What a screwball romance so glad she kicked that first fickle fiancé and went to find another one. It was a fun story.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of On Turpentine Lane by Elinor Lipman.

I was initially very taken with this book. I loved the quirkiness of a woman who is tolerating a middle aged fiancee who is traversing around the country to find himself. I loved the mysterious and creepy property with a lot of unanswered questions. I loved the "will they/won't they" relationship she had with her coworker.

However, as I progressed, it just got campier and more vapid. I thought the dialogue was way too juvenile, and it overall just didn't strike me as a realistic portrayal of adult behavior and relationships. The story did have great bones though!

A murder mystery, a love affair, an aging father having both a late-in-life affair with a twist and a career change, dysfunctional and annoying ex boy and girl friends, a workplace crisis... All of this is told with an entertaining, light touch. The author keeps you engaged in multiple story lines, artfully woven together. The conversations the main character has with her ex-fiance, her mom, brother and dad were very funny without overshadowing the underlying story. Well worth reading.

Cute, funny, quick read. This is one of those books where the plot is kind of besides the point - though it was entertaining. Basically about roughly a year in the life of main character Faith Frankel, a thirty-something living outside of Boston - her love life, her work life, and her family (all 3 populated by quirky characters), and the house she buys on the titular Turpentine Lane (which comes with its own share of craziness). Everything is so funny and quirky as to be almost farcical rather than realistic, but in a very entertaining way. It's been a while since I read an Elinor Lipman book, so this definitely reminded me that I enjoy her writing and that I want to catch up on the few books of hers that I missed.

I enjoyed the quirky characters and plot in this book. It actually had a lot going on but was a pleasant read. I'd definitely recommend it.

Thank you for the chance to review this book, however, unfortunately, I was unable to read and review this title before it was archived.

What do you get when you mix an endearing 32-year-old protagonist, her overbearing and highly dysfunctional family, and a lovely new bungalow in which the previous owner died? The answer: On Turpentine Lane.
















How did you come up with the idea for On Turpentine Lane?

Two things: first was the house, based on the scariest one on my childhood street, which was dilapidated, with black shingles and dwarfed by overgrown trees and shrubs — the whole thing looming large in my memory. The owner had been a reclusive widow, always dressed in a long black, witchy dress, rarely seen. I used to cross the street rather than walk past her house and certainly never trick-or-treated there.

Fast-forward 50-plus years, and I found out that my best friend in the neighborhood had bought the house and moved in. I was astonished. I was going to write an essay about visiting a house as an adult that had spooked me as a child, but couldn’t get it going. Then it struck me as not only a setting for a novel, but a character in the story — a house with a past that was news to the buyer. And the second thing that inspired me was [protagonist] Faith’s job, that she wrote thank-you notes for a living. As soon as someone told me that such a job existed, sometimes called “Director of Stewardship,” I thought, “That’s the next job I’m giving a character!”

The novel, at least to me, is a laugh-out-loud romantic comedy with hilarious banter between the characters. Talk me a little through the process of how you created those conversations.

Oh, dear. That’s a hard question to answer because dialogue is the easiest component for me, so not what I think of as a process. I let the characters talk (and I don’t mean that I’m channeling voices and taking dictation), but I do it critically, one exchange, one line at a time. I ask myself as a conversation moves along, “Why is she telling us this?” If it’s neither helping move the story along, or helping characterize or develop the character, then out it goes. I never want to write exchanges of the “hello-how-are-you?” variety or use it to plant information.

I always try to follow David Mamet's advice (based on William Goldman's advice): “Get into a scene as late as possible, and leave it as early as possible.” I also try to put the feeling into the dialogue, whether it’s anger or joy or excitement or disappointment, rather than express it with “he said angrily,” or “cheerfully” or “dejectedly,” which I see as amateurish. But occasionally, a great, unexpected adverb is just the ticket.

Stuart, Faith's fiancé, is such a cartoonish character in his immaturity and overall cluelessness about Faith and their relationship. Was it fun writing his character?

