My Latest Grievance

by Elinor Lipman

Book Overview

My Latest Grievance stars the beguiling teenager Frederica Hatch, the Eloise of Dewing College. Born and raised in the dormitory of this small women's college and chafing under the care of the most annoyingly evenhanded parental team in the history of civilization, Frederica is starting to feel that her life is stiflingly snug. That all changes with the arrival on campus of a new dorm mother, the glamorous Laura Lee French, the frenetic center...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0618872353
• ISBN13: 9780618872350
• Release Date: May 2007
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.64 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 7.0" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

One of Lipman's best.

Reading Eleanor Lipman is like eating candy that's good for you. It light, it's quick, and it's delicously easy. Most of the time Lipman's books are great for a quick fix between heftier meals. But "My Latest Greivance" goes a bit further. It may not be War and Peace, but it stands (like Inn at Lake Devine), as one of her best, most satisfying stories.

Lipman humor at its best...

As someone who has read ALL of Elinor Lipman books, let me just tell the "first timers" out there that you are in for a treat. All of Lipman's books are literary gems, and My Latest Grievance is no exception. Frederica Hatch and her politically correct "before it was cool" parents will delight and entertain even the most jaded readers- perhaps those most of all. Lipman has a real knack for capturing the idiosyncrasies of academia, and this provides limitless opportunities for brilliant satire. The complications surrounding the Professors Hatch, an ex-wife, and a precocious daughter are a pleasure to read.

A Fabulous Return to Form

I've read all of Lipman's novels--all are good and some are great. This one is exceptional--perhaps my favorite, although there will always be a special place in my heart for Then She Found Me. The protagonist, Frederica, is Eloise at the College--not University, because the school where her intelligent, progressive professor parents teach is definitely small and not particularly selective. Her parents belong to a finer educational sphere, but they toil without complaint, not just as educators but as union reps. Why are they not at a better school? Fate and the fact that Frederica's father is still paying beaucoup alimony to his ex-wife and cousin. When Frederica discovers the existence of this former wife in an unexpected way, she is fascinated by her, and their ever-morphing relationship is at the heart of this fine novel. Lipman treads some of the themes she has explored in the past--societal prejudices against cultural Judaism, campus life, marital infidelities, and everyday narcissism. Yet her characters shine through with their own unique light; I was particularly admiring of Frederica's parents and I think the author is, as well. Occasionally, Frederica's arch dialogue is just a bit too precociously clever, but her heart and mind are grounded in healthy and--dare I say it--traditional values. If you have enjoyed Lipman's work in the past, I suspect you won't grieve over the cost of My Latest Grievance, but consider it money and time well spent.

A diamond in the rough-not Elinor Lipman at her best-but close to it

As a devoted fan of the divine Ms. Elinor Lipman I was a little disappointed with this novel-at first. In the early chapters, which are all background and setting information I thought there was no plot. And in fact, through much of the book, I still thought there was no plot. But then I remembered what I liked about Elinor Lipman. She tells stories. Real stories like someone would tell to a friend about this crazy/amazing/totally ordinary thing that happened in their life. My first read of hers was Isabel's Bed-which basically has no plot. It's a story-and stories don't need a real plot. They just tell what happens. So she takes these stories and twists them with an often hilarious narrative point of view. This author does not deserve to be classified as a beach read-she writes real novels. Why is it that ever enjoyable book is stigmatized in some way? I love what Ms. Lipman writes-and no matter what others think I think she deserves awards for it. The title of the book is not what it seems. Grievance in this setting means a complaint to a union about contractual obligations. In 1978 Frederica Hatch is the 16 year old daughter of two union rabble rising professors-and she's lived her whole life as the campus darling in a dorm apartment. Then, along comes Laura Lee, her father's first, dancing non union, wife-and everything gets stirred up. This book is a little like a diamond in the rough-it needs some polishing. There are too many chapters that don't advance the story and too many assumptions on behalf of the narrator, some parts are even boring. But other than that this is what Lipman does best-a first person narrative of something that happened to them-told as it would be to a friend. Four point five stars.

Engrossing and generous

I thought this novel was excellent, keeping me up way too late on several nights that I really shouldn't have stayed up! The story unfolded in a believable way and the characters reminded me of people I know and universities where I lived and studied. Lipman's quick mind shows itself in the things she DOESN'T spell out. In this respect, the dialogue is particularly entertaining. Really wonderful - I hope you like it, too!