What do you think?
Rate this book
Right After the Weather: Carol Anshaw
'An exquisitely observed story of passion and friendship' Observer
Cate is a stage designer in Chicago, caught up in an unconventional web of friends and lovers, when her life is suddenly overturned. Walking into her best friend's kitchen one day, she witnesses an act of violence that forces her to do something she never thought she could do. Nothing will ever be the same again.
Wry, compassionate and startlingly beautiful, Right After the Weather explores the mess of trauma and love, and the reverberations of our actions.
'Smart and often funny, perceptive and brilliantly observed. I loved being submerged in Cate's chaotic life' Claire Fuller
'I loved it so much. Thought-provoking, emotionally intelligent and beautifully written' Daily Mail
'An exquisitely written, psychologically sophisticated novel, rich in insight and sensitivity to human vulnerability' NY Journal of Books
Cate is a stage designer in Chicago, caught up in an unconventional web of friends and lovers, when her life is suddenly overturned. Walking into her best friend's kitchen one day, she witnesses an act of violence that forces her to do something she never thought she could do. Nothing will ever be the same again.
Wry, compassionate and startlingly beautiful, Right After the Weather explores the mess of trauma and love, and the reverberations of our actions.
'Smart and often funny, perceptive and brilliantly observed. I loved being submerged in Cate's chaotic life' Claire Fuller
'I loved it so much. Thought-provoking, emotionally intelligent and beautifully written' Daily Mail
'An exquisitely written, psychologically sophisticated novel, rich in insight and sensitivity to human vulnerability' NY Journal of Books
288 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2019
168 people are currently reading
3435 people want to read
About the author
Carol Anshaw
16 books198 followersCarol Anshaw is an American novelist and short story writer. Her books include Carry the One, Lucky in the Corner, Seven Moves and Aquamarine. Her stories have been anthologized in The Best American Short Stories in 1994, 1998, and 2012. She has an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts (1992). She has won a National Book Critics Circle Citation for Excellence in Reviewing, an NEA Grant, an Illinois Arts Council Fellowship, a Carl Sandburg Award and Society of Midland Authors Award. Her newest novel, Right after the Weather, is forthcoming in October from Simon & Schuster.
Anshaw is also a painter. She divides her time between Chicago and Amsterdam
Anshaw is also a painter. She divides her time between Chicago and Amsterdam
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 223 reviews
March 13, 2022
Right After the Weather by Carol Anshaw
Cate is a 40-ish set designer living in Chicago. Her ex husband, from long ago, is living in her spare room, she is being stalked by her ex Dana and she has a budding relationship with Meredith. Cate is funny, scatterbrained, and a good friend. It's when we are in her head, hearing her every thought, that we get to see that Cate isn't as sweet and non judgmental as we thought she was. Still, even her inner thoughts can be funny if not a bit, or a lot, hypocritical.
Cate is really a very lucky 40-ish woman despite her unhappiness with how much of her life is progressing. She has parents and an ex husband who can bolster her financially and in many ways she seems to be able to hold off becoming the adult most people need to be at the age of 40. Then, into Cate's life comes a violent event, one that she is very much a part of and Cate feels shattered.
As much as I enjoyed some of the book, it never really went anywhere. We don't get resolutions for much of anything which can be like real life, sometimes. But when reading a novel, it'd be nice to have a sense of something moving forward. I guess Cate is going to keep floundering through life, second guessing herself, but being semi okay.
Published October 1, 2019
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
Cate is a 40-ish set designer living in Chicago. Her ex husband, from long ago, is living in her spare room, she is being stalked by her ex Dana and she has a budding relationship with Meredith. Cate is funny, scatterbrained, and a good friend. It's when we are in her head, hearing her every thought, that we get to see that Cate isn't as sweet and non judgmental as we thought she was. Still, even her inner thoughts can be funny if not a bit, or a lot, hypocritical.
