Mary Gordon Critical Essay | Critical Review by Carolyn See

Critical Review by Carolyn See

SOURCE: See, Carolyn. Review of Temporary Shelter, by Mary Gordon. Los Angeles Times Book Review (12 July 1987): 10.

In the following review, See offers high praise for Temporary Shelter, lauding Gordon's craftsmanship, emotional authenticity, and inventiveness.

Repeatedly reading works of fiction seems sometimes like going out to restaurant dinners every night. You can't afford to be evil-tempered or unduly intolerant about what you're consuming because underneath every experience is the inescapable knowledge that someone else has gone to a great deal of trouble; putting together either that bowl of Greek salad or that slice of inner life that maybe you should have invented for yourself, on your own.

Thus, a certain part of a reader's sensibilities is always just a little bit deadened: If the character appears to be made of cardboard (or if your blue plate special is once again preceded by iceberg lettuce with blue cheese dressing),...
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