions of landmarks I am familiar with....from the breakfast buffet at the Eat'n Park restaurant where you are likely to see the 'over 65' crowd on just about any morning of the week to the beautiful gardens in the springtime at the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens to probably my favorite location as of late, the majestic gothic style Cathedral of Learning on the University of Pittsburgh campus (H2P!!!)..... I could clearly follow Emily's daily travels in my mind and wouldn't have at all been surprised to run into her at any of these places.
This story really IS a poignant treasure and reminded me once more just why Stewart O' Nan is one of my favorite writers!
September 5, 2023
3 Stars
October 4, 2022
I really enjoyed this story of octogenarian widow Emily Maxwell. Set in Pittsburgh in the house/neighborhood Emily has lived in since her marriage many years ago to Henry, the story picks up a little before Thanksgiving and ends the following July. Not much happens, but that's usually the case in O'Nan's books, which are definitely character-driven. He writes about the everyday habits, thoughts and concerns of ordinary people, and in this case, Emily's story was so relatable! As I read, I thought of myself, friends (all of a certain age), of my late mother, of friend's mothers, and on and on! I fell under Emily's spell, admiring her for keeping the traditions of her life going!
Why I'm reading this: This was recommended by good friend and IRL reading buddy, Susie. I have only read O'Nan's Last Night at the Lobster. I loved the writing, but haven't sought out more books by O'Nan, so I jumped on this!
Why I'm reading this: This was recommended by good friend and IRL reading buddy, Susie. I have only read O'Nan's Last Night at the Lobster. I loved the writing, but haven't sought out more books by O'Nan, so I jumped on this!
March 31, 2011
This slow, meditative novel is not for those who read for a fast plot. Nothing much actually happens in this character study of an elderly woman dealing with the loneliness and complications of growing older. She nurses her sister-in-law back to health after a health scare, navigates the tricky waters of dealing with her grown children and grandchildren without trying to impose upon them or aggravate them, attends services for old friends who pass away, and tries to fill the endless hours that loom before her. Emily spends most of her time alone, or at least only with her dog Rufus. We see a glimpse into the shrinking but still meaningful world of an older woman facing the last chapters in her life with grace and dignity.
April 7, 2011
I'm not sure about all the great reviews this book received. Yes, Stewart O'Nan is a good author (Songs for the Missing and The Good Wife are among his best novels), however, NOTHING happens in this book. Yes, 80-year-old Emily keeps busy worrying about her aging dog, nagging her adult children about their upcoming visits (she has to plan!), and going to museum openings and breakfast buffets (always with a coupon) with her sister-in-law, Arlene. The reader spends nearly a year with Emily...and then the book ends. (I wondered how O'Nan knew he was done writing.) Emily is quite opinionated, a charge she would vehemently deny, saying that she is merely right all the time. She is also passively negative. By this I mean that she goes to a dear friend's funeral, only to be blindsided by the organist playing one of the classical pieces she has chosen for her own funeral. Now her day is ruined. Or when Emily thinks about her son, how he would never purposely hurt anyone, a trait she "both respected and envied". She begrudges Arlene throwing coins in the flower show fountain, then hears her mother's voice admonishing her in her head when Arlene admits that her wish was that they would both be around for the next year's flower show. I really couldn't wait for this book to end and thought that spending time with Emily in real life would be exhausting. No wonder her children didn't tell her their holiday plans until the last minute... Skip this one and try O'Nan's other books.
November 25, 2013
Lately, Stewart O’Nan hasn’t made it easy to recommend his novels. The only thing they’ve got going for them is their superb quality. But ask, “What’s it about?” and his fans sound defensive or pretend they’re getting an important call on their cellphones. Just try persuading your book club to read a novel about the day a Red Lobster restaurant closes. (Without incident.) Or how about a novel that describes an old lady waiting for spring? (It comes.) Face it: O’Nan has become the Kobayashi Maru scenario of book marketing. Even when his novels promise heart-stopping spectacle — Daughter kidnapped! Husband killed! Teens crash! — he resists every expected dramatic element. This is an author who would drive all around town to avoid running over a single cheap thrill. He subverts our desire for commotion, and searches instead for drama in the quotidian motions of survivors.
His new novel is an even harder sell than usual. It’s about an 80-year-old widow in Pittsburgh named Emily. She’s relatively healthy and financially secure. Highlights of the plot include lunch at the art museum, discovering a scratch on the car, waiting for thank-you notes to arrive. This may be why nobody ever asks for the “Geriatric Fiction” section.
But maybe they should. Consider, for instance, how many supposedly “daring,” “illuminating,” “startling” novels we get every year about disaffected young men, while the lives of the elderly — the fastest growing segment of our population — remain the stuff of grim or ribald caricatures. This strikes me as a failure of nerve more than imagination. After all, most of us would like to hang around long enough to bankrupt Social Security, but for all the novels we’ve got about death, the real undiscovered country would seem to be old age.
Which is what makes me enthusiastic about “Emily, Alone.” It quietly shuffles in where few authors have dared to go. And it’s so humane and so finely executed that I hope it finds those sensitive readers who will appreciate it.
Six years have passed since Emily Maxwell’s husband died, and since then she’s lived alone, managing just fine, thank you very much, though it’s annoying not to drive anymore. “After a run-in with a fire hydrant, followed quickly by another with a Duquesne Light truck, she admitted — bitterly, since it went against her innate thriftiness — that maybe taking taxis was the better part of valor.” That wry tone runs throughout this quiet novel, never subjecting Emily to satire, but allowing her to enjoy a bit of comedy at her own expense. “She was dying, yes, fine, they all were, by degrees,” O’Nan writes, catching the spirit of her fortitude just right. “If Dr. Sayid expected her to be devastated by the idea, that only showed how young he was. There was no point in going into hysterics. It wasn’t the end of the world, just the end of her, and lately she’d come to think that was natural, and possibly something to be desired, if it could be achieved with a modicum of dignity.”
Through short, crisp chapters we follow Emily’s well-ordered, dignified life, frequently challenged by calamities and disappointments large and small, all gently captured in O’Nan’s precise, unadorned prose. Some of these scenes are exquisite in their perfect balance of poignancy and restraint, while others sport a dark wit that’s never maudlin: “She didn’t need to be reminded,” he writes, “that she was a single misstep from disaster,” but that’s no reason to be late with one’s Christmas cards. The terror of being driven around town by her nearsighted, easily distracted sister-in-law makes her consider buying a new car. Her ancient, obese dog keeps threatening to die, a loss that scares her almost more than the death of her remaining friends. And Pittsburgh, so long her home, now seems to be slipping away from her memories, one rehab after another.
But the emotional heart of the novel is Emily’s concern for her two adult children. The smoke has long since cleared from the old battles of their teenage years, and now Emily must negotiate with them carefully, from a position of confirmed weakness, knowing that they hold (and will use) the ultimate weapon: access to her grandchildren, those increasingly modern and remote beings. O’Nan has an uncanny sensitivity to the silent tensions that run beneath the most ordinary conversations, the unexpressed disappointment that follows when family members fail to match our enthusiasm for a holiday visit, a lecture on frugality or “The Nutcracker.” Emily’s barely repressed anticipation of Christmas will tweak the conscience of any irritated adult child. And O’Nan’s ability to record the loaded comments around the dining room table makes me feel it’s already late December.
O’Nan details all this tenderly, with no more sentimentality than Emily allows herself. “The temptation was to mourn those days,” he writes, “when they were young and busy and alive. As much as Emily missed them, she understood the reason that era seemed so rich — partly, at least — was because it was past, memorialized, the task they’d set themselves of raising families accomplished.”
“Emily, Alone” is a sequel to “Wish You Were Here” (2002), O’Nan’s long, multi-faceted story about a family’s last summer vacation in Chautauqua, N.Y. It’s tempting to assume that this new novel, at half the first one’s length and with its narrow, sclerotic plot, is just a death rattle from the original story, but in fact it’s better. Shorter, wittier, much more tightly focused, “Emily, Alone” makes the perfect demonstration of O’Nan’s humanizing vision. Yes, there’s always the danger that he’s writing what Frank Norris once disparaged as “the drama of the broken tea cup.” But what saves him is his profound respect for Emily, the hopes and fears that lie beyond her old-lady foibles and fussiness, which, even if you aren’t an old lady and never will be, turn out to be the same hopes and fears we all harbor alone.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/enterta...
His new novel is an even harder sell than usual. It’s about an 80-year-old widow in Pittsburgh named Emily. She’s relatively healthy and financially secure. Highlights of the plot include lunch at the art museum, discovering a scratch on the car, waiting for thank-you notes to arrive. This may be why nobody ever asks for the “Geriatric Fiction” section.
But maybe they should. Consider, for instance, how many supposedly “daring,” “illuminating,” “startling” novels we get every year about disaffected young men, while the lives of the elderly — the fastest growing segment of our population — remain the stuff of grim or ribald caricatures. This strikes me as a failure of nerve more than imagination. After all, most of us would like to hang around long enough to bankrupt Social Security, but for all the novels we’ve got about death, the real undiscovered country would seem to be old age.
