The Latecomer
The Latecomer ~ Jean Hanff Korelitz
The Oppenheimer triplets have disliked each other since birth. Perhaps before birth. They don’t want to spend time with each other, and for some reason find their home stifling and cannot wait to get away from that as well. Lewyn and Sally attend the same college, though they do not tell anyone that they have a sibling in the next dorm over, which becomes awkward when Lewyn begins dating Sally’s roommate. Harrison attends a small two year all men’s college that encourages his right wing narcissistic tendencies.
Their father, Salo, has a passion for modern, outsider, art, a passion his wife Johanna neither shares nor understands. Johanna finds what joy she can muster out of her children, and working (unsuccessfully) to have a loving family. They first met when she attended the funeral of a friend, a friend who died in a car accident with Salo behind the wheel, an accident for which he is unable to forgive himself. After several years of marriage, and a few more of trying unsuccessfully to have a child, they resort to in vitro fertilization. There are four eligible embryos, and they implant three and freeze one, just in case. The three are Lewyn, Sally, and Harrison. After they leave for college, Johanna decides that she wants one more chance at motherhood, so they have another baby, Phoebe, via a surrogate.
I loved this book. The characters are fierce and flawed, and some are deeply unlikable. The chapters alternate between characters, and we learn their heartbreaks, dreams, secrets, and passions. juggles the stories of each parent and child, weaving a tapestry of secrets, antipathies and private quests. It touches on class, race, sexism, politics, and art. Highly recommended.
12 Comments
Ernie
Oh wow. This sounds really good. Lots of moving parts/unique characters.
J
I really liked it!
Nicole MacPherson
Oh I loved this book!
J
Me too! I think I read it based on your review, so thank you!
NGS
Oh, this does sound good. Do I dare order it from the library? I already have a lot of books. But if I don’t put it on hold, will I forget about it? Oh, no. The problems of someone with an unorganized TBR.
J
Do you have a TBR on your library app? That’s where I keep books that I’m not sure about, or that are available right away but I’m not ready for them.
NGS
Okay! Update from what I posted ten seconds ago. The audiobook (read by Julia Whelan!) is available NOW and I have a need for an audiobook, so I snagged it!!
J
Oh, I forgot it was Julia Whelan! That was a big selling point for me, too. Everything is better when she’s involved. I hope you enjoy it!
Diane
I need to read more Jean Hanff Korelitz. I loved her book Admission. And then never managed to read another book by her. And they all sound so interesting to me.
J
Oh, this is the first book of hers I’ve read. Glad to know Admission is good, I will put it on my TBR.
StephLove
Sounds like an interesting premise.
J
It was really good.