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Love, Work, Children
Morningside Heights, a Manhattan neighborhood sandwiched between Columbia University and the Hudson River, is home to an eclectic mix of academics, struggling artists, and rooted families. In this distinctive world, Peter Frankel, a successful partner in a prestigious law firm, lives a seemingly contented life with his talented wife and his two Ivy League—educated children.
Yet in middle age Peter finds himself discontent. His wife’s narrowness and her preoccupation with appearances leaves him cold, his job does not fulfill his creative bent, and he fears that his children, Susan and Louis, have grown into skeptical young adults who shun marriage and stability.
So when Peter’s wife is badly hurt in a car accident and lies in a coma, he finds himself guiltily relieved–and newly drawn toward his children as they too struggle with ambivalent feelings about the mother who’s never really shown them much love. As Susan, a cerebral doctoral student, becomes unhappily involved with an aspiring playwright and Louis is caught up in a futile pursuit of an ambitious journalist, Peter’s own quiet life is shaken up, and longings he has stifled for years come rumbling to the surface.
Freed from his wife’s judgments, Peter throws himself into his greatest pleasure, the work he does for a foundation that funds offbeat artistic projects. And as his passion for this work ignites, so does his desire for another woman. But the stubborn morality that has steered Peter’s life is a force to be reckoned with–and one from which he may never entirely escape.
Love, Work, Children is a profoundly insightful novel about two generations and the colorful urban world they inhabit. A superb portrayal of one of New York’s exceptional neighborhoods, this is a story, ultimately, about the self-imposed obstacles to true happiness–and a testament to the joy one can find in overcoming them.
Yet in middle age Peter finds himself discontent. His wife’s narrowness and her preoccupation with appearances leaves him cold, his job does not fulfill his creative bent, and he fears that his children, Susan and Louis, have grown into skeptical young adults who shun marriage and stability.
So when Peter’s wife is badly hurt in a car accident and lies in a coma, he finds himself guiltily relieved–and newly drawn toward his children as they too struggle with ambivalent feelings about the mother who’s never really shown them much love. As Susan, a cerebral doctoral student, becomes unhappily involved with an aspiring playwright and Louis is caught up in a futile pursuit of an ambitious journalist, Peter’s own quiet life is shaken up, and longings he has stifled for years come rumbling to the surface.
Freed from his wife’s judgments, Peter throws himself into his greatest pleasure, the work he does for a foundation that funds offbeat artistic projects. And as his passion for this work ignites, so does his desire for another woman. But the stubborn morality that has steered Peter’s life is a force to be reckoned with–and one from which he may never entirely escape.
Love, Work, Children is a profoundly insightful novel about two generations and the colorful urban world they inhabit. A superb portrayal of one of New York’s exceptional neighborhoods, this is a story, ultimately, about the self-imposed obstacles to true happiness–and a testament to the joy one can find in overcoming them.
400 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
August 31, 2021
There’s no better word to describe this book but with “Real”! These characters and their lives! The emotions that they felt and viewpoints they had. The philosophical aspect as well! It all intertwined so perfectly. The parts about the firm and work weren’t my favorite but that’s real life there’s a lot of that and I appreciate it’s appearance throughout the entirety of the book. Love and not love! The complicated relationships! I think I’ll be thinking about the people of Morningside Heights for a great while! Wondering how it’s going in their lives! It also took me so long to actually finish it and it made it that much more real! Although I did learn about myself through this reading that I get a lot more distracted with third person POVs! Anyways! I would recommend this book but not to everyone!
November 5, 2009
Much like Morningside Heights, I really enjoyed this book but see it as really problematic. It's the second in a trilogy, and shares the same class/marriage obsession as the first book. Very Edith Wharton/Jane Austen, but set in some sort of parallel NYC universe where everyone is an intellectual and fixated on their class position. Recommended if you like books about NYC or intelligent family drama, but it's quite pretentious and doesn't feel very real.
July 18, 2009
Mendelson's voice reminds me of Woody Allen's. She doesn't use the same sense of humor, but she's writing about a similar New York demographic with the same sort of attitude toward her characters.
June 1, 2010
I am so thankful that the people in my life are nothing like the people in this book.