Cate is really a very lucky 40-ish woman despite her unhappiness with how much of her life is progressing. She has parents and an ex husband who can bolster her financially and in many ways she seems to be able to hold off becoming the adult most people need to be at the age of 40. Then, into Cate's life comes a violent event, one that she is very much a part of and Cate feels shattered.
As much as I enjoyed some of the book, it never really went anywhere. We don't get resolutions for much of anything which can be like real life, sometimes. But when reading a novel, it'd be nice to have a sense of something moving forward. I guess Cate is going to keep floundering through life, second guessing herself, but being semi okay.
Published October 1, 2019
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
October 7, 2019
3.5 Rounded Up
I think I read Carol Anshaw's previous book, but I can't be certain. So let's just call me a novice. Initially, I was going to pass on reading this, but a publicist sent it to me so I felt obligated to give it a try. Quite honestly, based on the early reviews I had seen, I was expecting this to go in the DNF pile. At the beginning, I thought this was going to be too 'high brow' for me. As you can see, it wasn't and I actually liked it. However, I can't see myself recommending this to anyone though, either. Yeah, I know...that makes no sense. I'll try to explain....
Ms. Anshaw is without a doubt, a very gifted writer. There were parts that I really, really liked. I also felt that this was a challenge for me as a reader and I'm glad I took on that challenge. The story is told from the perspective of Cate who is a set designer, in her 40's and gay. The setting is Chicago in the fall of 2016. I had no idea this book was going to discuss the election so much, but it served as an ominous backdrop through out. (I would skip the book right away if this isn't your cup of tea or if you just can't handle it right now. It's not really avoidable.)
Cate is struggling. Her ex-husband and his dog are staying with her while he goes through a breakup with his then wife. She is also trying to get over a massively damaging relationship that just ended by moving forward with a new relationship that she would normally have passed on, but now is trying to convince herself to stay in. Her career is kind of at a standstill and she only has her best friend Neale, to get her through. Everything kind of ho-hum's along until it doesn't. Then everything is so turned upside down that Cate has no where to go, but up. I don't have much in common with the main character, but boy did I relate to how she felt about some things. Ms. Anshaw's eloquent prose struck several chords with me and her resilience was easy to root for.
While I thought this was a worthwhile read, it is definitely a different read. There is a lot going on. You're plodding along, you've got the lay of the land and then boom, out of nowhere comes a different story injected into it. It's jarring and it's meant to be jarring. But then the event happens more than half way through the book and then that perspective disappears. So I don't quite understand the point of putting that alternate perspective in the book to begin with. I'm fine with it being put in there, but to me it feels like it was just abandoned after the event took place.
Second, I don't know if this was on purpose, but there were things in here (particularly with the current gf storyline) that were just plain strange and even gross. You'll know what I'm talking about if you read it. I know that was the point (the shock factor as a plot device), but really? I dunno, that almost turned me off completely and I could see it happening to many others.
So to surmise, I don't have a neat and tidy "read this!" or "skip it" at the end of this review. I guess the best way to put it was this was kind of like reading something for AP English that I never would have picked up myself, (and I ended up liking it a lot more than I thought I would), but I wouldn't run out and buy a copy for a friend. This book is for a particular mindset and reader; not for the masses. If I were to guess, I think the author would be okay with that and I guess that's all that really matters.
Thank you to Isabel DaSilva, Atria Books and Carol Anshaw for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.
Review Date: 10/7/19
Publication Date: 10/1/19
I think I read Carol Anshaw's previous book, but I can't be certain. So let's just call me a novice. Initially, I was going to pass on reading this, but a publicist sent it to me so I felt obligated to give it a try. Quite honestly, based on the early reviews I had seen, I was expecting this to go in the DNF pile. At the beginning, I thought this was going to be too 'high brow' for me. As you can see, it wasn't and I actually liked it. However, I can't see myself recommending this to anyone though, either. Yeah, I know...that makes no sense. I'll try to explain....
