The Dearly Departed, Elinor Lipman
The Dearly Departed, Elinor Lipman
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The Dearly Departed

Author: Elinor Lipman

Narrator: Jen Taylor

Unabridged: 7 hr 33 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 02/27/2018

Synopsis

Everyone in King George, New Hampshire, loved Margaret Batten—part-time amateur actress, full-time wallflower—and single mother to a now distant daughter, Sunny. But accidents happen, and the death of Margaret, side by side with her putative fiance, brings Sunny back to the scene of her unhappy adolescence, to the community that remembers her solely, nervously, as the girl who golfed. Reentry is to be dreaded; there's no hiding in a town with one diner, one doctor, one stop sign, one motel. Yet allies surface; the country club opens its doors to its former Orphan Annie caddie. High school classmates, even the tormenters, have grown up nicely, matured in unforeseen and gratifying ways. Maybe, Sunny begins to think, she wasn't as beleaguered as she felt she was, maybe her mother's life was richer than anyone suspected, and maybe the man at the funeral—the one with her face, her flyaway hair, her golf swing—is the half brother she doesn't know she needs.

About Elinor Lipman

Elinor Lipman is the award-winning author of sixteen books of fiction and nonfiction. Her first novel, Then She Found Me, became a 2008 feature film, directed by and starring Helen Hunt, with Bette Midler, Colin Firth, and Matthew Broderick. She was the 2011–12 Elizabeth Drew Professor of Creative Writing at Smith College. 

About Jen Taylor

Jen Taylor is a voice actress best known for her role as Cortana in various Halo games and as Zoey in Left 4 Dead. In addition to her voice-over work, Taylor is also an accomplished stage actress and has appeared in a number of films and television series.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Raina on January 02, 2011

I like Elinor Lipman's books. Her writing style is light and insightful and funny and deft, however, this one seemed to fall short of her usual mark as it was a bit too predictable. I loved the characters and loved that it's a nice, easy read...but I find that I really preferred her other books more......more

Goodreads review by Luanne on June 03, 2023

This may be my favorite Elinor Lipman novel so far. Maybe I'm just morbid, but having it start with two accidental deaths and uncovering the secrets of the deceased lives post mortem intrigued me. Sunny lost her mother, Fletcher lost his father, and one of them lost both. (No spoilers.) It all happe......more

Goodreads review by Marta on August 15, 2020

This is like many other Lipman novels: wry, fun, smart, impeccably paced and with the type of side characters that always puts me in mind of Nora Ephron. I always look forward to reading her books.......more

Goodreads review by Mary on February 28, 2021

I didn’t like Fletcher. Maybe at the end he redeemed himself a bit. But the few chapters with him towards the end really dragged and brought the book down. I liked Sunny and Joey and wish the focus had been on them more.......more

Goodreads review by Stephanie on February 19, 2019

A fun little romp that begins with two funerals and ends with two romances.......more

Quotes

“Witty and wry…this is summer reading at its best.” Atlantic Monthly

“The Dearly Departed contains a core of dark and mordant wit that distinguishes it, in delightful ways, from the norm.” Washington Post Book World

“Pitch perfectly hilarious…Almost nobody writes serious entertainment with more panache.” Chicago Tribune

“The author once again produces the kind of visceral satisfaction readers associate with her work. It’s hard not to devour an Elinor Lipman novel in one sitting; put this one away for a time when you won’t have to put it down.” Amazon.com, editorial review

“Nothing short of brilliant…A story so funny and so pleasurable that the reader can only wish it did not have to end.” Booklist

“Readers can count on Lipman for stylish, sprightly novels imbued with a deep affection for her all-too-human characters. Her newest offering continues the high standard set by her first novel, Then She Found Me …In this delightfully breezy novel, Sunny learns that you can go home again, with surprisingly happy results.” Library Journal

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