book review: “the emperor’s children” by claire messud
Posted in Books on January 23rd, 2008Denver, CO
From Publishers Weekly
Marina Thwaite, Danielle Minkoff and Julian Clarke were buddies at Brown, certain that they would soon do something important in the world. But as all near 30, Danielle is struggling as a TV documentary maker, and Julius is barely surviving financially as a freelance critic. Marina, the startlingly beautiful daughter of celebrated social activist, journalist and hob-nobber Murray Thwaite, is living with her parents on the Upper West Side, unable to finish her book”titled The Emperor’s Children Have No Clothes (on how changing fashions in children’s clothes mirror changes in society). Two arrivals upset the group stasis: Ludovic, a fiercely ambitious Aussie who woos Marina to gain entrée into society (meanwhile planning to destroy Murray’s reputation), and Murray’s nephew, Frederick “Bootie” Tubb, an immature, idealistic college dropout and autodidact who is determined to live the life of a New York intellectual. The group orbits around the post”September 11 city with disconcerting entitlement”and around Murray, who is, in a sense, the emperor. Messud, in her fourth novel, remains wickedly observant of pretensions”intellectual, sexual, class and gender. Her writing is so fluid, and her plot so cleverly constructed, that events seem inevitable, yet the narrative is ultimately surprising and masterful as a contemporary comedy of manners.
I was in a hurry to read this book in time for my book club so I pushed through it in just over a week. The book is interesting and follows the lives of three friends from college now in their thirties. Marina is the perfect and beautiful woman following in her famous father’s footsteps to become a writer. Her story unfolds with an unfinished manuscript which has been the focus of the last seven years and her budding relationship with Ludo (the Australian boyfriend starting a new magazine). Danielle is the smart tv publisher that gets involved in a very wrong affair. And Julius is the gay socialite that struggles to make ends meet until he meets his new boyfriend whom pulls him entirely out of his life and into one of partying and appearances. Tertiary characters included Marina’s parents, Murray and Annabel Thwaite; her boyfriend Ludovic Seeley; her cousin Frederick “Bootie” Tubbs; and Julius’ boyfriend David.
The stories wind through the characters’ lives and relationships; both falling into and out of relationships. The crux of the story is centered around September 11th and the unfolding events. I was surprised that it was incorporated into the story but see how it was a turning point and driver for what happened next in their lives. Throughout the book I was waiting for the climax to happen. But it never did. I was disappointed with this and feel like I was lead to believe something was going to happen or unravel that never did. The end of the book somewhat left you hanging. Not in a good way and not in a bad way.
Somewhat of an entertaining and interesting read. There are deep and intellectual points and the author definitely has strengths.
Book club selection.
