A Certain Age: A NovelWhen a woman reaches a certain age, the quest for a husband takes on a particular urgency--especially in certain tightly woven social circles. A Certain Age is a biting and masterful social satire from the bestselling author of Slaves of New York. Tama Janowitz created a literary sensation with her first book about New York and its slaves, establishing herself as one of the preeminent voices of her generation. Now, she returns with a wickedly funny and glisteningly dark novel that takes as its subject our current obsession with conspicuous consumption--especially in the form of one very misguided young woman, desperate to secure a mate and a certain lifestyle. When Florence Collins sets out on the jitney for a weekend at her friend Natalie's house in the Hamptons, she boards the bus with an air of unspoken expectation, especially when she spots the very wealthy and still available, if somewhat uptight, Charlie Twigall. But the weekend's promise of potential partnering spirals into a disastrous series of mishaps that include an unwanted nighttime visit from Natalie's husband, the near drowning of Natalie's daughter, a bad financial gamble, and the expulsion of one Florence Collins from the premises. Thus begins this tragicomic novel about the sad plight of a woman on the make in Manhattan. Biding her time in a low-paying job at one of the lesser auction houses, Florence spends every cent of her not-so-hard-earned money and what's left of her mother's inheritance on body wraps, designer clothes, custom-mixed makeup and skin emollients, and every other known accessory--all in the vain hope of attracting a rich husband. In prose at once biting and sparkling, Janowitz hascreated a novel of modern manners with this sly and unforgettable portrait of New York society, as unforgiving today as it was a hundred years ago. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Allison American Dad Anyway apartment aromatherapist asked auction baby bedroom brassiere Charlie Claudia Darryl dinner dollars door doorman dressed drink Eleventh Avenue eyes face feel felt fifty floor front girl glass going golden retriever gone grabbed hair hand head huge hundred Italian jewelry John John de Jongh kids kind knew least Lisa Lisa Harrison living looked Manhattan Marge Marisa marriage married Maspeth minutes Natalie Natalie's never nice night okay party perhaps pick pink probably Quayle's Raffaello realized red patent leather remember restaurant rich seemed smell smile someone Sonia sorry Sotheby's staring stay stopped stuff sure talking TAMA JANOWITZ tapeworm taxi tell there's things thought tiny took Tracer trying turned vodka wait Wal-Mart walked wear What's woman women Yeah York