Ms. Anshaw is without a doubt, a very gifted writer. There were parts that I really, really liked. I also felt that this was a challenge for me as a reader and I'm glad I took on that challenge. The story is told from the perspective of Cate who is a set designer, in her 40's and gay. The setting is Chicago in the fall of 2016. I had no idea this book was going to discuss the election so much, but it served as an ominous backdrop through out. (I would skip the book right away if this isn't your cup of tea or if you just can't handle it right now. It's not really avoidable.)
Cate is struggling. Her ex-husband and his dog are staying with her while he goes through a breakup with his then wife. She is also trying to get over a massively damaging relationship that just ended by moving forward with a new relationship that she would normally have passed on, but now is trying to convince herself to stay in. Her career is kind of at a standstill and she only has her best friend Neale, to get her through. Everything kind of ho-hum's along until it doesn't. Then everything is so turned upside down that Cate has no where to go, but up. I don't have much in common with the main character, but boy did I relate to how she felt about some things. Ms. Anshaw's eloquent prose struck several chords with me and her resilience was easy to root for.
While I thought this was a worthwhile read, it is definitely a different read. There is a lot going on. You're plodding along, you've got the lay of the land and then boom, out of nowhere comes a different story injected into it. It's jarring and it's meant to be jarring. But then the event happens more than half way through the book and then that perspective disappears. So I don't quite understand the point of putting that alternate perspective in the book to begin with. I'm fine with it being put in there, but to me it feels like it was just abandoned after the event took place.
Second, I don't know if this was on purpose, but there were things in here (particularly with the current gf storyline) that were just plain strange and even gross. You'll know what I'm talking about if you read it. I know that was the point (the shock factor as a plot device), but really? I dunno, that almost turned me off completely and I could see it happening to many others.
So to surmise, I don't have a neat and tidy "read this!" or "skip it" at the end of this review. I guess the best way to put it was this was kind of like reading something for AP English that I never would have picked up myself, (and I ended up liking it a lot more than I thought I would), but I wouldn't run out and buy a copy for a friend. This book is for a particular mindset and reader; not for the masses. If I were to guess, I think the author would be okay with that and I guess that's all that really matters.
Thank you to Isabel DaSilva, Atria Books and Carol Anshaw for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.
Review Date: 10/7/19
Publication Date: 10/1/19
September 23, 2019
At it's core, Right After the Weather is a glimpse into the life of Cate, a 40-something lesbian, working as a Chicago set designer. Set against the backdrop of an emotionally charged 2016 presidential election, and a newly elected President Trump, the book is divided into two sections...before and after the incident...the incident, of course, being the assault of Cate's best friend, Neale.
Cate, whose character was very well-developed, was quite hard to get behind from a reader's standpoint. She's a middle-aged woman still taking money from her parents, in a relationship with a very questionable woman, having an affair with somebody who is incredibly unavailable, and allowing her ultra-paranoid ex-husband to live in her spare bedroom. Her choices are, frankly, those of someone much younger and less mature. Beyond that, we also get many passages of Cate's highly judgmental thoughts regarding people's home decor...thoughts which make her even less likable. The rest of the characters, from her bestie, Neale; to her current fling, Maureen; to her ex-husband, Graham...they seem like after-thoughts. None are written with any depth and gradually seem to just disappear from the novel, taking their back stories with them, and leaving many unanswered questions.
The writing is beautiful. Truly, some of the best I'm read...but even the engaging verbage can't hide the lacking plot line. One would assume the conflict (the assault and it's aftermath) would dictate the plot and theme. But no. Everybody just goes on their merry ways...with next to no growth or change forthcoming.
For those concerned about yet another novel where the author's politics are shoved down our throats...I wouldn't say that's an issue here. Yes, the characters are liberal and understandably upset about Trump's presidency...but it felt organic here. I didn't necessarily feel these were the author's thoughts, but the actual character's. Whatever the reason, I didn't find it offensive...and I'm no fan of Trump. (Or of Hillary, for that matter.)