Oh, so much fun. I knew he was a douche-bag from the get-go, and a very un-self-aware one. Also, very earnest, and doing earnest is always fun. It was apparent from the beginning that Faith would dump him, but I didn’t want the novel to let him off so easily. He keeps reappearing.

"Turpentine Lane" seems like an appropriate name for everything that goes on there. How did you come up with that?

There’s a street named Turpentine in Liverpool, as suggested by the ex-Liverpudlian whom the book is dedicated to. The book’s setting, Everton, is also a double Liverpool reference, football club and neighborhood. I like using British names of towns and streets for New England locations — as the map of Massachusetts attests. It seemed just right, a nice strong noun — memorable, maybe a little amusing, even if toxic. And not even far-fetched: It turns out there are many Turpentine streets (Rd., Cir., Ave., Trail) in the U.S.

Which character was the hardest for you to write?

Hmm. Maybe Faith, but only because she’s the narrator and that’s the biggest job. She’s on every page. Yet, I do think there’s a lot of me in her, which is something I don’t usually admit.

Did you already know how you were going to end the novel when you started writing it?

Happily! Both that excellent scribe Will Shakespeare and I end comedies with weddings.

In all its humor, the novel touches a lot on family and relationships. Is this something you particularly wanted to highlight?

Because I don’t know in advance where the story is going, I can’t say that. Every day as I sit down to write, I ask, “Now what? Something interesting has to happen. What’s next?” In the case of On Turpentine Lane, the raw material was the workplace, Everton Country Day, Faith’s house, Faith’s family, Faith’s love life. I’m sure if I mapped out turns in the story, I’d see each plot point as a result of me thinking, “I don’t want to tread water. Something interesting has to happen now.” Family relationships got their turn in the spotlight.

What would you like readers to take away from On Turpentine Lane?

I only want readers to enjoy it. When people write me and say, “I laughed and I cried,” that’s all the reward I need. I also loved that several reviews mentioned that it was the book that was needed at this particular time (i.e., post-inauguration).

What projects are on the horizon?

I’m about two-thirds into the next novel, which involves a high-school yearbook that an overly invested woman leaves to her daughter. No title yet. And my son is getting married next month!

Delightful and fun, this book is a wonderful romp. The main characters aee well developed and the story, while predictable in spots, takes a few unexpected turns. Recommended!

Loved this book
Didn't want it to end
Highly recommended

I really enjoyed this one, it was light and funny while at the same time managing to be deep and a little bit dark. The characters were likeable and fun. There was a little bit of romance and a little bit of mystery. It would and does appeal to a large group of readers, and it's one that I will recommend to my summer readers when they come to me this year and ask for a summer vacation book!!

After Faith Frankel buys a small bungalow she almost loses her job, gains a roommate, breaks off her engagement, learns of mysterious events inthe house's history...the list goes on! A fun filled romp. Elinor Lipman does not disappoint.

I'm no longer interested in reading this book at this time. Thank you for the opportunity!

ON TURPENTINE LANE by Elinor Lipman was another title that I eagerly anticipated. In fact, I remember being surprised by how much I liked The Inn at Lake Devine when I read that Elinor Lipman work (could it have been almost 20 years ago?!). ON TURPENTINE LANE, however, just didn't hold my attention. Maybe it's because I am tired of reading about women who seem unable to deal with making adult decisions and taking charge of their own lives. Here, Faith Frankel struggles to separate from a non-supportive fiancé, Stuart, who is walking across the United States at a slow pace and seemingly visiting many of his past girlfriends. Faith decides to buy the "doll house" at 10 Turpentine Lane despite rumors of someone dying there and misgivings from an inspector (again, why?) and is at risk of losing her fundraising job due to a misunderstanding over a large donation. Of course, since Lipman is the author there are many funny moments. Pick this up if you are looking for the diversion of a very light, silly read with a bit of mystery and romance.

Elinor Lipman's new comedy of manners On Turpentine Lane (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, digital galley), deftly juggles dysfunctional families, friends and lovers, and made me chortle

shout out on a On A Clear Day I Can Read Forever and on Good Reads

I love Elinor Lipman, but this wasn't my favorite of her books. Something was missing, and I'm struggling to put a finger on it. I loved the characters, and loved Lipman's dialogue, but some of the more serious aspects of the story were dealt with too glibly, and things felt a bit too wrapped up and uncomplicated.

