Object Lessons-Anna Quindlen’s First Novel
March 11, 2011
“You are the only person alive who has sole custody of your life. Your particular life. Your entire life. Not just your life at a desk, or your life on the bus, or in the car, or at the computer. Not just the life of your mind, but the life of your heart. Not your bank account, but your soul.”
–Anna Quindlen, from a Short Guide to a Happy Life
Though she’d wanted to be a novelist since childhood, Anna Quindlen, raised by a practical, hard-working Catholic family, needed rent money as a young adult and found a steady paycheck as a journalist. By 1992, she had made her name as an Op-Ed writer, winning the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 1992 for her “Public and Private” column in The New York Times. (For a sample of her nonfiction insights rich in historical and political understanding, see Quindlen’s reflection here on Mary Todd Lincoln.) In 1995, she left full-time work as a journalist to become a novelist, the decision partly inspired, she says, by the early death of her mother at age 40. Quindlen was only 19 at the time. That loss significantly shaped who she became, reminding her to live into her dreams, and never to take life for granted.
Next week, I begin teaching a class on The Novels of Anna Quindlen, and it’s been a gift–in that harried, have-to, I-don’t-have-time-for-this way that many genuine gifts in this life arrive–to begin learning more of the author’s life, and reading more of her work. I’m learning so much myself about the craft of writing, and the art of seeing into the human soul. I find both her critique and her celebrations of modern American culture thought-provoking, intelligent and often prophetic.
Whether or not you’re officially taking the Anna Quindlen class through Belmont University’s Liberal Studies program (adult degree primarily with non-traditional hours), know that I’d love to have you join our conversation here on this blog over the next eight weeks.
So let me ask:
Which of Anna Quindlen’s published works, nonfiction and fiction, are your favorites?
If you have a link to a favorite NYT or Newsweek column, by all means share it!
And what do you think of her first novel, Object Lessons?
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I am taking the Anna Quindlen class at Belmont this semester and really looking forward to it. I have read several of her non fictions books and I identify with many of her female protagonists. Having just started Object Lessons I will withhold comment until i get a little further in, except to say that the unflattering light cast upon the Irish grandfather in the novel is at once repelling AND facinating. While I do know some Irish men who wield their power in the same pompous fashion that John Scanlons does in the opening chapters of this story, I think Ms Quindlen – at least so far in the story – is missing the quirky nuances that often accompany these overbearing personalities and the enduring strength of their women, who do not always stand idly by…
But perhaps I am being hasty in my judgements…..I’ll read on…
I do love her easy, engaging, and accessible, writing style
In my previous post, when referring to having read Ms Quindlen, it should say ” I have read many of her FICTION books…mea culpa
FP
Fiona, these are insightful points. I find myself having similar reaction to Scanlan–at once laughing at his take on the two Johns destroying America–Kennedy and the Pope–and next cringing at his treatment of others. I look forward to hearing more of your perspective as we go along!
I never knew about this author or have read any of her books but when I told my mom about this class she told me how much she loved her writing. I am excited about getting to know someone with so much talent and insight. I loved her interview with Charlie Rose and especially on motherhood and women’s role in leadership and how little there are. When you see women in the working world and doing having a career along side men you don’t think about in comparisons of leadership. Some areas they will step aside and let a woman rule but there are so many more that they still act as if they are not qualified to lead in. It’s so true and a shame that it is not more equai. I love her take on motherhood and how when we become monthers we get so alerted to all these things out there that could happen. I never realized how much more paranoid I became until I had my son. Even now that he is in his 30′s I fear him moving away so I cannot be sure he is taken care of and not hurt. If I don’t hear from him I get worried. I worry every day about my mom now that she is older and retired. They both live with me and I see them every day but for instance I had to chuckle listening to her when she said about not relaxing until you hear the door closed or the car pull in. I literally will talk with my son while he crosses Mallory walking home from the mall because I know his face is in his phone either texting or playing the game and I’m afraid of him getting hit by a car. At 33 years old. So it never ends when you become a mother, you become a whole different person, but it is so rewarding.
I cannot read her book and learn more about her. I think just what I have learned about her so far she is truly amazing and a fabulous author and person.
When I first attempted to buy all of my books for this course from Belmont University’s Bookstore, there were two which they did not have–that being the first one we are reading this week, and the last one! Well, fortunately, I work at at a university where I was able to locate both books today! I am always fascinated to make my way through the hallowed halls of the main library and search for books that are hard to find elsewhere.
I have not read any of Anna Quindlen’s writings before, but it sounds like she is a much loved and revered author. I cannot wait to dig into her stories and see what nuggets of truth I can find in them. I love it when I am surprised by the prophetic insights of authors, and it sounds as if Anna Quindlen will be one of those.
I am just 40 pages into “Object Lessons” but certainly drawn or should I say lured in by Quinlan’s attention to detail. She is crystal clear in her depiction of characters, setting and mood – the grandfather is a tyrant sort of bully who owns just about everything and everybody “… he could, almost magically, make his children bob and move and sway like marionettes.” Maggie’s poor mother Connie doesn’t quite know what hit her but it seems she is waking up and the construction worker/past school mate may help her… When describing Tommy Scanlan’s small office, Quinlan writes”…his office shivered like a child with a high fever.” Excellent – nothing is left to the air – you get a vivid and complete picture. Love this book and her writing so far!
Now that I have finished Object Lessons I must say I was most impressed with Quindlen’s skill at characterization. The reader is able to feel the heart and soul of young Maggie Scanlan as she tries to make sense of the changes happening in her life over summer break. I found it interesting that a thirteen year old girl and mother of around forty years of age were coming of age (if you will) at the same time. Maggie becoming a young lady and her mom learning how to drive and realizing that it is not her who is dependent on her husband (Maggie’s father, Tommy), rather Tommy is dependent on her. As a women reading this book I was forced to think about/consider significant seasons in my life that enabled me to mature and grow as a woman. I really identified with Helen who definitely had a mind of her own. At 22 I decided to move to Miami Florida to pursue a singing career. My mother and entire family thought I was insane but it was something I had to do. When I left it was so foreign to them that they couldn’t fathom such a thing. Years later I realized that everyone in my family wished they had the guts to get out of Kansas City and try something else but just didn’t have the courage to do it.
I began reading the book yesterday and was startled to see how unhappy everybody seemed. Not only that, but it seemed as though everyone was more content to be unhappy than to cause an upset for John Scanlon. I am very intrigued by the power he seems to hold over everyone… how did it become this way? Will we get to see a softer side of him as the novel goes on?
I agree with Tammy’s comment about the way Quindlen is able to draw us in right away. She does such a good job pulling you into the atmosphere that surrounds the characters that it doesn’t take long before you are emotionally involved in the book. I’m excited to keep reading!
I have been awol on this because I forgot to write on the blog and just paid too much attention to the discussion. I’ve been a little dazed and confused lately. I love how Anne transformed the relationship between mother and daughter in Object Lessons. I felt it was a good character portrayal of mother and daughter growing up and the problems between them and how they evolve into best friends through life’s hardships. I love the way she brought Connie and Tommy back to the love they felt for each other once before and even though they got a little lost on the way. Other characters I really did not care for and especially John Scanlan because of the way he controlled everyone and manipulated them, especially the sons with his power and money. At the end when he died I think everyone felt freedom to be who they wanted to be for the first time. I really liked this novel and thought it was well connected to a real life situation between families and power.