The Rock Group episodes were intriguing and quirky. Held my interest. But once the protagonist conceives and goes through the pregnancy and motherhood cycle the book becomes a mish mash of hackneyed cliches.

Colwin specializes in off the wall women trying to find themselves. They are always at war with their mothers. Never find any redeeming features in either of their parents. This is pretty tired and unoriginal stuff in my view.

Her short stories/novella, " Another Marvelous Thing " does it a bit better. But, I think that a writer has to grow beyond their immature obsessions.

I read this book the first time 10 years ago. It is neither the best-written nor most important novel I have read during that time but it sticks with me more than any other and I return to it again and again. I think this is because it speaks about how to learn that you are a grown-up when you perceive yourself as the younger, perhaps more adventurous and brave soul you were in the past. As a parent, wife, teacher one often feels consumed by roles that are not our "essence". Colwin has shown me that those parts of us can grow together and let us be as brave and as open as our past selves. The added plus is that all of us who imagined (?imagine) a life as a back-up singer for any musician can feel a little less crazy.

Though a Laurie Colwin devotee, it took me three or four tries to get into "Goodbye without Leaving." Now, however, it is my favorite of all of her novels, and I turn to it like an old friend. Geraldine's struggle for harmony is simultaneously amusing and poignant. Though the book does not include the anguish of "Shine On, Bright and Dangerous Object" and "Family Happiness" or the buoyant fairy tale quality of "Happy All the Time," it addresses the fundamental worries of family, friendship, religion, career, and love without resorting to cliche. A tender and abiding story that resonates deeply.

I have enjoyed Laurie Colwin for years, and I was deeply saddened by her death. However, this particular book was a disappointment for me. The story is very repetitive, repeating events and thoroughly re-describing events that were thoroughly described in earlier chapters. The writing style and complexity compares well to a high-school essay. I liked that it was a short and quick read, but if this will be your first Colwin novel, I highly recommend starting with a different one from her collection.

Laurie Colwin should not be forgotten. Her untimely death left us all saddened and filled with loss. Her fiction was magic and the stories she wrote for "Gourmet" magazine were timeless and yet untradtional. She was unique. She had a special glow. She had a special "know". She experienced certain things, and we can rationalize our own lives through her many books and writings. Read just one of her books, and then say a prayer for her soul.