Which is what makes me enthusiastic about “Emily, Alone.” It quietly shuffles in where few authors have dared to go. And it’s so humane and so finely executed that I hope it finds those sensitive readers who will appreciate it.
Six years have passed since Emily Maxwell’s husband died, and since then she’s lived alone, managing just fine, thank you very much, though it’s annoying not to drive anymore. “After a run-in with a fire hydrant, followed quickly by another with a Duquesne Light truck, she admitted — bitterly, since it went against her innate thriftiness — that maybe taking taxis was the better part of valor.” That wry tone runs throughout this quiet novel, never subjecting Emily to satire, but allowing her to enjoy a bit of comedy at her own expense. “She was dying, yes, fine, they all were, by degrees,” O’Nan writes, catching the spirit of her fortitude just right. “If Dr. Sayid expected her to be devastated by the idea, that only showed how young he was. There was no point in going into hysterics. It wasn’t the end of the world, just the end of her, and lately she’d come to think that was natural, and possibly something to be desired, if it could be achieved with a modicum of dignity.”
Through short, crisp chapters we follow Emily’s well-ordered, dignified life, frequently challenged by calamities and disappointments large and small, all gently captured in O’Nan’s precise, unadorned prose. Some of these scenes are exquisite in their perfect balance of poignancy and restraint, while others sport a dark wit that’s never maudlin: “She didn’t need to be reminded,” he writes, “that she was a single misstep from disaster,” but that’s no reason to be late with one’s Christmas cards. The terror of being driven around town by her nearsighted, easily distracted sister-in-law makes her consider buying a new car. Her ancient, obese dog keeps threatening to die, a loss that scares her almost more than the death of her remaining friends. And Pittsburgh, so long her home, now seems to be slipping away from her memories, one rehab after another.
But the emotional heart of the novel is Emily’s concern for her two adult children. The smoke has long since cleared from the old battles of their teenage years, and now Emily must negotiate with them carefully, from a position of confirmed weakness, knowing that they hold (and will use) the ultimate weapon: access to her grandchildren, those increasingly modern and remote beings. O’Nan has an uncanny sensitivity to the silent tensions that run beneath the most ordinary conversations, the unexpressed disappointment that follows when family members fail to match our enthusiasm for a holiday visit, a lecture on frugality or “The Nutcracker.” Emily’s barely repressed anticipation of Christmas will tweak the conscience of any irritated adult child. And O’Nan’s ability to record the loaded comments around the dining room table makes me feel it’s already late December.
O’Nan details all this tenderly, with no more sentimentality than Emily allows herself. “The temptation was to mourn those days,” he writes, “when they were young and busy and alive. As much as Emily missed them, she understood the reason that era seemed so rich — partly, at least — was because it was past, memorialized, the task they’d set themselves of raising families accomplished.”
“Emily, Alone” is a sequel to “Wish You Were Here” (2002), O’Nan’s long, multi-faceted story about a family’s last summer vacation in Chautauqua, N.Y. It’s tempting to assume that this new novel, at half the first one’s length and with its narrow, sclerotic plot, is just a death rattle from the original story, but in fact it’s better. Shorter, wittier, much more tightly focused, “Emily, Alone” makes the perfect demonstration of O’Nan’s humanizing vision. Yes, there’s always the danger that he’s writing what Frank Norris once disparaged as “the drama of the broken tea cup.” But what saves him is his profound respect for Emily, the hopes and fears that lie beyond her old-lady foibles and fussiness, which, even if you aren’t an old lady and never will be, turn out to be the same hopes and fears we all harbor alone.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/enterta...
August 4, 2011
I'm a big fan of Stewart O'Nan and have read several of his books. They're not easy reading even though most are not overly long, coming in at a publisher's dream of 300+ pages. O'Nan's stories are slow and complex with a lot of room for perspective of the reader.
Emily Alone left me feeling drained and a bit sad. It's never quite clear, at least to me, exactly what age Emily is. I'd like to think she is way older than me but I don't think that's true. This perhaps is the reason for the emotional pull I felt throughout the story. Emily Alone...a woman struggling with aging and feelings of being all alone and on her own. Children scattered, an empty house, husband gone, alone. Independence is hers even if she doesn't want it. This new life is a struggle and though I know Emily will make it; she still has spunk; I can't help but feel sad too. I think it hits too close to home. I think of my mother who in her 80's lost my dad and found herself in much the same place as Emily. Though I tried to understand her loss, reading Emily's story makes me wonder if I somehow failed to see its complexity. My mother and Emily put up a good front. Emily Alone also confronts some of my own demons, the process of aging and issues that I may have to deal with in my future. Alone, what will that mean to me?
Slow paced, Emily Alone, was thought provoking, humorous at times and a good read. I have not read the book that this was a sequel to, "Wish You Were Here". I think I'll add that to my list. I don't think you can go wrong with O'Nan. Come prepared to think.
Emily Alone left me feeling drained and a bit sad. It's never quite clear, at least to me, exactly what age Emily is. I'd like to think she is way older than me but I don't think that's true. This perhaps is the reason for the emotional pull I felt throughout the story. Emily Alone...a woman struggling with aging and feelings of being all alone and on her own. Children scattered, an empty house, husband gone, alone. Independence is hers even if she doesn't want it. This new life is a struggle and though I know Emily will make it; she still has spunk; I can't help but feel sad too. I think it hits too close to home. I think of my mother who in her 80's lost my dad and found herself in much the same place as Emily. Though I tried to understand her loss, reading Emily's story makes me wonder if I somehow failed to see its complexity. My mother and Emily put up a good front. Emily Alone also confronts some of my own demons, the process of aging and issues that I may have to deal with in my future. Alone, what will that mean to me?
Slow paced, Emily Alone, was thought provoking, humorous at times and a good read. I have not read the book that this was a sequel to, "Wish You Were Here". I think I'll add that to my list. I don't think you can go wrong with O'Nan. Come prepared to think.
July 14, 2011
I have finally found my genre and I predict a new category of literature for aging female baby-boomers. When we find a book that appeals to us, but that I figure guys would have no interest, it can no longer be called chick-lit; it will have to be called crone-lit. "Emily, Alone" is just that. Nothing happens in this book, yet I gobbled it down, which just goes to prove my theory that the success of a book depends all on the author's voice, not the story. A little old lady and her aging springer spaniel live a simple existence, and we see a year in her life, celebrating holidays with her children and grandchildren; mourning the gradual losses of friends and relatives; enjoying the pleasures of gardening and music, dining out, visiting her sister-in-law who is her constant companion. We see her struggle to maintain independence and bear witness to the aches and pains of the aging process. Sounds so ridiculous, but such is life.
P.S. I find it almost impossible to believe it was written by a man---he is completely inside the brain of a woman.
P.S. I find it almost impossible to believe it was written by a man---he is completely inside the brain of a woman.
February 13, 2019
This story resonates for me because I'm always curious about the second half of life. In Emily, Alone, an older woman grapples with what must be a common existential conundrum: what is the motivation, at this age? Was she too old to start something? How was she to see herself now?
Emily see-saws back and forth between a hunger for life and a sense of futility. In one scene, Emily's daughter and adult grandchildren are visiting for Christmas. Everyone has gone to bed, the house is finally quiet and Emily is turning off lights and musing:
"Yesterday she'd been desperate. Today she felt love. Was it just Christmas? If the clock struck now, would the first spirit appear, take her hand and show her the folly of her ways? At her age, it was dangerous to think the past was all she had, her life already defined, when every day was another chance." I loved that.
Emily keeps going back and forth, not sure whether to wax or wane.
One of the most poignant scenes was when Emily sat alone at home, worn out and heartsick after enduring the funeral of her long-time friend, Kay. Emily finds herself remembering a deathbed conversation from a year ago, with her very best friend, Louise. Now Emily thinks: "It wasn't even six-thirty and all she wanted to do was crawl into bed. She...remembered Louise near the end, telling her she just wanted it to stop, and was that okay?...(Emily believed) it wasn't giving up when there was nothing left anyway...She could feel the beginnings of a headache, a dull pulsing like a heartbeat behind one eye. She pushed herself out of the chair and padded to the kitchen. She rinsed her glass and stuck it in the top of the dishwasher, poured herself a tall glass of water and then, without hope or desire, began searching through the cupboards for something to eat."
Doesn't that describe it perfectly?
But a few days later, while visiting an art exhibit, Emily has a powerful reaction to a Van Gogh. Feeling motivated and inspired, she thinks, "How strange that his choice of color, made so long ago, was waiting to dispel her gloom at just that moment. And to think she'd felt it despite the chaos all around her" - the museum was noisy and crowded with schoolchildren - "She couldn't imagine a greater testament to the power of art, and wasn't that why they were there, to have their faith in it renewed?" Emily's reaction to the Van Gogh, her desperate hunger, her gratitude that a master had seemed to know it would touch people, just that color - just that sky, moves me deeply. Then she tries to find a print to take home, but the colors aren't right..."and she left, empty-handed, knowing, in time, with nothing to remind her, she would lose that feeling of wonder."
By the end of this gentle book with its nearly invisible arc, Emily seems to have come to an understanding about life. A practical, ethical woman, Emily represents most of us. We're born and develop, trying to be good people and do our best in spite of our failings. At the end, this challenging task is topped off by the most challenging of all: not giving up in spite of herculean forces to the contrary.
