I love Jenny Offill and her writing is sublime. You know she is smart and awesome because she has a librarian as the main character in this book! This is a perfect example of the timing you read something having a effect on your thoughts about the book. Lizzie is the aforementioned librarian and she is maybe a little depressed. This has a contemporary setting and the troubles of the world are getting to her. She is maybe a little tired of her life in other ways too. Her husband is a "good guy" if maybe a little boring. Her son is great but dealing with his everyday issues maybe a little taxing. Her brother is seriously troubled but might be getting his life together...oh wait, I spoke too soon. But as I read this during the second week of real life "social distancing" and staying away from people, it makes Lizzie seem very daring and adventurous. Her husband is away visiting his parents and she goes out an has a drink and conversation with another man! Oh my, she is putting herself at risk to catch the virus! Wait, that is just now in real life, not part of the book. In the end, she and the other man don't even kiss each other. Any other time Lizzie would have come across as the author intended. Smart and nice but a little boring. In the current environment, she seems like a complete daredevil. Enjoyable.
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