Whatever the changes in her material and methods over the years, Beattie remains famous a the voice of a disaffected generation, and consequently a central interest for discussion is that of how the characters cope with the often disjointed quality of their lives. Central also is the issue of how detachment in the author or narrator affects the reader — are we unmoved simply because the author is not vividly present in the work? Another key issue is that of moral and ethical vision, or lack of it in Beattie's work. That she chronicles the breakdown of the family, for instance, does not need to mean that she is advocating such fragmentation, but many critics complain about the lack of a controlling vision or even revelation.

1. Jody could serve as a role model for young mothers abandoned by their husbands. She starts a career and sees...