Emily, Alone is a testament to the will to live.
Emily see-saws back and forth between a hunger for life and a sense of futility. In one scene, Emily's daughter and adult grandchildren are visiting for Christmas. Everyone has gone to bed, the house is finally quiet and Emily is turning off lights and musing:
"Yesterday she'd been desperate. Today she felt love. Was it just Christmas? If the clock struck now, would the first spirit appear, take her hand and show her the folly of her ways? At her age, it was dangerous to think the past was all she had, her life already defined, when every day was another chance." I loved that.
Emily keeps going back and forth, not sure whether to wax or wane.
One of the most poignant scenes was when Emily sat alone at home, worn out and heartsick after enduring the funeral of her long-time friend, Kay. Emily finds herself remembering a deathbed conversation from a year ago, with her very best friend, Louise. Now Emily thinks: "It wasn't even six-thirty and all she wanted to do was crawl into bed. She...remembered Louise near the end, telling her she just wanted it to stop, and was that okay?...(Emily believed) it wasn't giving up when there was nothing left anyway...She could feel the beginnings of a headache, a dull pulsing like a heartbeat behind one eye. She pushed herself out of the chair and padded to the kitchen. She rinsed her glass and stuck it in the top of the dishwasher, poured herself a tall glass of water and then, without hope or desire, began searching through the cupboards for something to eat."
Doesn't that describe it perfectly?
But a few days later, while visiting an art exhibit, Emily has a powerful reaction to a Van Gogh. Feeling motivated and inspired, she thinks, "How strange that his choice of color, made so long ago, was waiting to dispel her gloom at just that moment. And to think she'd felt it despite the chaos all around her" - the museum was noisy and crowded with schoolchildren - "She couldn't imagine a greater testament to the power of art, and wasn't that why they were there, to have their faith in it renewed?" Emily's reaction to the Van Gogh, her desperate hunger, her gratitude that a master had seemed to know it would touch people, just that color - just that sky, moves me deeply. Then she tries to find a print to take home, but the colors aren't right..."and she left, empty-handed, knowing, in time, with nothing to remind her, she would lose that feeling of wonder."
By the end of this gentle book with its nearly invisible arc, Emily seems to have come to an understanding about life. A practical, ethical woman, Emily represents most of us. We're born and develop, trying to be good people and do our best in spite of our failings. At the end, this challenging task is topped off by the most challenging of all: not giving up in spite of herculean forces to the contrary.
Emily, Alone is a testament to the will to live.
April 8, 2021
An 80-year-old widow living in Pittsburgh waiting for Spring to come, how exciting can this story be? The narrative provides a book length character development by giving an account of the myriad of thoughts, worries, and activities of an older woman. Some readers will note that not much happens, but it’s surprising how interesting this life can be when portrayed by skilled writing.
Life at this age may appear to be uneventful, but early in this book the reader is startled by an event that shows how scary being old can be—the threat of encroaching loss of health and/or death. Emily and her friend (sister-in-law) are collecting their food at a buffet line when her friend suffers an apparent stroke, falls down, and receives a bad cut on her head. This event grabs the reader’s attention and makes it clear that being old in not for sissies.
As the book begins Emily no longer drives her own car and is instead riding as a passenger in her friend’s car. The driving skills as described for her friend make it sound that perhaps Emily could do better. After her friend is hospitalized Emily is forced to begin driving again. Doing so forces her to get rid of the 82 Oldsmobile inherited from her deceased husband and replace it with a Subaru Outback. Emily is concerned that her new car is too flashy.
Emily’s children live in other cities, so one of her concerns is for their welfare and that of the grandchildren. And of course there’s always the issue of how often to communicate with them and wondering when they’re coming to visit. Her relationship with the daughter is filled with angst, and meanwhile Emily remembers her own younger years and arguments with her own mother.
The health of Emily's pet dog is another cause of concern for her. The dog is probably older than Emily — in dog years — and his health seems to be showing signs of failing. Emily is planning to outlive her dog, but knows she will miss his companionship when he's gone.
Emily, Alone is a sequel to Wish You Were Here (2002) that takes place about seven years earlier in which the family meets for the last time at their vacation home in Chautauqua, NY. Reference is made in Emily, Alone to the fact that the vacation home needed to be sold to enhance Emily’s financial situation. All through this book our Emily is anticipating visiting Chautauqua again when Spring time arrives, but this time she will be renting a cottage.
Life at this age may appear to be uneventful, but early in this book the reader is startled by an event that shows how scary being old can be—the threat of encroaching loss of health and/or death. Emily and her friend (sister-in-law) are collecting their food at a buffet line when her friend suffers an apparent stroke, falls down, and receives a bad cut on her head. This event grabs the reader’s attention and makes it clear that being old in not for sissies.
As the book begins Emily no longer drives her own car and is instead riding as a passenger in her friend’s car. The driving skills as described for her friend make it sound that perhaps Emily could do better. After her friend is hospitalized Emily is forced to begin driving again. Doing so forces her to get rid of the 82 Oldsmobile inherited from her deceased husband and replace it with a Subaru Outback. Emily is concerned that her new car is too flashy.
Emily’s children live in other cities, so one of her concerns is for their welfare and that of the grandchildren. And of course there’s always the issue of how often to communicate with them and wondering when they’re coming to visit. Her relationship with the daughter is filled with angst, and meanwhile Emily remembers her own younger years and arguments with her own mother.
The health of Emily's pet dog is another cause of concern for her. The dog is probably older than Emily — in dog years — and his health seems to be showing signs of failing. Emily is planning to outlive her dog, but knows she will miss his companionship when he's gone.
Emily, Alone is a sequel to Wish You Were Here (2002) that takes place about seven years earlier in which the family meets for the last time at their vacation home in Chautauqua, NY. Reference is made in Emily, Alone to the fact that the vacation home needed to be sold to enhance Emily’s financial situation. All through this book our Emily is anticipating visiting Chautauqua again when Spring time arrives, but this time she will be renting a cottage.
March 17, 2011
This is a gentle, sensitive, but unsentimental story about the marginalized lives of the elderly. Eighty-year-old Pittsburgh widow Emily Maxwell lives alone with her ripe old intractable dog, Rufus, in the modest and dignified neighborhood where she raised her children and loved her husband. She's alert, oriented, and productive in the garden, a wisp of a woman with a waning appetite and bones like balsa. She goes about her days with routine ruminations and mingled sensations. Her nights are lonely and sometimes sleepless.
You learn so much about Emily though her deliberations, her friendship with sister-in-law, Arlene, and her devotion to Rufus, who is one of the most convincing, unadulterated dogs I've met in a book. Emily's uncluttered life is centered on her aging dog, on waiting to see her children and grandchildren, (who live far away), and attending the funerals of her peers. Her faith in God is fastidious and her charity to the church is noble and steadfast. Of course, Emily isn't without blemishes--she has her own peculiarities and peckish ways, the details that make a fictional character authentic and memorable.
O'Nan's portrait of Emily is bald and unflinching. Many issues that affect the elderly are addressed and thoroughly examined. What happens in this story is conveyed through small gestures, in Emily's day-to-day activities, in the minutiae of her thoughts and conversations. Her transactions with the younger world around her are subtly shattering, the visible world that casts her to the sidelines and render her invisible. But Emily isn't pitiful--far from it. O'Nan's polished, unstinting prose and nuanced narrative paint a portrait of a plain and austere woman who has lived an unadorned, faithful life, a woman of her time. But beneath the wrinkles, the papery skin and the murmuring heart, there is a fragrance of youth and passion, too.
This niche book will appeal to you if the subject of aging and a protagonist who is elderly can sustain your interest. There's no fury or zeal or stormy drama inside these pages. It's an unhurried start and a gradual completion. The familiar peccadillos of ordinary people are the purr and the glue of this story. In lesser hands, it would have sagged and sputtered. However, O'Nan keeps the pace with the surest way I know--crystalline prose and consummate humanity. And a formidable dog! Highly recommended for literature lovers.
You learn so much about Emily though her deliberations, her friendship with sister-in-law, Arlene, and her devotion to Rufus, who is one of the most convincing, unadulterated dogs I've met in a book. Emily's uncluttered life is centered on her aging dog, on waiting to see her children and grandchildren, (who live far away), and attending the funerals of her peers. Her faith in God is fastidious and her charity to the church is noble and steadfast. Of course, Emily isn't without blemishes--she has her own peculiarities and peckish ways, the details that make a fictional character authentic and memorable.
O'Nan's portrait of Emily is bald and unflinching. Many issues that affect the elderly are addressed and thoroughly examined. What happens in this story is conveyed through small gestures, in Emily's day-to-day activities, in the minutiae of her thoughts and conversations. Her transactions with the younger world around her are subtly shattering, the visible world that casts her to the sidelines and render her invisible. But Emily isn't pitiful--far from it. O'Nan's polished, unstinting prose and nuanced narrative paint a portrait of a plain and austere woman who has lived an unadorned, faithful life, a woman of her time. But beneath the wrinkles, the papery skin and the murmuring heart, there is a fragrance of youth and passion, too.
