Disturbances in the Field

by Lynne Sharon Schwartz

Book Overview

As powerful now as when first published in 1983, Lynne Sharon Schwartz's third novel established her as one of her generation's most assured writers. In this long-awaited reissue, readers can again warm to this acutely absorbing story.According to Lydia Rowe's friend George, a philosophizing psychotherapist, a "disturbance in the field" is anything that keeps us from realizing our needs. In the field of daily experiences, anything can stand in the...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1582433321
• ISBN13: 9781582433325
• Release Date: May 2005
• Publisher: Counterpoint LLC
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.4" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

A Work of Uncommon Intelligence

This book is, quite simply, a wonder to read. Lydia Rowe -- a grown woman, married to an artist and the mother of four children -- experiences one of life's deepest tragedies. But the novel is not about the tragedy; rather, it explores nothing less than how to be human. How do the insights and guidance of ancient philosophers impact us when life temporarily stops making sense? How is romantic love different from platonic love and the love of friends ("another self"), and how do they complement each other? How do you reach a point of acceptance -- with yourself, your dearest friends, and the haphazard world? When do you need to be apart and when must you come together? And what is the role of forgiveness in often unforgiving times? All these questions -- and more -- are explored in this masterwork. Never is a false note hit. The growth and blossoming of friendships...the trials and rewards of motherhood...the coming together and rendering apart of marital couples...all these are tackled and the characters are all rich and three-dimensional. After reading Disturbances in the Field, I found myself easily irritated with the next couple of books I picked up (some of them prize-winning). Lynn Sharon Schwartz has an instinctive knowledge of being human, and it shines throughout. I cannot recommend highly enough.

Deserving of every star it gets

I recommend reading this book as a pair with Kate Walbert's "Our Kind," for a rich and comprehensive look at what happened to the "Seven Sisters" (i.e., Wellesley, Smith, Vassar, Barnard) women from the 1950s and early 1960s. "Disturbances in the Field" is the kind of book that makes you run out to the bookstore or library to see what else you can find by the author--it's that good. I think other readers probably got even more out of it than I did, being unfamiliar as I was with a lot of the philosophers mentioned and the tenets of their schools of thought. But the stories that this novel tells about Lydia and all her friends from this era have plenty to offer even if you are not familiar with the philosophers. I would recommend sticking with it through the first few pages, which might seem a little daunting at first--it is definitely worth seeing through to the end.

Writing that carves out the sharp edges of life

I have never read a book that better describes the fullness of life and emotions and the grace of acceptance. The weaving of philosophy throughout the book provides a handle for the characters to check and compare the lives they thought they would lead and the ones they are living and how to help each other along in that journey. The many sides of friendship shine brightly. The perils and joys of love in all its complexity are drawn with Schwartz's lush brush of words. The depth and breadth of grief felt with the loss of a child will never be better defined in all it's many facets. This book is a gift to readers.

a life affirming story about survival

This book came highly recommended, was a struggle to find it because it's sadly out of print. The first half describes the routine life of a young woman-of friendships, marriage, children. The second half weaves the threads of ordinary routine and balanced life into a complex and revelant story of a couples' journey through a parents worst nightmare. Their survival so thoughtfully narrated brought laughter, tears and understanding. Schwartz's insight to loss and love is a lesson for all. My book is underlined and stained with tears.

This is my favorite book

I have read this book maybe 30 times. Whenever I think about becoming a writer, I think of the complexity of Disturbances in the Field and am immediately daunted. I particularly appreciate how cerebral it is; the content and diction are challenging in ways that most novels about women's domestic lives are not. Lynne Sharon Schwartz has an amazing command of language, and Lydia, the main character, is a sympathetic vehicle for that verbal agility. I connect more strongly with this book than with any other novel I have ever read. Normally I agree with friends about good books, but no one else but me has ever even heard of this.