4.25 stars out of 5

I loved this fun and witty rom-com book!
The plot involves a light mystery, some romance, and a somewhat dysfunctional family. There are a few twists and turns to keep things interesting, but let’s be honest, an intricate plot was not what I was looking for. The characters are so quirky and lovable (well, most of them anyway) and it’s written in a funny, humorous way with snappy dialogue that never crossed over into sappy eye-rolling scenes. There were a few times I laughed out loud and I closed the last page with a smile on my face.

This book hit all the right notes for me. It was my first Lipman book but it won’t be my last.

Delightful little read with numerous twists and turns. Quite humorous reading about all the dilemmas the two main characters get into - from an old murder case in their basement to an ex-fiancée inseminating one of his two mom's friends. Lots going on - drags just a little in places, but overall an amusing novel.

From my interview with Elinor Lipman:

Elinor Lipman is a novelist, essayist and poetic veteran of the romantic comedy who knows how to craft a story with far-flung tentacles that all manage to get wrapped up by the end.

Her latest, “On Turpentine Lane,” features Faith Frankel, an insecure heroine who moves from Brooklyn to her hometown of Everton, Mass., to take a job at a day school writing thank you notes to donors; Stuart, her unsupportive fiance who is currently on a walking tour of the country dispensing free hugs and meeting up with old girlfriends; Nick, Faith’s officemate — soon to be housemate — who is not the Jewish boy her mother would like her to bring home; and assorted other characters, including a father who once sold insurance but now copies and “personalizes” famous artistic masterpieces — if you want your wife’s portrait incorporated into a Chagall, he’s your man.

Add in a generation-old murder mystery at the house Faith buys on Turpentine Lane, a brother who becomes involved with Stuart’s sister, and other assorted functionally dysfunctional family members, friends and acquaintances, and you have the making of a fast-paced, witty rom-com that keeps you laughing in all the right places — even if, by her own admission, Lipman isn’t sure just where those places are.

With her signature stellar dialogue and creative penchant to do no harm, Lipman offers a fun read interlaced with deeper messages of hope and resilience.

Recently, the author took a few minutes to speak with the Mountain Times about her new novel and why she’s so excited to be staying on a farm in North Carolina during two upcoming book events in mid-March.
For event times, dates and places, visit the author’s website at http://www.elinorlipman.com/elinor-lipman-events-appearances.html.

Tom: “On Turpentine Lane” centers on a suburban bungalow in Massachusetts with a criminal past and a rom-com future. Were you channeling a certain house when you wrote the novel?

Elinor: I was. It was a house on a street where I grew up, in Lowell, Mass. Little houses, little bungalows … and there was one house on the street where we didn’t trick-or-treat. It was overgrown with bushes, brambles and trees. The shingles were black. The woman who lived there was this recluse, I would say hoarder, because there were newspapers to the ceiling so you couldn’t see in the window. My sister and I would avoid it — we’d cross the street.

Decades went by and I found out that my childhood friend from across the street had bought it and was living there. I was flabbergasted. I had an event to do in Lowell, so I arranged to go and see the house. I had this idea about writing an essay about returning to this very house on my street. … Well, for that essay, I never could get the car in the garage. So, it got put into the novel with many differences. It wasn’t a scary, spooky, dilapidated … should-be condemned house (in the novel).

Tom: Speaking of channeling, where did Faith come from? She begins the novel as an insecure 32-year-old, but undergoes a remarkable transformation by the end.

Elinor: Not based on anyone I know. (As for my heroines,) I enjoy rescuing someone, sending them to charm school — although, not literally. I’m not someone who’s going to write “The Devil Wears Prada” with what the movie people call the clackers — the young women in the high heels walking around a New York office. I think my lower self-esteem self is in these women.