This niche book will appeal to you if the subject of aging and a protagonist who is elderly can sustain your interest. There's no fury or zeal or stormy drama inside these pages. It's an unhurried start and a gradual completion. The familiar peccadillos of ordinary people are the purr and the glue of this story. In lesser hands, it would have sagged and sputtered. However, O'Nan keeps the pace with the surest way I know--crystalline prose and consummate humanity. And a formidable dog! Highly recommended for literature lovers.
August 21, 2011
Before you are allowed to post a review of this novel, I’m going to have to ask you to present an official id. An official id with your dob on it. I’m sorry, but I just don’t think a person under fifty can really appreciate this book and I’m not sure those of you under fifty would have the patience to read a book where the biggest plot points are repairing a scratch on her new car.
Emily is an elderly widow, in the last years of her life. Her family, except for an elderly sister-in-law, lives far away and seldom visits. Her friends are rapidly dying off. The highlights of Emily’s week are Wednesdays when the maid comes in to clean and to eating at an inexpensive diner using discount coupons with her sister-in-law. Emily both enjoys her life and finds it more difficult each day to do the simple tasks she needs to do.
I found this book to be a lovely picture of a small life well lived.
Here’s a tiny sample:
“A week later, floundering, as was her habit in the wake of their leaving, she took Rufus out for his constitutional one bright, chilly morning only to discover, on the slate square of sidewalk directly in front of their steps, like a hex or a warning, a pair of black spary-painted arrows pointing downhill, bracketing the number 392.
She peered around at the empty lawns and driveways and porches, as if whoever was responsible were watching. Rufus looked up at her, wondering why they’d stopped.
She would have suspected gang graffiti, which had been a problem in the alley behind Sheridan, except it was small and artlessly done. Its sloppiness looked official, the harbinger of some public works project, a new sewer line or fiber-optic cable that might intrude on her summer. Besides marring her front walk, the inscrutable numerals promised a chaos she was powerless to stop, and sent her off up Grafton, frowning at her bad luck.”
Emily is an elderly widow, in the last years of her life. Her family, except for an elderly sister-in-law, lives far away and seldom visits. Her friends are rapidly dying off. The highlights of Emily’s week are Wednesdays when the maid comes in to clean and to eating at an inexpensive diner using discount coupons with her sister-in-law. Emily both enjoys her life and finds it more difficult each day to do the simple tasks she needs to do.
I found this book to be a lovely picture of a small life well lived.
Here’s a tiny sample:
“A week later, floundering, as was her habit in the wake of their leaving, she took Rufus out for his constitutional one bright, chilly morning only to discover, on the slate square of sidewalk directly in front of their steps, like a hex or a warning, a pair of black spary-painted arrows pointing downhill, bracketing the number 392.
She peered around at the empty lawns and driveways and porches, as if whoever was responsible were watching. Rufus looked up at her, wondering why they’d stopped.
She would have suspected gang graffiti, which had been a problem in the alley behind Sheridan, except it was small and artlessly done. Its sloppiness looked official, the harbinger of some public works project, a new sewer line or fiber-optic cable that might intrude on her summer. Besides marring her front walk, the inscrutable numerals promised a chaos she was powerless to stop, and sent her off up Grafton, frowning at her bad luck.”
December 6, 2011
About 200 pages in, I realized that nothing was actually going to happen in Emily, Alone. Meh. It was okay, so I kept on reading. I enjoyed the portrait of a senior citizen living alone enough to give it 3 stars and a thumbs up.
Emily, Alone is just a character study of an old, retired widow living in Pittsburgh. Now, you might think that the life of a retired widow in Pittsburgh might not be that exciting, and you'd be correct. O'Nan goes into great detail about the very mundane activities of Emily's everyday life. For example, there's a chapter on Emily resetting her clocks for daylight savings time. No, I'm not kidding. In addition, the author decided to tell Emily's story in the third person. I guess this was to remove any possible hint of excitement from the book (he he).
Well, the point here is that while the plot may be very mundane, it is also very realistic. Emily is every-old-lady ("everyman", get it?). She's a nice enough old lady, but she's paranoid and whiny about practically everything, especially her family. She misses her deceased husband. She dislikes breaking her routine. She talks to her dog a lot. She's frightened of falling. Etc. You get the idea.
Importantly, Emily, Alone accomplishes its mission, limited though it may be. It's a borderline 3-star effort, but I enjoyed it's honesty.
Emily, Alone is just a character study of an old, retired widow living in Pittsburgh. Now, you might think that the life of a retired widow in Pittsburgh might not be that exciting, and you'd be correct. O'Nan goes into great detail about the very mundane activities of Emily's everyday life. For example, there's a chapter on Emily resetting her clocks for daylight savings time. No, I'm not kidding. In addition, the author decided to tell Emily's story in the third person. I guess this was to remove any possible hint of excitement from the book (he he).
Well, the point here is that while the plot may be very mundane, it is also very realistic. Emily is every-old-lady ("everyman", get it?). She's a nice enough old lady, but she's paranoid and whiny about practically everything, especially her family. She misses her deceased husband. She dislikes breaking her routine. She talks to her dog a lot. She's frightened of falling. Etc. You get the idea.
Importantly, Emily, Alone accomplishes its mission, limited though it may be. It's a borderline 3-star effort, but I enjoyed it's honesty.
December 31, 2018
Stewart O'Nan is best known for his novels about the typical and the everyday. No extra frills, no dramatic twists. Good writing about the everyday, even the mundane. He exemplified this masterfully in "Last Night At The Lobster" (a dedicated manager's last shift at, quite literally, The Red Lobster), and even more so in "The Odds" (a last attempt on a marriage on the rocks, quite literally, over the rocks in Niagara Falls).
Unfortunately, he failed to repeat this with "Emily, Alone". Perhaps because the focus- old age and reflections on getting older and preparing for the end- were of considerably less interest to me; yet, I feel he should have been able to make it riveting for me. There were select passages and chapters in which this did indeed happen; certain sentences garnered a grin, even a laugh from me.
Like a diary told in the third person, most things the novel elaborates on are probably of little interest to other people. Stewart O'Nan makes sooner it interesting, though. But like in real life, random things happen that never really mean anything. For example, there is an entire chapter (several pages) about Emily waking up in the middle of the night and setting her neighbor standing outside, naked. She then tangents into thoughts about how might have done that herself when she was younger. She expects Marcia's husband to come out, but he does not. Later on, she observes the couple for signs of problems in their marriage, but finds nothing significant. The book ends with no further commentary on this.
There are many short chapters, sometimes straightforwardly titled, other times quite clever. Often, nothing exciting happens. One chapter is about replacing Kleenex boxes in the house, suitably titled, "Kleenex". Another is about filling out an insurance form. A chapter about the "false hour" during daylight savings. A chapter about her dog, Rufus getting older. Several dedicated to waiting for her children Kenneth and Margaret to call on Mother's Day. A chapter on discussing Power of Attorney. Another one in which she goes over her will with her daughter Margaret. Several chapters dedicated to get getting a new car and driving herself around for the first time in than a decade. One page regarding forgetfulness. A chapter about her political views and disagreeing with her children (Emily is a loyal Republican; the novel takes place during Obama's 2011 campaign. She McCain even though really want to.) "The Gift" is a few pages long but one of favorites; after leaving the airport and a rushed farewell with her not-always-on-the-best-terms daughter and grandchildren, she suggests the breakfast buffet at Eat 'N Park, "coupons be damned". Arlene (her sister-in-law, pretty much her only friend/company these days) reports that she actually has one. "Well, this is a Merry christmas," replies Emily. Arlene needs new glasses. The admission that one does worry about things like parking at a funeral (And the catering choice afterwards is of import. Those "nice shrimp appetizers" would be great.)
One is about a visit to her late husband. On page 240, "All she'd ever wanted was a quiet, dignified life. She thought she might finally achieve that here. She had prepared instructions on how to find the exact matching headstone to be placed next to Henry, and reminds herself she can trust Kenneth (maybe not Margaret) to remember this. This exemplifies what this novel is about; everyday things, finding interest in the mundane. In this novel, it is focused on tying up loose ends on later years, including reconciling differences with her daughter who has a history with drug addiction but has been sober for a few years now, feeling distant from her grandchildren, feeling unloved at times by her children and of course underappreciated, the last will and testament, doctor appointments, a focus on holidays, especially Christmas, for family.
I also was biased a little because I recognized many of the references to Pittsburg, where I have spent some time. Dunesque, Eat 'N Park, The Pirates, a vacation in Chautauqua, The Amish. It brought the story closer to me.
All in all, Stewart O'Nan is still great at what he does, making the ordinary seem extraordinary with heartfelt, honest writing. This time, unfortunately, the characters and circumstances simply were not made interesting enough. I had little interest for most of the book, but the few vignettes I liked were excellent.
Unfortunately, he failed to repeat this with "Emily, Alone". Perhaps because the focus- old age and reflections on getting older and preparing for the end- were of considerably less interest to me; yet, I feel he should have been able to make it riveting for me. There were select passages and chapters in which this did indeed happen; certain sentences garnered a grin, even a laugh from me.