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May 16, 2019Further development of the lives of those that inhabit the neighborhood of Morningside Heights in Manhattan. Takes place post 9-11 and focuses on the difficulties of adult children finding love and negotiating their post graduate lives. Low key, mellow reading but the reader finds it impossible not to avidly wish the best for all these colorful characters.
July 11, 2019
I read this book again and again. Peter Frankl expresses all of my angst and confusion over how everything I thought I was building has evaporated into thin air, yet life is still beautiful and wonder remains just around the corner.
April 21, 2019
Enjoyable, but rare book that would be better as a movie.
December 31, 2019
I gave it 80 pages...I might go to the end to see what happens to Lesley, but it was boring.
April 6, 2009
Khaya rightfully asked why I would bother reading another Mendelson when I think she is a pretentious overdone sorry excuse for a writer and an insult to intelligent people everywhere, and in truth I don't realy have an answer. I had her book lying around since I had amazon'd the trilogy, and I needed a light read one day and so I picked it up.
THe annoying thing about Mendelson is that its not that she's without talent; she is perceptive and has what to say, the problem is how she says it.
Her writing is a series of non sequitors, she strings completely unrelated thoughts and ideas together. She is a champion of 'tell don't show' and applies high falutin psycho analysis to her characters in the most ineffective ways. "She was projecting her anger onto her roommate; after all, she had unresolved issues with her mother."
Thanks. That was fascinating.
Her fiction reads like a text book, and so while she conveys somewhat interesting ideas and observations, her method is so insulting and hackneyed that it ends up not being worth it.
Anyway I give her two stars because, hey, I could read it. But I really wish she'd write non fiction instead.
THe annoying thing about Mendelson is that its not that she's without talent; she is perceptive and has what to say, the problem is how she says it.
Her writing is a series of non sequitors, she strings completely unrelated thoughts and ideas together. She is a champion of 'tell don't show' and applies high falutin psycho analysis to her characters in the most ineffective ways. "She was projecting her anger onto her roommate; after all, she had unresolved issues with her mother."
Thanks. That was fascinating.
Her fiction reads like a text book, and so while she conveys somewhat interesting ideas and observations, her method is so insulting and hackneyed that it ends up not being worth it.
Anyway I give her two stars because, hey, I could read it. But I really wish she'd write non fiction instead.
January 15, 2011
This is the second novel in the author’s brainy Morningside Heights trilogy. Our story focuses on lawyer Peter Frankl and his family.
Peter is married to Lesley, an artist and a complete mismatch for him. They have stayed married for a long time, but only for the sake of their children, Susan and Louis. Unfortunately, staying married hasn’t served as a good example for their children. Both are nearing thirty years of age, and it appears as though neither child will ever marry.
The Frankls are given another chance and life (and love) when Lesley is in a near fatal car crash. While Lesley lies in a coma, Peter is given the gift of time away from her. His children are given the same gift, as well as the gift of perspective, especially when it comes to their parents’ marriage.
What follows is a story of personal growth for the Frankl family. The backdrop, of course, is the Morningside Heights neighborhood and its uniquely interconnected residents.
While the author’s intellectual style can be pretentious, the novel is worth reading. The ending is extremely rewarding.
Peter is married to Lesley, an artist and a complete mismatch for him. They have stayed married for a long time, but only for the sake of their children, Susan and Louis. Unfortunately, staying married hasn’t served as a good example for their children. Both are nearing thirty years of age, and it appears as though neither child will ever marry.
The Frankls are given another chance and life (and love) when Lesley is in a near fatal car crash. While Lesley lies in a coma, Peter is given the gift of time away from her. His children are given the same gift, as well as the gift of perspective, especially when it comes to their parents’ marriage.
What follows is a story of personal growth for the Frankl family. The backdrop, of course, is the Morningside Heights neighborhood and its uniquely interconnected residents.
While the author’s intellectual style can be pretentious, the novel is worth reading. The ending is extremely rewarding.
September 8, 2007
I think I also read Mendelsohn's earlier book set in Morningside Heights (of that title I think). She's very interested in the cultural dynamics of that neighborhood, which is oddly familiar and repellent to me -- I'm no New Yorker but I grew up in a college town that prides itself as an oasis of culture much as her version of MH does -- the economics of MH vs a big-10 college town are completely different, but that makes it interesting. However, her interest in cultural capital tends to take precedence over her interest in people -- I found many of the characters confusing to keep track of at first, although that did get easier over time. I was about halfway through when a friend mentioned to me her love of Mendelsohn's book on housekeeping -- which then made her attention to such matters within the novel make much more sense. Interiors reflect class and culture -- but that's not a new perspective. You could read James or Wharton and get more fully realised characters along with the social analysis.
