A Friend of the Family (novel)

Last updated
A Friend of the Family
Lauren Grodstein - A Friend of the Family.jpeg
Author Lauren Grodstein
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Genre Family saga, Domestic Drama, Psychological fiction
PublishedNovember 10, 2009 (hardcover), November 9, 2010 (paperback)
Publisher Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill
Media typePrint (Paperback, Hardcover), E-book
PagesPaperback: 320, Hardcover: 304, E-book: 336
ISBN 978-1-61620-017-6

A Friend of the Family is a novel by Lauren Grodstein which takes place in the modern day suburbia of Northern New Jersey where the main character, Pete Dizinoff, a skilled internist, lives in a large house with his wife Elaine and son Alec. [1] Pete's life begins to crumble when his best friend's daughter, Laura Stern, comes back into town years after a shocking crime and becomes involved with Pete's son, threatening Pete's plans for Alec. [1]

Contents

Plot synopsis

The main events of the novel occur between the years of 1993-2007, from Laura's neonaticide through Alec packing up and leaving his family. Lauren Grodstein utilizes flashbacks to exploit how the narrator, successful New Jersey internist Pete Dizinoff, ends up where he is today: estranged from his best friends, the Sterns, his son, Alec, and his patients, as well as on the verge of divorce with his wife, Elaine. Pete’s need for control over his son’s life eventually drives Alec away from him, and away from the bright future Pete had pushed him towards. This trait also sets up the violent conclusion with Laura. Pete’s God complex severely affects his professional life when he ignores Joe’s advice about his patient Roseanne and fails to diagnose her with Addison’s disease, a condition which eventually kills her.

Major characters

Pete Dizinoff is a New Jersey suburbanite, internist, and protagonist of the story. He is an unreliable narrator because of his narrow-mindedness; Pete judges everyone. He had a malpractice case against him because he had a patient die under his medical care. He was accused of raping Laura Stern at her apartment. Pete has a psychological issue with his son, Alec, getting involved with Laura Stern, who allegedly killed her baby. Pete is worried that Alec is throwing his life away. Alec is only 20 years old, while Laura is 31. He goes through problems that most doctors go through, like the malpractice case. Those problems can psychologically wear you down. [2] [3] : 279–280, 287–294  [4]

Elaine Dizinoff met Pete in college through Iris, a mutual friend and sorority sister. She earned a PhD in English literature. She and Pete had trouble having a child. Elaine survived a bout with breast cancer. [5]

Alec Dizinoff was born July 4, 1985, in Round Hill, and he is an only child. He dropped out of Hampshire College after three semesters but was then given an art studio above the garage. Alec got in trouble as a teen (stealing, alcohol, drugs) quite a few times. Alec loves Laura, but Pete doesn't approve of the relationship. Alec does not get along with his father. [3] : 1, 22, 51 

Laura Stern is Joe and Iris's oldest child. Laura didn't have any friends growing up; she was a victim of bullying. Laura was called names, like "Yeti" and "Fire Crotch" and described as "dirty"; kids in her school created and signed a hate petition about her. Laura hung around the Grand Union and had sex with the boys by the back dumpster, and she became pregnant and distanced herself from everyone. [3] : 48, 71, 268, 269, 270, 274 

Joe Stern was Pete's best friend. He married Iris and has four children with her. Joe is an obstetrician, and he favors Laura out of all of his four children. He lives in Round Hill with Pete and holds a secret that is the deciding factor in Pete's case. [3] : 5, 30 

Iris Stern She is a longtime friend of Pete. Pete is romantically interested in her, like he was back in college. She married Joe and has four children with him. She doesn't always like Laura, unlike Joe. [3] : 9 

Roseanne Craig is 22 years old and one of Pete's patients. Roseanne died while under Pete's medical care. Pete had thought she had depression but that was a misdiagnoses; she actually had Addison's Disease. She got injured on a canoeing trip with her friends, and she died from her injury because of an Addisonian Crisis. [3] : 13–15 

Setting

A Friend of the Family takes place in a nice house in an affluent New Jersey suburb [6] in Bergen County, the most populous county in New Jersey and the twenty-fifth wealthiest county in the country. [7] [8] Bergen County has a significant Jewish-American population. [8] In addition, Pete Dizinoff's flashbacks and flashbacks of flashbacks take the story to other places, including Yonkers, New York; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Delaware.