Like a diary told in the third person, most things the novel elaborates on are probably of little interest to other people. Stewart O'Nan makes sooner it interesting, though. But like in real life, random things happen that never really mean anything. For example, there is an entire chapter (several pages) about Emily waking up in the middle of the night and setting her neighbor standing outside, naked. She then tangents into thoughts about how might have done that herself when she was younger. She expects Marcia's husband to come out, but he does not. Later on, she observes the couple for signs of problems in their marriage, but finds nothing significant. The book ends with no further commentary on this.
There are many short chapters, sometimes straightforwardly titled, other times quite clever. Often, nothing exciting happens. One chapter is about replacing Kleenex boxes in the house, suitably titled, "Kleenex". Another is about filling out an insurance form. A chapter about the "false hour" during daylight savings. A chapter about her dog, Rufus getting older. Several dedicated to waiting for her children Kenneth and Margaret to call on Mother's Day. A chapter on discussing Power of Attorney. Another one in which she goes over her will with her daughter Margaret. Several chapters dedicated to get getting a new car and driving herself around for the first time in than a decade. One page regarding forgetfulness. A chapter about her political views and disagreeing with her children (Emily is a loyal Republican; the novel takes place during Obama's 2011 campaign. She McCain even though really want to.) "The Gift" is a few pages long but one of favorites; after leaving the airport and a rushed farewell with her not-always-on-the-best-terms daughter and grandchildren, she suggests the breakfast buffet at Eat 'N Park, "coupons be damned". Arlene (her sister-in-law, pretty much her only friend/company these days) reports that she actually has one. "Well, this is a Merry christmas," replies Emily. Arlene needs new glasses. The admission that one does worry about things like parking at a funeral (And the catering choice afterwards is of import. Those "nice shrimp appetizers" would be great.)
One is about a visit to her late husband. On page 240, "All she'd ever wanted was a quiet, dignified life. She thought she might finally achieve that here. She had prepared instructions on how to find the exact matching headstone to be placed next to Henry, and reminds herself she can trust Kenneth (maybe not Margaret) to remember this. This exemplifies what this novel is about; everyday things, finding interest in the mundane. In this novel, it is focused on tying up loose ends on later years, including reconciling differences with her daughter who has a history with drug addiction but has been sober for a few years now, feeling distant from her grandchildren, feeling unloved at times by her children and of course underappreciated, the last will and testament, doctor appointments, a focus on holidays, especially Christmas, for family.
I also was biased a little because I recognized many of the references to Pittsburg, where I have spent some time. Dunesque, Eat 'N Park, The Pirates, a vacation in Chautauqua, The Amish. It brought the story closer to me.
All in all, Stewart O'Nan is still great at what he does, making the ordinary seem extraordinary with heartfelt, honest writing. This time, unfortunately, the characters and circumstances simply were not made interesting enough. I had little interest for most of the book, but the few vignettes I liked were excellent.
Read
July 25, 2011Stewart O'Nan is one of my favorite authors. He has written some absolutely phenomenal books, including Snow Angels, which is one of my favorite books of all time. He has an incredible ability to tell a story that stays with you, and creates vivid, multidimensional characters. His latest book, Emily, Alone is a perfect example of his literary talents, and I read the whole thing in one day.
Emily Maxwell is growing older, and she's not enjoying it entirely. She doesn't enjoy the changes her suburban Pittsburgh neighborhood is undergoing, she is still mourning the death of a close friend (and doesn't like the fact that other friends are getting ill and dying), and she wishes she had a better relationship with her grown children and grandchildren. Her closest companions are her sister-in-law, Arlene, and her aging dog, Rufus. When one morning Arlene faints while they are out to breakfast, Emily finds that becoming more independent and taking control of your future doesn't quite mean you have control—life is going to move forward no matter what. And growing older doesn't mean you can let go of your hopes and fears, past hurts and dreams, as Emily finds herself re-examining her relationships with her family and friends, and what motivated her toward certain actions in her life.
I thought this was an absolutely terrific book. Emily and Arlene are realistic and vivid characters I could see in my mind's eye, and their relationship is an amusing and heartfelt one. I worried this book, given its focus on growing older, would be a depressing read, but that wasn't the case. Yes, it certainly had sad moments, but O'Nan focused on relationships and possibilities much more than regrets. While this book has been labeled a sequel of sorts to Wish You Were Here, a previous book O'Nan wrote, you don't have to read that one before this one. (If you enjoy this book, however, I recommend that one, too.) We don't often think of elderly people having fulfilling lives in their later years, but this book takes us on a terrific journey into Emily's life, and I'm already wanting more.
Emily Maxwell is growing older, and she's not enjoying it entirely. She doesn't enjoy the changes her suburban Pittsburgh neighborhood is undergoing, she is still mourning the death of a close friend (and doesn't like the fact that other friends are getting ill and dying), and she wishes she had a better relationship with her grown children and grandchildren. Her closest companions are her sister-in-law, Arlene, and her aging dog, Rufus. When one morning Arlene faints while they are out to breakfast, Emily finds that becoming more independent and taking control of your future doesn't quite mean you have control—life is going to move forward no matter what. And growing older doesn't mean you can let go of your hopes and fears, past hurts and dreams, as Emily finds herself re-examining her relationships with her family and friends, and what motivated her toward certain actions in her life.
I thought this was an absolutely terrific book. Emily and Arlene are realistic and vivid characters I could see in my mind's eye, and their relationship is an amusing and heartfelt one. I worried this book, given its focus on growing older, would be a depressing read, but that wasn't the case. Yes, it certainly had sad moments, but O'Nan focused on relationships and possibilities much more than regrets. While this book has been labeled a sequel of sorts to Wish You Were Here, a previous book O'Nan wrote, you don't have to read that one before this one. (If you enjoy this book, however, I recommend that one, too.) We don't often think of elderly people having fulfilling lives in their later years, but this book takes us on a terrific journey into Emily's life, and I'm already wanting more.
June 7, 2011
It is hard to believe that a man could write so realistically about the thoughts of an elderly woman living alone, or that I could find the result so hard to put down.
My favorite chapter, "Kleenex," began and ended on page 76. In it, Emily prepares for a Christmas visit from her daughter and young adult grand-children. When she uses the last tissue from the box in her bathroom, she travels throughout the house weighing tissue boxes and swapping them around before deciding where the new full box should go. "Only then, with order restored, could she go on with her day." Priceless :)
Emily also contends with the neighbor's cat who leaves footprints across her car in the garage. Complaining to Betty, her once-a-week housekeeper, Betty asks, "You think that matters to him?" Emily replies, "Oh, he knows exactly what he's doing. That's the way cats are, very calculating."
On page 126, Emily is recovering from strep and unable to eat better as advised by Dr. Sayid. Chastising herself, Emily thinks, "Selfish and deceitful, her mother would say - the worst thing a person could be." The complete opposite of Jesus Christ, the impossible model to which Emily spent her childhood being compared.
I suppose it's the feeling of being a fly on the wall in Emily's life that kept me going with this novel. And, I'm not sure that it would appeal to much younger people. But, for me, I could laugh, worry, remember, and regret right along with Emily.
My favorite chapter, "Kleenex," began and ended on page 76. In it, Emily prepares for a Christmas visit from her daughter and young adult grand-children. When she uses the last tissue from the box in her bathroom, she travels throughout the house weighing tissue boxes and swapping them around before deciding where the new full box should go. "Only then, with order restored, could she go on with her day." Priceless :)
Emily also contends with the neighbor's cat who leaves footprints across her car in the garage. Complaining to Betty, her once-a-week housekeeper, Betty asks, "You think that matters to him?" Emily replies, "Oh, he knows exactly what he's doing. That's the way cats are, very calculating."
On page 126, Emily is recovering from strep and unable to eat better as advised by Dr. Sayid. Chastising herself, Emily thinks, "Selfish and deceitful, her mother would say - the worst thing a person could be." The complete opposite of Jesus Christ, the impossible model to which Emily spent her childhood being compared.
I suppose it's the feeling of being a fly on the wall in Emily's life that kept me going with this novel. And, I'm not sure that it would appeal to much younger people. But, for me, I could laugh, worry, remember, and regret right along with Emily.
October 25, 2022
Emily Alone written by Stuart O’Nan and narrated by Andrea Gallo was more than a disappointment; it was 272 pages of almost complete boredom. I was going to stop reading it about 25% of the way through and again at 50% through and at 80%, but I hung on because so many of my Goodread’s friends liked it. I seem to be the outlier both here and in the world of reviews out there (The Washington Post, The New York Times, etc.).
O’Nan writes about the painstakingly small details in the life of Emily Wilson. Emily is an aging woman, about 80, who has lost her husband, Henry. The book is a sequel to Wish You Were Here. She has her sister-in-law, Arlene with whom she goes out to eat a two-for-one breakfast, at a nearby suburb’s Eat ‘n’ Park, using the coupons cut out from The Sunday paper. Some other highlights of the book include a fender-bender, sending Valentine cards, waiting for thank-you notes and discovering a scratch on the car. It left me breathless, so much so that all I could do was take a nap.