October 5, 2010
Some very good, some not so good parts to this book. I really enjoyed the beginning as the author was introducing the characters. I'm going to add a few quotes to this review when I get a chance. Had the usual somewhat unrealistic characters (e.g., the poor guy who is 1) insanely handsome, 2) a huge undiscovered opera talent, 3) a chess champion able to re-enter tournament play and beat one of the best players in the world. But that type of unrealistic character doesn't bother me all that much.
June 4, 2011
I picked this book up because it takes place in Morningside Heights, where I lived 3 summers again when I was in The City and I love that neighbourhood. I don't care that people think that UWS is boring and quiet, because I have always loved it. New Yorkers are either E or W and you rarely cross into the others territory and I have always been a W. What are you?
But the story in this book, oh so boring! Two families intertwined with various other people in their lives. The girls who are best friends, end up with guys who may not be perfect, but fit for the moment. Eh.
Grade: C-
But the story in this book, oh so boring! Two families intertwined with various other people in their lives. The girls who are best friends, end up with guys who may not be perfect, but fit for the moment. Eh.
Grade: C-
October 3, 2007
This book started out so strongly. I was in love with it. But halfway through, my love turned a bit sour, as characters started doing really stupid things to mess up their lives. Sometimes things seem too absurd and just serve to present obstacles for the characters to overcome - you know? Anyway, I still love Mendelson's style, I love reading about New Yorkers, and in the end it all worked out pretty well.
November 5, 2007
I'm only reading this because I don't have anything else right now. It's the sequel to Morningside Heights, similar characters. Which is to say, mostly self-involved and entitled. I'm having trouble rooting for any of them. I don't necessarily recommend it, but I am actually enjoying it, despite everything I just wrote.
June 30, 2009
I was pleased to be able to return to Morningside Heights, especially the lives of Charles and Anne Braithwaite. I've never lived in New York City, but I almost feel as though I had, courtesy of Cheryl Mendelson.
August 13, 2009
This book follows 2 generations of people trying to find happiness and love. Even though there were a lot of characters to keep track of, Mendelson pulled all their stories together in the last quarter of the book. I was shocked by some of the connections!
July 10, 2012
Mendelson has a unique ability to present a deep psychological analysis of the people she writes about, through the vision she offers into their thoughts and behavior. Smooth, precise language and some of the most complicated, compelling literary characters I've encountered.
October 18, 2014
This 2nd book of 3 in the triology was the last one I read. It was unnecessarily drawn out and kind of muddled, but ultimately satisfying. I love this author and don't understand why she isn't more popular.
December 21, 2014
Not good. I have a weakness for any fiction set in NYC; this book had the anticipated bonus of focusing on my beloved Upper West Side. I plowed my way to page 60 and gave up. Dead end plots, ridiculous characters, horrid people, dry, witless writing. Highly not recommended.
March 20, 2007
This book is bittersweet and awesome. Plus, it takes place in my new neighborhood.
June 7, 2007
I love, love, love this book!
August 31, 2007
Wow, this is one pretentious writer. This is the second in a trilogy - I'll be skipping the finale.
September 22, 2008
The storyline sure gets you thinking.
I did like the book but I thought it dragged quite a bit.
I did like the book but I thought it dragged quite a bit.
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August 13, 2009What I read I really liked. The deal is that this summer I cannot handle anymore sadness and this book is loaded (at least up to where I had to stop). By all means, give it a shot.
December 10, 2009
The 2nd of the Morningside Heights trilogy. Loved it.
January 3, 2010
I liked this story, but not quite enough to read the other two titles in the trilogy. It was kind of a soap opera of the upper middle class in NYC.
July 26, 2011
An interesting and entertaining read, though I don't think that I like the characters enough to read the entire trilogy.
November 10, 2011
A pleasant surprise
June 1, 2017
The Jane Austen of Manhattan. Fantastic social commentary, fun plot.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews