I Can't Complain: (All Too) Personal Essays
Prolific fiction writer Lipman also boasts a generous body of nonfiction work that examines multiple facets of one woman’s life, from the personal to the professional, from marriage and family to writing and teaching. Gathered from essays and columns previously published in outlets ranging from Good Housekeeping to the New York Times, and penned in her trademark tongue-in-cheek sarcasm and disarming, self-deprecating humor, these pieces tackle memories of her New England childhood and her long-standing marriage and foray into late-in-life parenting. Of particular poignancy are works that deal with the sudden death of her beloved husband and tenuous navigation of the unfamiliar worlds of widowhood and contemporary dating, topics that inspired her latest novel, The View from Penthouse B. Though the subjects and details may be exceedingly specific and personal, Lipman speaks as an Everywoman. Lipman’s revelatory essay collection may resonate most with the loyal readers of her novels, and fans of fellow journalist and novelist Anna Quindlen may also find much here to enjoy and reflect on. --Carol Haggas