Emily is just 10 years older than me. The portrayal of her old-lady foibles and fussiness was foreign to me. I could find nothing relatable in her. Perhaps this is due to this line that I read in a review, “Emily is a true-blue second generation Republican Protestant, tough, stoic”. Nothing in that applies to me. She was just not my kind of “old” in today’s world.
Previous to reading Emily Alone, I considered myself a fan of Stewart O’Nan. Since reading it, I have looked back on the 4 other O’Nan books I’ve read and realized, perhaps I’m not.
My average rating was 2.2 stars.
The Good Wife - ⭐️ ⭐️
Last Night at the Lobster - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
West of Sunset - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
City of Secrets - ⭐️ ⭐️
Emily Alone - ⭐️
Enough said.
O’Nan writes about the painstakingly small details in the life of Emily Wilson. Emily is an aging woman, about 80, who has lost her husband, Henry. The book is a sequel to Wish You Were Here. She has her sister-in-law, Arlene with whom she goes out to eat a two-for-one breakfast, at a nearby suburb’s Eat ‘n’ Park, using the coupons cut out from The Sunday paper. Some other highlights of the book include a fender-bender, sending Valentine cards, waiting for thank-you notes and discovering a scratch on the car. It left me breathless, so much so that all I could do was take a nap.
Emily is just 10 years older than me. The portrayal of her old-lady foibles and fussiness was foreign to me. I could find nothing relatable in her. Perhaps this is due to this line that I read in a review, “Emily is a true-blue second generation Republican Protestant, tough, stoic”. Nothing in that applies to me. She was just not my kind of “old” in today’s world.
Previous to reading Emily Alone, I considered myself a fan of Stewart O’Nan. Since reading it, I have looked back on the 4 other O’Nan books I’ve read and realized, perhaps I’m not.
My average rating was 2.2 stars.
The Good Wife - ⭐️ ⭐️
Last Night at the Lobster - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
West of Sunset - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
City of Secrets - ⭐️ ⭐️
Emily Alone - ⭐️
Enough said.
January 7, 2013
This is my first five star book for 2013, but it comes with a warning. If you are looking for a book with a lot of action, this isn't it. Instead, this is a character-driven look into the life of an 80 year old woman as she nears the end of her life. Emily Maxwell is a widow living alone in a changing Pittsburg neighborhood. Her children are scattered and visit infrequently and she feels that, because of her strongly expressed opinions, she has built a wall between herself, her children, and her grandchildren that is difficult to easily breach. Her closest friend is her sister-in-law, Arlene, and the two of them have fallen into long-established routines that define their lives. When Arlene faints while filling her plate at a local restaurants breakfast buffet and is rushed to the hospital, Emily's life quickly changes. She discovers that she is more independent, more adaptable, and more capable than she realized. O'Nan captures the small challenges, sweet joys, and physical and emotional hurdles associated with an elderly person living alone with sensitivity, compassion, and humor.
March 20, 2013
Emily Alone is a quiet little book and as someone from Pittsburgh as well as someone over 60, I really enjoyed the story. One reviewer wrote that you need to be over fifty to enjoy this book and I have to agree that you have to have a certain understanding of Emily' s mindset to appreciate the story, such as, not driving without her husband for years and making a very brave decision to not only drive again but to buy her own car. When I recently made a trip back to Pittsburgh, I was very proud of myself for being able to return to a large urban area and drive around on my own after so many years away. To me, that was the story of Emily. To realize she could still be strong enough to take care of herself and the things that she felt she needed to do.
April 6, 2020
In February, I loved reading the author's book, Henry, Himself, which is about Henry, his wife Emily and their life together. When I learned O'Nan had written about Emily after Henry's death, Emily, Alone, I wanted to read that as well. What ties the books together is O'Nan's beautiful writing. He certainly excels at writing living, breathing characters.
In "Emily, Alone," she is in her eighties, widowed and living alone with her dog companion, Rufus. Arlene, Henry's sister, is her surviving friend. The two older women see each other almost daily. In "Henry, Himself," Emily basks in Henry's love and gets great satisfaction in the life they share. She is younger and in better health.
I found this book to be sad, whereas "Henry, Alone" celebrates their life together. Emily tries to be self-sufficient as an older woman and does not complain aloud about how diminished her life has become. She is very introspective. The reader learns all about her worries and concerns. She is inwardly critical of her children, but is harder on herself. Henry had been an anchor for her and as an optimist, buoyed her up.
We are now in the midst of the pandemic and are practicing social distancing. Emily, due to her age and widowhood, is socially isolated, which is hurtful for her. She fills her hours with seeing Arlene, gardening, tending to her aging dog, classical music and church. She yearns for more contact with her adult children and grandchildren, whom she only sees during holidays.
I'm rating the book 3.5 stars, due to the beautiful writing, but sad content.
In "Emily, Alone," she is in her eighties, widowed and living alone with her dog companion, Rufus. Arlene, Henry's sister, is her surviving friend. The two older women see each other almost daily. In "Henry, Himself," Emily basks in Henry's love and gets great satisfaction in the life they share. She is younger and in better health.
I found this book to be sad, whereas "Henry, Alone" celebrates their life together. Emily tries to be self-sufficient as an older woman and does not complain aloud about how diminished her life has become. She is very introspective. The reader learns all about her worries and concerns. She is inwardly critical of her children, but is harder on herself. Henry had been an anchor for her and as an optimist, buoyed her up.
We are now in the midst of the pandemic and are practicing social distancing. Emily, due to her age and widowhood, is socially isolated, which is hurtful for her. She fills her hours with seeing Arlene, gardening, tending to her aging dog, classical music and church. She yearns for more contact with her adult children and grandchildren, whom she only sees during holidays.
I'm rating the book 3.5 stars, due to the beautiful writing, but sad content.
August 1, 2012
I don't think Stewart O'Nan can write a bad book. He one of my favorite authors. Still, if it's an action-packed book you're looking for, ’Emily, Alone’ will be a disappointment. If you're looking for a wonderfully written book about everyday life, in this case that of an elderly woman, you will love this book. It isn't a book I'd pack for a trip to the beach. I'd save it for a time when I could sit back and relish each word, which I did, and hated when it ended and I had to finally put the book down.
It is an amazing feat to be able to write a book about the mundane (buying a car, reading by the fire, having lunch, gardening, feeding the dog, telephoning your children, taking a walk, making lunch, cleaning the house, etc.) and make it so interesting that someone wants to actually read it, meet the woman living it and spend time with her!
O'Nan has an eye for detail and an ear for conversation. All of his descriptions and dialog ring true. There was only one little thing that would have tipped me off that he was a male writer (had I not already known) and that was when Emily picked up her sister in-laws cosmetic bag to take to her in the hospital and called it a dopp kit.
I've enjoyed O'Nan's work for years and this latest from him is a gem. He beautifully reveals the life of Emily, a widow whose world is narrowing. It is a rare pleasure to have such an authentically drawn character. Though she is nearing the end of her life I never felt that the novel was depressing. Her reflections are revelatory and thought provoking; I found myself completely absorbed in Emily's day to day routines and admiring her enjoyment of life. She continues to be passionate about gardening, the arts, and classical music. While very much alone, she cherishes her memories of being a wife and mother. She strives to be involved with her children and grandchildren although they are remote, both physically and emotionally. By revealing this older woman's inner fears, concerns, and aspirations I feel my world has expanded. Emily is a character who could be your grandmother, mother, or next door neighbor who you may view differently after reading this wonderful novel.
O'Nan never disappoints me, or my Book Club - we all loved this book.
It is an amazing feat to be able to write a book about the mundane (buying a car, reading by the fire, having lunch, gardening, feeding the dog, telephoning your children, taking a walk, making lunch, cleaning the house, etc.) and make it so interesting that someone wants to actually read it, meet the woman living it and spend time with her!
O'Nan has an eye for detail and an ear for conversation. All of his descriptions and dialog ring true. There was only one little thing that would have tipped me off that he was a male writer (had I not already known) and that was when Emily picked up her sister in-laws cosmetic bag to take to her in the hospital and called it a dopp kit.
I've enjoyed O'Nan's work for years and this latest from him is a gem. He beautifully reveals the life of Emily, a widow whose world is narrowing. It is a rare pleasure to have such an authentically drawn character. Though she is nearing the end of her life I never felt that the novel was depressing. Her reflections are revelatory and thought provoking; I found myself completely absorbed in Emily's day to day routines and admiring her enjoyment of life. She continues to be passionate about gardening, the arts, and classical music. While very much alone, she cherishes her memories of being a wife and mother. She strives to be involved with her children and grandchildren although they are remote, both physically and emotionally. By revealing this older woman's inner fears, concerns, and aspirations I feel my world has expanded. Emily is a character who could be your grandmother, mother, or next door neighbor who you may view differently after reading this wonderful novel.
O'Nan never disappoints me, or my Book Club - we all loved this book.
August 20, 2019
Update 8-20-2019. I'm reading the Henry book and rounded this up to a 4-star. It's amazing how much I remember from this book that I read over 6 years ago!
More of a 3.5.
I like O'Nan's style and being from a suburb of Pittsburgh, I enjoyed all the references. But--this book has the one problem I've been having lately--there is no true ending. The story just stops. I realize there was a prequel (and perhaps a sequel?) but I wish there was some closure, some natural stopping point.