Further information

A Friend of the Family incorporates the genres of psychological literature and domestic drama. Psychological literature is literature in which the thoughts, feelings, and motivations of the character are of equal or greater interest than the actions of the character. [9] Domestic Drama, is a drama that includes a middle to lower class protagonist. [10]

Real life neonaticides

Grodstein's inspirations and influences for A Friend of the Family stemmed from the 1990s cases of Amy Grossberg and Melissa Drexler, two high school girls both well known for taking the life of their newborn babies shortly after they had given birth. Drexler gave birth at her senior prom and Grossberg delivered a baby in a hotel room with the help of her boyfriend, then disposed of it. This situation was the start for her ideas in the main storyline as well as one of her main characters, Laura Stern. Laura Stern was based on both Melissa Drexler and Amy Grossberg. Grodstein's intentions however, were not to make her audience feel like the actions of young women who commit these neonaticides were wrong nor right but to make her readers understand a different side to the "murders" not just the death of a baby but everything behind that, everything that started such a plan to get rid of a life. Grodstein wanted people to feel what it felt like in their positions, how they felt when they first discovered they were pregnant, and/or how they felt after they delivered. [11] [12]

Reception

Reviews were generally positive, with some reservations. Critics found the book's flashback-heavy structure occasionally confusing [13] and some plot events were criticized as "not quite plausible." [13] However, Grodstein was praised for capturing "the anxiety of a father's love" and "ever-striving angst of parents" in Pete [14] [15] and the character of an upper-middle-class kid in Alec, [14] and in general critics admired Grodstein's skill as a storyteller. [16]

Besides a few negative comments, the rest of the book was adored by most readers. Patty Rhule writes, "A Friend of the Family beautifully captures parents who will take any step to ensure their children's lives are easier or better". [15] Some reviewers believed that the novel would be a good piece for a book club, because it would spark good discussion. [17] Swapna Krishna says that the large numbers of problems going on in the novel would be interesting to talk about in a group. [17] Grodstein's writing was complimented by Joanna Rakoff stating, "she is a terrific storyteller and an even better ventriloquist". [16]

Publishing information

A Friend of the Family was published by Algonquin Books in November 2009. The following November, the paperback was printed. A Friend of the Family, as well as Grodstein's other work, has been translated into German, Italian, French, Turkish, and other languages. [18]

Related Research Articles

<i>Roseanne</i> American sitcom

Roseanne is an American sitcom television series created by Matt Williams and Roseanne Barr, which aired on ABC from October 18, 1988, to May 20, 1997, and briefly revived from March 27, 2018, to May 22, 2018. The show stars Barr as Roseanne Conner and revolves around her family in the fictional town of Lanford, Illinois. Receiving generally positive reviews for its realistic portrayal of a working-class American family, the series reached No. 1 in the Nielsen ratings from 1989 to 1990 in its second season.

Lauren Bacall American actress (1924–2014)

Lauren Bacall was an American actress. She was named the 20th-greatest female star of classic Hollywood cinema by the American Film Institute and received an Academy Honorary Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2009 in recognition of her contribution to the Golden Age of motion pictures. She was known initially for her alluring, sultry presence and her distinctive, husky voice. Bacall was one of the last surviving major stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood cinema.

Laurie Metcalf American actress

Laura Elizabeth Metcalf is an American actress. She has received various accolades throughout her career spanning over four decades, including two Tony Awards and three Primetime Emmy Awards, in addition to nominations for an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and three Golden Globe Awards.

Sara Gilbert American actress, producer (b. 1975)

Sara Gilbert is an American actress, director, and producer known for her role as Darlene Conner on the ABC sitcom Roseanne, for which she received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations, and its spin-off, The Conners (2018–present). She is also creator and former co-host of the CBS daytime talk show The Talk and had a recurring role as Leslie Winkle on CBS's The Big Bang Theory.

