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PS Helen Schulman 9781582342085 Books

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PS Helen Schulman 9781582342085 Books

I rate this book a 3 because Schulman is an amazing writer and this is a great concept and a well-written story, but I couldn't get through it. If you would rather not read bad language and sex scenes, as I would rather not, I just write this review as a warning so you'll know what to expect. It would have been a fun book to read.


Tags : P.S. [Helen Schulman] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. What would you do for a second chance at your first love? At thirty-eight, Louise Harrington still hasn't forgotten Scott Feinstadt,Helen Schulman,P.S.,Bloomsbury USA,1582342083,Literary,FICTION General,FICTION Literary,Fiction,Fiction - General,Fiction-Literary,GENERAL,General Adult,Media Tie-In,Modern & contemporary fiction (post c 1945)

PS Helen Schulman 9781582342085 Books Reviews

Louise Harrington ended her 10-year marriage to her former astronomy professor Peter, and now, four years later, she's still lonely and no happier than she was during their marriage. At age 37, she fears she is facing a lonesome spinsterhood. Louise and Peter are still very much involved in each other's lives and see each other several times a week. Their marriage seemed to end because of apathy and neglect. Louise's best friend since high school, Missy, lives across the country in Hollywood , but they talk to each other regularly.
Louise's recent promotion in the admission department at Columbia University involves her in reviewing all applications, and she comes across an application from a student bearing the same name as her high school flame, Scott Feinstadt, who had died suddenly in a car accident on his way to college nearly 20 years ago. Out of curiousity, Louise calls F. Scott, ostensibly to review his application, but they immediately end up as lovers. In some weird time-warp, Louise believes that he is her first lover from so many years ago, the one she never got over. Missy, who had stolen Scott from her years ago, somehow finds out about this new relationship, and gets involved. Although they're supposedly best friends, it seems her life-long goal has been to interfere in Louise's affairs.
Through some improbable plot twists and turns, Louise explores her relationships with Peter, Missy, the deceased Scott, her brother and her mother, eventually arriving at a better understanding of herself. P.S. is an interesting, quirky, humorous exploration of a woman looking for love and meaning in her life. At just over 200 pages, it's an entertaining way to spend a few hours.
I'm a bit surprised at some of the reviews below that seem to have expected a crime novel's resolution. The "mystery" never quite being resolved isn't disappointing because that's not truly the focus of the book. It's a reverie, a dream, a story about Louise's journey out of herself, getting unstuck in every possible way. I also think a little knowledge is clearly a dangerous thing when someone complains about the 3rd person POV only showing us the main character. That's because it's 3rd person limited, folks, not omniscient--and a wise choice it is, or there wouldn't be enough tension.

I thought the POV, the language, the wit, the sexuality, everything about this book was magical, surprising, compelling. I reviewed it professionally for the Jerusalem Report Magazine and on NPR's (former) The Todd Mundt Show and felt glad to have those opportunities to bring it to readers' attention. Here's the conclusion of my capsule NPR review "This a magical, romantic book. The prose is lustrous, the tone comic, the characters deeply imagined and sympathetic. An unusual, unforgettable novel." And here's the last graf of my Jerusalem Report review "Schulman (author of 'The Revisionist') has a keen eye for New York's colorful street life, which she can invest with the romance of 'The Great Gatsby'when she wants to. She beautifully juggles the comedy and rage flaring up unexpectedly in any intimate relationship and she writes sex scenes as original, elegant and complex as Mary Gordon's in 'Spending' or Lisa Zeidner's in 'Layover.' Poignant and luminous, this is a book to read aloud, to re-read, to urge on friends."
"P.S." raises an interesting question what if you had a second chance with someone who is -- or is very like -- your first and only real love? Helen Schulman makes a real effort to delve into the questions about love, lust, memories, and reincarnation... but she never quite figures out how to answer those questions.

Years ago, Louisa was in love with Scott Feinstadt, a sexy charmer who died abruptly, leaving her teenage emotions up in the air. Now she is thirty-eight, divorced from a sex-addicted husband, and living a dull life as a college admissions administrator. Enter F. Scott Feinstadt, a hunky young student who is the spitting image of her dead lover.

Soon Louisa has taken up with F. Scott again, feeling as if she's been given a second chance with the man she loved -- their age differences and different lives make no difference. But what does make a difference is Louisa's ex-husband and her catty best friend. And when her friend spills the beans about Louisa's two Scott Feinstadts, it may destroy her new relationship.

As an idea, "P.S." can't be matched. Schulman dives headfirst into a sort of metaphysical (and VERY physical) tale that just avoids being a Mrs. Robinson story. Is F. Scott a reincarnation, a son, or a cosmic sign? It's also a very compelling story of a woman approaching middle-age, who is looking back on a life devoid of passion and happiness.

What it lacks is a real answer to its own questions. Okay, the ending decides what F. Scott isn't -- but it never tells us what he is either. The similarities between him and his predecessor never quite get explained, but there are too many of them for it to be a coincidence. It sort of putters slowly to a stop, and Schulman's glossy writing can't hide its problems.

Louisa may also annoy readers, since she's a bit of a doormat -- she married a guy she didn't love and stays vaguely interested even though he's a louse. And she remains friends with a woman who seems determined to wreck her life. Why does she have anything to do with these losers? The confused F. Scott is a more likable guy, especially since he's definitely an upgrade from the original model -- he's sweeter, more sensitive, and more monogamous.

"P.S." has some good idea lurking behind the story, but Helen Schulman seems to have written it without a clear idea of how to explain it. An interesting yet very confusing read.
I rate this book a 3 because Schulman is an amazing writer and this is a great concept and a well-written story, but I couldn't get through it. If you would rather not read bad language and sex scenes, as I would rather not, I just write this review as a warning so you'll know what to expect. It would have been a fun book to read.