This book was provided by the publisher for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
The Latecomer: A Novel by Jean Hanff KorelitzPublication Date: May 31, 2022
Publisher: Celadon Books / Macmillan
Pages: 448
Goodreads
Source: From the Publisher
Genre: Fiction / Family Life / Siblings
Rating: ★★½
Synopsis:
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Plot, Jean Hanff Korelitz’s The Latecomer is a layered and immersive literary novel about three siblings, desperate to escape one another, and the upending of their family by the late arrival of a fourth.
The Latecomer follows the story of the wealthy, New York City-based Oppenheimer family, from the first meeting of parents Salo and Johanna, under tragic circumstances, to their triplets born during the early days of IVF. As children, the three siblings – Harrison, Lewyn, and Sally – feel no strong familial bond and cannot wait to go their separate ways, even as their father becomes more distanced and their mother more desperate. When the triplets leave for college, Johanna, faced with being truly alone, makes the decision to add a fourth child to the family. What role will the “latecomer” play in this fractured family?A complex novel that builds slowly and deliberately, The Latecomer touches on the topics of grief and guilt, generational trauma, privilege and race, traditions and religion, and family dynamics. It is a profound and witty family story from an accomplished author, known for the depth of her character studies, expertly woven storylines, and plot twists.
REVIEW
I was initially excited to read The Latecomer: A Novel by Jean Hanff Korelitz. The premise seemed interesting, but unfortunately, I was mistaken.
This book is excessively wordy. The author often uses 300 words when 10 would suffice. The descriptions are overly detailed, and the excessive focus on trivial details makes it difficult to remember what the author was describing in the first place.
Furthermore, the characters are unlikeable. There is nothing likable about any of them, and I found myself wanting to slap them throughout the book. They represent the worst aspects of humanity, and most of them belong to one family.
I listened to the audiobook version of this book, and unfortunately, it was not well done. Although the narrator had a pleasant voice, they used the same voice for all the characters. It was challenging to differentiate between characters, often leading to confusion and the need to restart chapters.
Overall, The Latecomer: A Novel by Jean Hanff Korelitz had potential but was a difficult read. I probably should have marked it as “Did Not Finish” (DNF), but I persisted in the hope that it would improve. Unfortunately, it did not.