Love Is a Many Splendored Thing is an American daytime soap opera that aired on CBS from September 18, 1967 to March 23, 1973. The series was created by Irna Phillips, who served as the first head writer. She was replaced by Jane Avery and Ira Avery in 1968, who were followed by Don Ettlinger, James Lipton and finally Ann Marcus. John Conboy served as producer for most of the show's run.

Melissa Drexler, who was nicknamed in the media as "The Prom Mom," is an American woman who, as a teenage high school student in 1997, delivered a baby in a restroom stall during her high school prom dance. The baby was later found dead in the restroom, and Drexler pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter, having put the infant in the trash can and then returned to the dance. She was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment. After serving a little over three years, she was released on parole.

Amy S. Grossberg is an American woman who delivered a baby at a Comfort Inn in Newark, Delaware, in November 1996, assisted only by her then-boyfriend Brian C. Peterson, who later threw the baby into a dumpster. In March 1998, Peterson pled guilty to manslaughter and served a two-year sentence; on April 22, 1998, Grossberg agreed to a plea bargain, and was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison on July 9, 1998.

Beale family Fictional family from EastEnders

The Beales and the Fowlers are a fictional family in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. They were the main family for storylines in early episodes of EastEnders, and remained as such ever since. With at least one member of the family having been a member of the cast from the first episode in February 1985, they are the show's longest serving family. The original Beale/Fowler family consisted of matriarch Lou Beale and her children Pete and Pauline, alongside their families including their children Ian, Mark, Michelle and their spouses Kathy Hills and Arthur Fowler. Additionally, several members of the family have been introduced at a later point, including Pauline and Arthur's son Martin who was the first baby to be born into the show in 1985. The family has been headed with a matriarch first seen with Lou, and over the years, Lou's daughter Pauline, Ian's wife Jane Collins and more recently Pete's wife Kathy, have filled this role.

Lynne Hobbs Fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders

Lynne Slater is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Elaine Lordan. The character appears between 18 September 2000 and 2 July 2004. Lynne is a fierce judge of right and wrong, although she is not always able to practise what she preaches. She has a turbulent relationship with husband Garry Hobbs, but despite her complaints about him, it ends up being Lynne's adultery that puts their relationship in jeopardy long before Garry strays.

<i>Intensity</i> (film) 1997 American film

Intensity is a 1997 made-for-TV psychological thriller mini-series based on the 1995 novel of the same name by Dean Koontz, starring John C. McGinley, Molly Parker, Piper Laurie, and Tori Paul. It originally aired in the United States on the Fox Network.

"The Face Painter" is the 109th episode of NBC sitcom Seinfeld. It is the 23rd episode of the series's sixth season. It aired on May 11, 1995. The table reading for "The Face Painter" was held on March 26, 1995. In this episode, Jerry, Elaine, Kramer, and David Puddy go to two Stanley Cup playoff games, where Puddy dismays Elaine and an El Salvadoran priest with his rowdy displays of New Jersey Devils fandom. Meanwhile, Kramer holds a grudge against a chimpanzee who hit him with a banana peel, and George resolves to take the dramatic step of telling his girlfriend he loves her.

"The Friar's Club" is the 128th episode of NBC sitcom Seinfeld. This is the 18th episode for the seventh season, originally airing on March 7, 1996. In this episode, Jerry jeopardizes his chances of becoming a member of the New York Friars' Club when he accidentally takes a club jacket home with him, George hopes to spend more time with Jerry by fixing him up with his fiancé Susan's best friend, and J. Peterman saddles Elaine with the workload of her hard-of-hearing co-worker.

Ann Leslie "Lee" Garlington is an American actress.

Lauren Cohan American-British actress

Lauren Cohan is an American-British actress best known for her role as Maggie Greene in the AMC post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead. Her other notable TV roles include Bela Talbot in the dark fantasy drama Supernatural (2007–2008), Rose in the supernatural teen drama The Vampire Diaries (2010–2012), Vivian McArthur Volkoff in the action comedy Chuck (2011), and Francesca "Frankie" Trowbridge in the action comedy-drama Whiskey Cavalier (2019). Her film appearances include the comedy Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj (2006), the psychological thriller horror The Boy (2016), the biographical drama All Eyez on Me (2017), and the action thriller Mile 22 (2018).