O'Nan does a great job of capturing the social niceties of the older generation (those 70 and above)--for example, the idea of not going in to see an open house of a neighbor who died to protect her "privacy". There were the usual complaints of thank you notes, yet Emily has a computer and seems to know how to use it, so why doesn't she send email to her children and grandchildren? The chapter about her donating 40 year old luggage (without wheels) and disposal of the Olds are great examples of realizing things held dear mean less than nothing to someone else, the memories aren't there. And really, eight boxes of booze?
I thought there would be much more angst in house maintenance and health problems.
Is the title supposed to be ironic? Because Emily isn't alone--she has a pretty good support group and activities, can drive and has hobbies. The one part that I'm sure is ironic is that she plans her funeral down to the order of the music...yet doesn't realize that she's one of the last to die of her group, so who would be attending her appreciating her work?
More of a 3.5.
I like O'Nan's style and being from a suburb of Pittsburgh, I enjoyed all the references. But--this book has the one problem I've been having lately--there is no true ending. The story just stops. I realize there was a prequel (and perhaps a sequel?) but I wish there was some closure, some natural stopping point.
O'Nan does a great job of capturing the social niceties of the older generation (those 70 and above)--for example, the idea of not going in to see an open house of a neighbor who died to protect her "privacy". There were the usual complaints of thank you notes, yet Emily has a computer and seems to know how to use it, so why doesn't she send email to her children and grandchildren? The chapter about her donating 40 year old luggage (without wheels) and disposal of the Olds are great examples of realizing things held dear mean less than nothing to someone else, the memories aren't there. And really, eight boxes of booze?
I thought there would be much more angst in house maintenance and health problems.
Is the title supposed to be ironic? Because Emily isn't alone--she has a pretty good support group and activities, can drive and has hobbies. The one part that I'm sure is ironic is that she plans her funeral down to the order of the music...yet doesn't realize that she's one of the last to die of her group, so who would be attending her appreciating her work?
January 8, 2018
I quite enjoyed this book. It deserves 3.5 stars. I found Emily interesting, compelling and quite wish she was my neighbor. Or even better, I'd introduce her to my father.
This would be a good book for discussion (I seem to be saying that a lot about the books I've been reading) especially if you have a wide-age range book group. Although, I don't think I would have liked this much if I had read it in my 20s.
There were times where I felt a sad for Emily and it made me ponder how my life will be when I'm in my late 70s. Of course, I will be living in a commune with my friends (I'm looking at you BR & LV!) drinking wine and talking all day. As well. it drove home the point that one does not stop being or evolving or thinking or longing just because one ages. It's an insightful retrospection. I look forward to reading this again in 30 years.
This would be a good book for discussion (I seem to be saying that a lot about the books I've been reading) especially if you have a wide-age range book group. Although, I don't think I would have liked this much if I had read it in my 20s.
There were times where I felt a sad for Emily and it made me ponder how my life will be when I'm in my late 70s. Of course, I will be living in a commune with my friends (I'm looking at you BR & LV!) drinking wine and talking all day. As well. it drove home the point that one does not stop being or evolving or thinking or longing just because one ages. It's an insightful retrospection. I look forward to reading this again in 30 years.
November 14, 2016
Emily Alone is a must read. It follows octogenarian Emily through her days and thoughts. Its a rare opportunity to follow a fictional character at this point in her life. The book is like listening to a quiet symphony without needing to be aware of the complexity of composition, instruments, acoustics, etc. that make up the piece. The novel allows one to simply be in the moment of this persons life. Although she may not be who you might be or will be, its a gentle and simultaneously passionate, story.
July 9, 2015
Having found O'Nan's Snow Angels a bit grim, but well-written, and Last Night at the Lobster equally well-written, and not nearly as sad as I'd feared, I spent an Audible credit on this book ... which is very well-written, and not at all grim. Like Lobster, it's character-driven; however, in a full-length novel (the other was a novella) that's tougher to pull off. Listening to the audio may have contributed as the short chapters (more or less) ran together, whereas a print book would've seemed less daunting (for lack of a better term). I've given four stars for the writing quality, rather than the story itself.
Having lived a roughly parallel life to Emily's kids, I can vouch that O'Nan completely nailed the character aspect, although the isolation of Emily (and her sister-in-law) seemed a bit overdone to me. It may seem incongruous, but it is accurate that someone who buys a new car in cash would make a point of remembering to bring a restaurant coupon for a couple of bucks off.
There's almost no tension in the novel, except for a bit between Emily and her daughter, and daughter-in-law; the latter almost entirely "Off screen" filtered from Emily's point-of-view, leading to me wonder whether that had been covered already in the previous book Wish You Were Here. Instead, those chapters consist of Emily's reactions to various situations: new neighbors taking the place of the last other "old guard" resident (my folks were about the last to go in their neighborhood after 35 years), Election Day (she votes for McCain, unenthusiastically), etc. One vignettes has her attending the funeral of an old friend, who's survived by a same sex partner - Emily is pleased to note that the woman's (biological) family accords her "widow" status. Later, she expresses disappointment that she hasn't gotten to meet her granddaughter's partner (they live in Boston). Demographically, seniors may be the strongest group opposed to gays, but O'Nan has made it clear that educated WASP's are an exception. One episode I didn't care for was Emily's refusal to try a product recommended by her cleaning lady for dealing with car scratches, with its class-conscious dismissal; instead she moans about paying $500 to the dealership. She also sneers at the woman's "Butler" accent.
The lack of action is at least partially compensated for by the author's sense of place. I've never been to Pittsburgh, but came away seeing the area clearly - and I'm not that "visual" a reader. Granted, he does get carried away at times: it wasn't really necessary to go through all the choices on the salad bar at the (coupon) restaurant in an early episode.
So - would I recommend the book? Yes, if one bears in mind that each chapter is a small part of a larger whole, that doesn't really contain a traditional story arc. If you're new to O'Nan, however, I'd go with Lobster first.
Audio narration itself was overall good, although at times it seemed even Ms. Gallo was overcome by the task of maintaining interest in quite mundane matters.
Having lived a roughly parallel life to Emily's kids, I can vouch that O'Nan completely nailed the character aspect, although the isolation of Emily (and her sister-in-law) seemed a bit overdone to me. It may seem incongruous, but it is accurate that someone who buys a new car in cash would make a point of remembering to bring a restaurant coupon for a couple of bucks off.
There's almost no tension in the novel, except for a bit between Emily and her daughter, and daughter-in-law; the latter almost entirely "Off screen" filtered from Emily's point-of-view, leading to me wonder whether that had been covered already in the previous book Wish You Were Here. Instead, those chapters consist of Emily's reactions to various situations: new neighbors taking the place of the last other "old guard" resident (my folks were about the last to go in their neighborhood after 35 years), Election Day (she votes for McCain, unenthusiastically), etc. One vignettes has her attending the funeral of an old friend, who's survived by a same sex partner - Emily is pleased to note that the woman's (biological) family accords her "widow" status. Later, she expresses disappointment that she hasn't gotten to meet her granddaughter's partner (they live in Boston). Demographically, seniors may be the strongest group opposed to gays, but O'Nan has made it clear that educated WASP's are an exception. One episode I didn't care for was Emily's refusal to try a product recommended by her cleaning lady for dealing with car scratches, with its class-conscious dismissal; instead she moans about paying $500 to the dealership. She also sneers at the woman's "Butler" accent.
The lack of action is at least partially compensated for by the author's sense of place. I've never been to Pittsburgh, but came away seeing the area clearly - and I'm not that "visual" a reader. Granted, he does get carried away at times: it wasn't really necessary to go through all the choices on the salad bar at the (coupon) restaurant in an early episode.
So - would I recommend the book? Yes, if one bears in mind that each chapter is a small part of a larger whole, that doesn't really contain a traditional story arc. If you're new to O'Nan, however, I'd go with Lobster first.
Audio narration itself was overall good, although at times it seemed even Ms. Gallo was overcome by the task of maintaining interest in quite mundane matters.
April 28, 2011
After finishing Wish You Were Here, I went immediately into Emily Alone, the sequel. I was already intimately involved with this family and though Wish You Were Here was far from an ideal novel, it was worth having read it because I could more exactly track with Emily as she lives through a winter and spring in her Pittsburgh home.
In this novel, approximately eight years have passed since Emily's beloved husband Henry died of cancer. She lives alone with Rufus, her aging springer spaniel, surrounded by her furniture, paintings, china and silver, listening to classical music, reading novels and suffering from loneliness and the indignities of her own aging. She is the oldest remaining woman in her neighborhood, her best friend having died a year ago. Attending funerals is now a constant in her life.
Emily's closest companion is her sister-in-law Arlene, who lives nearby. Once a week they have breakfast together at Eat'n'Park's two-for-one breakfast buffet. Emily clips the coupon from the Sunday "Post-Gazette." Arlene drives, badly, which makes Emily highly nervous though she knows she should feel grateful.
If Stewart O'Nan didn't write so close to the bone, these two women and their mishaps would be comedic. Somehow Jonathan Franzen makes this sort of thing funny, but that is not O'Nan's way.
