LoveReading Says
LoveReading Says
One of our Books of the Year 2013.
Dark, comic with captivating prose, this is a stunning first novel and quite rightly being talked about as one of the literary debuts of 2012. A seemingly perfect East Coast upper crust american family are brought together by the oldest daughter's wedding. But the daughter is seven months pregnant and family tensions simmer just below the surface. Over the three days of the wedding run up and celebrations, the 59 year old patriarch, Winn's life implodes. Highly enjoyable, heartily recommended.
July 2013 Debut of the Month.
Winner of the 2012 Dylan Thomas Prize.
In addition to our Lovereading expert opinion for Seating Arrangements a small number of Lovereading members were lucky enough to be invited to review this title - 'This was an awesome and often touching read full of moments to reflect on' - Edel Waugh. Scroll down to read more reviews.
Sarah Broadhurst
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About
Seating Arrangements Synopsis
Two days before a father gives his daughter away in an all-American east coast wedding.Two days for a seemingly safe world of wealth and privilege to unravel. 59-year-old patriarch Winn Van Meter is heading for his family's retreat on the pristine New England island of Waskeke. Normally a haven of calm, for the next three days this sanctuary will be overrun with relatives and friends as Winn prepares to marry off his daughter Daphne to Greyson Duff. Winn has never really understood his daughters. Daphne is pleased to be settling down with a fine match, even though she's heavily pregnant at her own wedding. Her sister Livia has foolishly allowed her heart to be broken by Teddy Fenn, the son of her father's oldest social rival. Winn's wife Biddy has arranged the wedding with military precision. Winn loves her, but is this is enough? His unrequited yearning for Daphne's lissom bridesmaid, Agatha, comes to boiling point as she taunts him at every turn, prompting him to ask questions about his life: Did he marry the right woman? Did he make the most of his youth? And most importantly, why is he still being refused entry to the Pequod Club? In silky, sensual prose, Maggie Shipstead lays bare the pretensions of a New England society with a wit and sophistication that heralds the debut of an exciting new literary voice.
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9780007467730 |
| Publication date: |
4th July 2013 |
| Author: |
Maggie Shipstead |
| Publisher: |
Blue Door an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers |
| Format: |
Paperback |
| Pagination: |
418 pages |
| Primary Genre |
Modern and Contemporary Fiction
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| Other Genres: |
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| Recommendations: |
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Press Reviews
Maggie Shipstead Press Reviews
'Maggie Shipstead is an outrageously gifted writer, and her assured first novel, Seating Arrangements, is by turns hilarious and deeply moving.' Richard Russo
‘Seating Arrangements is bursting with perfectly observed characters and unforgettable scenes. This gorgeous, wise, funny, sprawling novel about family, fidelity, and social class, is the best book I've read in ages’ Courtney T Sullivan, author of Maine
Author
About Maggie Shipstead
Maggie Shipstead graduated from Harvard in 2005 and earned an M.F.A at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. She was also a Stegner Fellow at Stanford University. Her debut novel, Seating Arrangements, won the Dylan Thomas Prize and the LA Times Prize for First Fiction. Astonish Me is her second novel.
Author photo © Alisha & Brook Photography
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