Tom: As the novel begins, Faith moves back to her hometown to take what she calls a “stress-free job” at a day school writing thank you notes to donors. Is there really such a thing as director of stewardship in a department of “development,” and where do I sign up?

Elinor: To my great surprise, I’ve had “development” people show up at readings, raising their hands saying, “How did you know this … the dialogue, the terms you use, the this, the that.” To my surprise, two women came to Cambridge (at a book event) and they said, this is exactly how we talk at the office. How did you know? I said, as a parent, you know, you get solicited for donations. … I have a friend who works in development, so that part of Faith came because I had heard there was an actual job called director of stewardship, and the job was to write thank you notes. When I heard that, I said, well, my next character is going to write thank you notes for a living.

Tom: And speaking of jobs, are there artists making a living personalizing copied masterpieces, such as Faith’s former insurance salesman father paints?

Elinor: Not personalizing. I made that part up. But, I’m completely fascinated with the copying because it’s totally legitimate, old and honorable. For centuries, artists have sat in front of famous paintings to copy them. They’re not forgeries. … I even now know three people I interviewed to get the idea for this. I know a man, and he and his partner do this for a couple of reasons. Let’s say you have this amazing, gorgeous million dollar masterpiece and you sell it. You don’t want your friends to know you sold it, so someone copies it — the person I talked to, who didn’t want me to thank him in the book. Another reason might be that you live in a hurricane zone, Florida or the Bahamas, and you can’t get insurance. So, you put your multimillion dollar painting in the vault and you hang a copy.

I was at a restaurant, Brasserie Magritte (in Manhattan), and I looked around and saw all these (artist Rene) Magrittes, copies of the famous ones. I was with the person this book is dedicated to, Jonathan, and I said, look at these. He said, oh yeah, it’s probably that guy over on Second Avenue who copies. I said, how much does it cost? And, it’s not much, so that’s where I got the idea how much Mr. Frankel would charge (in the novel, $2,000 to $3,000).

Tom: I see a kinship in Faith’s father’s midlife crisis copycatting Chagalls and ex-fiance Stuart’s sojourn across the United States offering free hugs. As the story develops, you support one and not the other. Can you explain?

Elinor: With Stuart, from the get-go, he is a schmo. No offense to people walking across the country, but to me, it speaks of certain … lost soul … all the things you’re doing instead of doing something else, in search of yourself or free hugs or stories. Right from the get-go, I knew things weren’t going to work out with Stuart. In the first iteration of the book, Faith was going to be married to Stuart. But, I said, no-no, we don’t want that. And then Nick showed up, her officemate!

Tom: In a interview you gave a few years ago, you said you don’t set out to “write funny.” Despite some pretty despicable characters, “On Turpentine Lane” certainly ends up funny, but not in a mean-spirited way. It reminds me of something that was said of the novelist Kurt Vonnegut, that he never wrote a villain. Are there villains in your novels?

Elinor: I do feel that, even with a schmo like Stuart, I’m not at all interested in comedic vilification. I take pride in saying that it’s witty, but kind.

Sometimes, I do readings and people laugh and I’m surprised that they found a particular word or sentence funny. Then at the next reading, if they don’t laugh, of course I’m disappointed. What I discovered along the way is that what I find poignant, to others seems screwball funny, odd funny — comedy of manners, maybe.

Tom: As a social satire, “On Turpentine Lane” touches on a number of sensitive topics, including interfaith marriage. Is it central to the novel that Faith and her family are Jewish, or could they as easily have been Irish Catholic?

Elinor: They weren’t originally Jewish! What happened is that I got halfway through (the writing) and Faith’s mother said, when talking about her husband having taken up with another woman, the translation of a Yiddish phrase that came to mind: You can’t dance at two weddings with one tuchus. I thought, oh, that fits … they have to be Jewish, because why else would she know that? They were Franklin, and I made them Frankel.
I went back after I made them Jewish so I could use that line and had the mother be a little overly concerned. Faith is a little afraid to tell her that Nick is anything more than a housemate because her mom wants her to marry someone Jewish. … In some book groups I’ve gone to (for other novels that include mixed marriages) I’m asked, don’t you have a social responsibility for Jews to marry Jews? And, I say, no I don’t.