Jennifer Smith is a fictional character on the ABC soap opera, General Hospital. She is the daughter of notorious mobster, Frank Smith, and known for her broken engagement with Luke Spencer. Lisa Marie portrayed the character in 1980, Roseanne Arnold in 1994, Sally Struthers in February 2002, and Holly Gagnier in June 2015. Gagnier returned to the role in 2022.

<i>High Tide at Noon</i> 1957 film

High Tide at Noon is a 1957 British drama film directed by Philip Leacock. It was entered into the 1957 Cannes Film Festival. High Tide at Noon was based on the first of a series of novels by Elisabeth Ogilvie, set in Maine. Location work was done in Devon.

"The Moms" is the twentieth episode of the fourth season of the American television comedy series 30 Rock, and the 78th overall episode of the series. It was written by co-producer Kay Cannon and co-show runner and executive producer Robert Carlock. The episode was directed by co-executive producer John Riggi. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on May 6, 2010. Guest stars in "The Moms" include Buzz Aldrin, John Anderson, Elizabeth Banks, Kyoko Bruguera, Will Ferrell, Anita Gillette, Jan Hooks, Cheyenne Jackson, Patti LuPone, Novella Nelson, and Elaine Stritch.

Lauren Grodstein American writer

Lauren Grodstein is an American novelist and professor at Rutgers University-Camden who is known for her use of male characters and family narratives. Her novels, the New York Times-bestselling "A Friend of the Family," along with "The Explanation for Everything" were Washington Post Books of the Year, and "A Friend of the Family" was a New York Times Editors' Choice. Girls Dinner Club made the New York Public Library “Book for the Teen Age” list in 2006.

Sherman Drexler was an American figurative expressionist painter best known for his paintings of female nudes. He later taught at several institutions, including Cooper Union School of Art (1974) and the University of Pennsylvania (1980). His career spanned more than 50 years. He was married to Pop artist and playwright Rosalyn Drexler.

References

  1. 1 2 Grodstein, Lauren. "A Friend of the Family". laurengrodstein.com. Both is Better LLC. Archived from the original on 2013-10-29. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  2. ↑ "A Friend of the Family by Lauren Grodstein". Oprah.com. 2009-10-14. Retrieved 2013-10-25.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Grodstein, Lauren (2009). A Friend of the Family. New York: Algonquin Books. ISBN   978-1-61620-017-6.
  4. ↑ Bridges, D. (2010). "The Three Weissmanns of Westport". Psychiatric Services. 61 (12): 1269–1270. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.61.12.1269-a.
  5. ↑ Volkenannt, Donna (April 2011). "A Friend of the Family".
  6. ↑ "A Friend of the Family". Publishers Weekly. 9 July 2009. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  7. ↑ Brennan, Morgan (16 October 2012). "Manhattan's Now Home To America's Most Expensive Zip Code". Forbes. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  8. 1 2 "County Data for Bergen County, New Jersey" . Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  9. ↑ "Psychological Novel". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  10. ↑ "Domestic Drama". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  11. ↑ Mechling, Lauren (6 November 2009). "Adviser Books/ 'A Friend of the Family': From Tabloids, a Literary Tale--- A young Author Turns to Memories of a Crime". Wall Street Journal. ProQuest   399067231.
  12. ↑ Teicher, Craig Morgan (2009). "Family Affairs". Publishers Weekly: 25.
  13. 1 2 "A Friend of the Family". Kirkus Reviews. 77 (16): 841. 2009.
  14. 1 2 "The Father Does Not Know Best". Washington Post. 2009.
  15. 1 2 "A Friend of the Family". USA Today. 2009.
  16. 1 2 "Fraught Expectations". New York Times. 2009.
  17. 1 2 "A Friend of the Family". Krishna Books. 2009.
  18. ↑ "About the author". Lauren Grodstein. Retrieved 2013-10-08.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.