Over the past decade I watched my father succumb to Alzheimer's, finally going into a home where he died at the age of 87. Then I watched my mother grieve, age and go on to live alone for five more years until a series of strokes finally ended her life. Reading about Emily battling with loneliness and a deteriorating body while being continually disappointed by her son and daughter, yet living for Thanksgiving, Christmas and a week in the summer at Lake Chautauqua, when she can be together with them and her grandchildren, I felt I was going through it all over again. It was almost too much for me.
If you have watched a parent or grandparent move through this period of life that our society calls "The Golden Years" or if you are going through it yourself, I advise you approach Emily Alone with extreme caution. I was talking to my sister about it all and we both decided that, should we find ourselves outliving our husbands, we certainly will not live alone.
I used to want to live to be 100 and become wise. It might be wiser to quit while I am ahead. Maybe I will take up a dangerous sport. I don't enjoy sports though. Possibly race car driving. I like driving, a lot. Emily liked driving also. She finally traded in her old gas hog for an all-wheel drive Subaru wagon, as did my mom.
Did I find this book depressing? Oh, just a little.
November 9, 2014
Romanzo acquistato quasi per caso, Emily, Alone si è rivelato bellissimo. Storia senza storia dell'anziana Emily, che vive sola in una casa di Pittsburgh. In realtà non c'è trama: seguiamo la sua esistenza per un periodo di alcuni mesi, una quotidianità scandita da ben pochi eventi.
Di questo libro mi hanno colpito due cose: la prima è che l'autore, un uomo, e anche relativamente giovane (aveva una cinquantina d'anni del 2011, quando ha pubblicato questo romanzo) sia riuscito a descrivere così bene, in modo così coinvolgente, la vita di una donna anziana e vedova, ben consapevole di essere nell'ultima fase della propria vita, e contemporaneamente alle prese con la realizzazione che ogni scelta che possa semplificare la sua esistenza dall'altro la racchiuda, la rimpicciolisca, la limiti (un esempio: la scelta di non guidare più la macchina è una scelta ovvia quando i riflessi, la vista, una certa insicurezza non le permettono di sentirsi a proprio agio nel traffico, eppure è anche un modo di rendere il proprio mondo più piccolo, e la propria vita dipendente dagli altri).
Se da un lato Emily è una donna fortunata, perché vive in una casa di proprietà, in modo relativamente agiato, senza particolari problemi di salute, dall'altro è l'emblema dei problemi della vecchiaia: solitudine, figli cresciuti ormai lontani, un marito mancato diversi anni prima, così come l'amica di una vita, funerali che si susseguono ad un ritmo sconcertante. E in mezzo a tutto questo, c'è il passato, che in un presente così scarso di eventi in cui ogni giorno bisogna inventarsi qualcosa per arrivare a sera e in cui l'inverno diventa un deserto di solitudine, assume un'importanza spropositata.
La seconda cosa che mi ha stupito è quanto io sia riuscita ad identificarmi in Emily pur essendo molto più giovane di lei e vivendo una vita completamente diversa. Certi problemi, pur partendo da motivazioni diverse e a tratti opposte, ricorrono; certi ragionamenti, certe forme del pensiero, sono così simili da essere quasi paurose...
Sicuramente leggerò a breve anche il romanzo di cui questo è un seguito (Wish You Were Here), anche se si può benissimo leggere in modo indipendente.
Di questo libro mi hanno colpito due cose: la prima è che l'autore, un uomo, e anche relativamente giovane (aveva una cinquantina d'anni del 2011, quando ha pubblicato questo romanzo) sia riuscito a descrivere così bene, in modo così coinvolgente, la vita di una donna anziana e vedova, ben consapevole di essere nell'ultima fase della propria vita, e contemporaneamente alle prese con la realizzazione che ogni scelta che possa semplificare la sua esistenza dall'altro la racchiuda, la rimpicciolisca, la limiti (un esempio: la scelta di non guidare più la macchina è una scelta ovvia quando i riflessi, la vista, una certa insicurezza non le permettono di sentirsi a proprio agio nel traffico, eppure è anche un modo di rendere il proprio mondo più piccolo, e la propria vita dipendente dagli altri).
Se da un lato Emily è una donna fortunata, perché vive in una casa di proprietà, in modo relativamente agiato, senza particolari problemi di salute, dall'altro è l'emblema dei problemi della vecchiaia: solitudine, figli cresciuti ormai lontani, un marito mancato diversi anni prima, così come l'amica di una vita, funerali che si susseguono ad un ritmo sconcertante. E in mezzo a tutto questo, c'è il passato, che in un presente così scarso di eventi in cui ogni giorno bisogna inventarsi qualcosa per arrivare a sera e in cui l'inverno diventa un deserto di solitudine, assume un'importanza spropositata.
La seconda cosa che mi ha stupito è quanto io sia riuscita ad identificarmi in Emily pur essendo molto più giovane di lei e vivendo una vita completamente diversa. Certi problemi, pur partendo da motivazioni diverse e a tratti opposte, ricorrono; certi ragionamenti, certe forme del pensiero, sono così simili da essere quasi paurose...
Sicuramente leggerò a breve anche il romanzo di cui questo è un seguito (Wish You Were Here), anche se si può benissimo leggere in modo indipendente.
January 28, 2013
Actual rating: 4.75/5
I loved this book! It was just the right thing to read during the busy holiday season, as the chapters are short (almost vignettes) and I could easily pick it up and set it down without losing interest. I loved Emily (and her loyal dog, Rufus) and I found myself nodding my head, feeling a bit like I was seeing a glimpse of my future self in some of Emily's situations and emotions. It also brought to mind memories of my maternal grandmother (who lived alone for 11 years after the death of my grandfather), as well as reflecting on my relationships with my mother (who turns 80 this year) and my daughter (who will be 30!).
One might consider the subject of an elderly widow too depressing, but I thought it was an uplifting novel and one in which O'Nan deftly paints a realistic portrait of the aging. The only other book I've read by this author is Last Night at the Lobster and I wasn't terribly impressed, although I sure had fun writing my review. I doubt I would have given Emily, Alone a second glance, had I not read Nan's wonderful review. I encourage you to visit her blog and see what she has to say about this gem of a book. She has included several passages that will give you an idea of the author's superb attention to detail.
Final Thoughts: This one's a keeper! I am definitely adding Wish You Were Here and The Odds to my 2013 reading list!
I loved this book! It was just the right thing to read during the busy holiday season, as the chapters are short (almost vignettes) and I could easily pick it up and set it down without losing interest. I loved Emily (and her loyal dog, Rufus) and I found myself nodding my head, feeling a bit like I was seeing a glimpse of my future self in some of Emily's situations and emotions. It also brought to mind memories of my maternal grandmother (who lived alone for 11 years after the death of my grandfather), as well as reflecting on my relationships with my mother (who turns 80 this year) and my daughter (who will be 30!).
One might consider the subject of an elderly widow too depressing, but I thought it was an uplifting novel and one in which O'Nan deftly paints a realistic portrait of the aging. The only other book I've read by this author is Last Night at the Lobster and I wasn't terribly impressed, although I sure had fun writing my review. I doubt I would have given Emily, Alone a second glance, had I not read Nan's wonderful review. I encourage you to visit her blog and see what she has to say about this gem of a book. She has included several passages that will give you an idea of the author's superb attention to detail.
Final Thoughts: This one's a keeper! I am definitely adding Wish You Were Here and The Odds to my 2013 reading list!
January 2, 2012
I enjoyed this sequel to Stewart O’Nan’s Wish You Were Here, exploring Emily’s life alone without her husband, her children’s families busy and geographically removed. As with some of his other books, there wasn’t much in the way of plot but was rich in character development.
This book made me confront the idea of what it would be like to live alone, and just how I would fill my days. Would, like Emily, my mundane daily chores become rituals of comfort, providing my life with structure and meaning? A reason to rise in the morning? Would the commitment to these tasks sometimes, like Emily, convince me that I am too busy to be open to other opportunities? And yet, sometimes she would take stock of the coming week and note that there was nothing special to look forward to.
This story is bittersweet in its reflection on the passage of time, and the struggle to forgive the rashness of our past selves and to accept what we’ve become, not mourn the person we had hoped and thought we would be.
I continue to be amazed at how a young man can so convincingly create and share the thoughts, fears and dreams of female characters. O’Nan made me feel a real connection to Emily, a person I consider very different than myself.
This book made me confront the idea of what it would be like to live alone, and just how I would fill my days. Would, like Emily, my mundane daily chores become rituals of comfort, providing my life with structure and meaning? A reason to rise in the morning? Would the commitment to these tasks sometimes, like Emily, convince me that I am too busy to be open to other opportunities? And yet, sometimes she would take stock of the coming week and note that there was nothing special to look forward to.
This story is bittersweet in its reflection on the passage of time, and the struggle to forgive the rashness of our past selves and to accept what we’ve become, not mourn the person we had hoped and thought we would be.
I continue to be amazed at how a young man can so convincingly create and share the thoughts, fears and dreams of female characters. O’Nan made me feel a real connection to Emily, a person I consider very different than myself.
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