Happy All the Time
Ratings5
Average rating4.2
15
Ratings5
Average rating4.2
A witty modern-day classic about two unique couples discovering universal truths about love and marriage from “a wise, bighearted writer” (The Washington Post). Guido Morris and Vincent Cardworthy are third cousins and best friends. In college they dreamed of writing poetry (Guido) and winning the Nobel Prize in Physics (Vincent). Now in their late twenties, they are together again in Cambridge and on the verge of settling down to more prosaic pursuits. Vincent is headed to New York City to become the Board of City Planning’s expert on garbage, while Guido is preparing to take over the management of his family’s foundation. What they really want to know, however, is who their wives will be. Guido gets the first inkling of his romantic future when he spies a girl with the blackest, sleekest hair he has ever seen sitting on a bench at the Fogg Museum. When he tries to flirt with her, Holly Sturgis makes a cutting remark and leaves. For Guido, it is love at first sight. Vincent discovers Misty Berkowitz one morning at work. Stirring her coffee with a fountain pen, she tells him to get the hell away from her. Soon, cheerful, open-minded Vincent can’t stop thinking about his bored, misanthropic, and very pretty colleague. Guido, Holly, Vincent, and Misty are lucky enough to find love. The question is, are they smart enough to hold on to it? From the terrifying uncertainty of courtship to the dull contentment of marriage, Happy All the Time is a dazzling tribute to the hard work and real courage it takes to create a storybook romance. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Laurie Colwin including rare photos and never-before-seen documents from the author’s estate.
Reviews with the most likes.
I first read this in 1978, right after it was published, and have reread it many times since. I give it 5 stars because it always makes me feel good. Oddly, I have never read any other books by Laurie Colwin, but I should!
Our main characters are actually not. (Not happy all the time, that is.)
Nothing phases Holly. She's imperturbable, un-ruffle-able. Nothing gets to her. Never sad, but never very happy either. That's Holly.
And then there's Misty. No one would call her happy.
“If you wanted some appealing girl, why didn't you go down to the PR department? It's loaded with appealing types.”
“I don't want any of those appealing types,” he paused. “I wanted you.”
“Oh yeah?” said Misty. “What are you going to do when you get me?”
“Well, take you out for lunch,” said Vincent.
“Really? Well, I don't permit myself to be taken out for lunch.”
“Is that some kind of militant stand?”
“No,” said Misty. “I'm just not that sort of girl. I don't go in for all that adorable socializing. I think it's stupid and disgusting.”
“I see,” said Vincent. “You're not very nice, are you?”
“No,” said Misty.
It isn't a happily-ever-after sort of book, but, nevertheless, it is both mood-boosting (it's on the official Mood-Boosting Book list) and genuine. Colwin is a master. I will read more of her.