Tom: You’ve had one book, “Then She Found Me,” made into a movie starring Helen Hunt and Bette Midler, and at least a couple of others optioned. “On Turpentine Lane” is a made-for-movie romantic comedy. Any rumblings that way?

Elinor: When the book came out there were nice reviews, including one in O Magazine. The person who represents me out in Hollywood has it out. It’s being submitted. There was a time when people wanted to see books before they were published … but times have changed. I have to say, I don’t have Hollywood dreams. But, it’s being circulated. I’ll let you know.

Tom: You’ve published 11 novels, essays and other nonfiction, including a book of rhyming political tweets. You have quite a range — what’s next?

Elinor: What’s next is definitely another novel. … I’m more than half into the next one, and it’s also under contract with Houghton Mifflin. I don’t have a title, but it involves an overly notated yearbook that belongs to a daughter who inherited it from her mom. … The mom was a little overly invested in the graduating class!

Tom: I understand you have a couple of book events coming up in North Carolina, in Durham on March 14 and in Raleigh on March 15?

Elinor: I’m so excited. When I’m in North Carolina, I’ll be staying with (author) Jill McCorkle on her farm.

Tom: You live in Manhattan. That will be a change.

Elinor: Yes! She has a donkey and a horse and three dogs and goats with 11 new kids. So, very, very excited about that!

The Premise

Faith Frankel is kind of at loose ends. She’s returned to her small Massachusetts hometown, and has a job writing generic thank-you notes for the private day school she attended. She thinks she’s engaged — no ring, just a string — but her fiancé is off ‘finding himself’ on a walk across America. A walk that seems to include a lot of ex-girlfriends and very little of Faith (at least until she cuts up his credit card).

But then Faith decides to buy a house, and finds the perfect little bungalow, a real fixer-upper with tons of charm. On Turpentine Lane. And suddenly her life isn’t so steady and mundane.

Faith is dealing with her witless fiancé, an idiot boss, a well-intentioned-but-overly-involved mother, and a father in the midst of an artistic reawakening. Throw in the secrets and mysteries of the new house . . . life on Turpentine Lane is giving Faith a headache!

Thank goodness for her wonderful office mate, Nick Franconi, whose steady, affable presence and ability to swoop in and save the day makes him indispensable.

As Faith settles in on Turpentine Lane, she finds that maybe her life needed to be turned upside down, giving her a chance to put things in order.

My Thoughts

I read quite a few deep, thoughtful books — LITERATURE — and I love many of them. The writing is beautiful, the characters deeply flawed and well developed, the symbolism and subtexts deep and plentiful. They put my literature degree to use, and make me want to write literary reviews and scholarly papers on the beauty and deep ideas I discovered within their covers.

And then there are the other books I love. Books that don’t pull me as deep, that don’t make my mind reel, that don’t make me ‘think.’ They’re just as necessary as capital L LITERATURE.

On Turpentine Lane is one of those books. And I loved it!

This is the best kind of ‘brain candy,’ witty and sweet, quirky and easy. The characters are smart and funny and very likable, the plot twisty and interesting but not overwhelming. On Turpentine Lane is perfect fun reading: easy reading but not dumbed down, romantic and funny without beating the reader over the head with it.

I couldn’t help but like Faith Frankel, a character just flawed enough and complex enough to carry the mantel of main character. She shares this title a bit with the house and its history, but Faith’s dealings with that history and her own present are what drive the story.

And there’s just enough romance, just enough family, just enough romance, to make it interesting.

I loved On Turpentine Lane. The characters were deep enough and just flawed enough to be realistic. Yes, there is more than the usual craziness and turbulence in Faith’s life (at least all at once), but it’s still realistic turbulence. It made me laugh and smile and sigh without great effort, which was what I needed at the time.

So no, it’s not high Literature. But it is perfect none-the-less. Fun and funny, quirky and witty, easy and readable. The perfect beach or rainy day read, one that won’t be easy to put down — but will be easy to pick back up. On Turpentine Lane is perfect.

I received an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review