The conclusion? Well, there isn't one. Cate's story is left indeterminable, but with perhaps a tiny thread of hope.
So, my final thoughts:
If what you're looking for is a brilliantly written, super slow-burning, character study...this would be an excellent choice for you. However, if what you fancy is something with a bit more heft and grit, I dare say this book might bore you silly
2.5 stars rounded up, thanks to the amazing writing.
**Many thanks to the publisher for my advanced copy.
Cate, whose character was very well-developed, was quite hard to get behind from a reader's standpoint. She's a middle-aged woman still taking money from her parents, in a relationship with a very questionable woman, having an affair with somebody who is incredibly unavailable, and allowing her ultra-paranoid ex-husband to live in her spare bedroom. Her choices are, frankly, those of someone much younger and less mature. Beyond that, we also get many passages of Cate's highly judgmental thoughts regarding people's home decor...thoughts which make her even less likable. The rest of the characters, from her bestie, Neale; to her current fling, Maureen; to her ex-husband, Graham...they seem like after-thoughts. None are written with any depth and gradually seem to just disappear from the novel, taking their back stories with them, and leaving many unanswered questions.
The writing is beautiful. Truly, some of the best I'm read...but even the engaging verbage can't hide the lacking plot line. One would assume the conflict (the assault and it's aftermath) would dictate the plot and theme. But no. Everybody just goes on their merry ways...with next to no growth or change forthcoming.
For those concerned about yet another novel where the author's politics are shoved down our throats...I wouldn't say that's an issue here. Yes, the characters are liberal and understandably upset about Trump's presidency...but it felt organic here. I didn't necessarily feel these were the author's thoughts, but the actual character's. Whatever the reason, I didn't find it offensive...and I'm no fan of Trump. (Or of Hillary, for that matter.)
The conclusion? Well, there isn't one. Cate's story is left indeterminable, but with perhaps a tiny thread of hope.
So, my final thoughts:
If what you're looking for is a brilliantly written, super slow-burning, character study...this would be an excellent choice for you. However, if what you fancy is something with a bit more heft and grit, I dare say this book might bore you silly
2.5 stars rounded up, thanks to the amazing writing.
**Many thanks to the publisher for my advanced copy.
October 13, 2019
Slow burning, sobering, and forlorn!
Right after the Weather is an affecting, perceptive novel that takes us into the life of Cate, a middle-aged, lesbian, set designer whose life is riddled with disappointment and multiple, complex relationships that are strained and never fully satisfying.
The prose is edgy and raw. The characters are multilayered, frustrated, and dissatisfied. And the somber plot is a reflective tale with a side of violence that’s full of life, loss, infidelity, forbidden love, familial dynamics, friendship, assault, and the instability caused by the 2016 US election.
I have to admit this was a really hard one for me. There is no doubt that Anshaw can write and write beautifully about how hard, gritty, and even depressive life can truly be. And even though I am confident that some readers will absolutely love the tragic gloominess of Right after the Weather, unfortunately for me I couldn’t quite connect with the characters and the story was a little too dispiriting to enjoy it as much as I would have liked.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Right after the Weather is an affecting, perceptive novel that takes us into the life of Cate, a middle-aged, lesbian, set designer whose life is riddled with disappointment and multiple, complex relationships that are strained and never fully satisfying.
The prose is edgy and raw. The characters are multilayered, frustrated, and dissatisfied. And the somber plot is a reflective tale with a side of violence that’s full of life, loss, infidelity, forbidden love, familial dynamics, friendship, assault, and the instability caused by the 2016 US election.
I have to admit this was a really hard one for me. There is no doubt that Anshaw can write and write beautifully about how hard, gritty, and even depressive life can truly be. And even though I am confident that some readers will absolutely love the tragic gloominess of Right after the Weather, unfortunately for me I couldn’t quite connect with the characters and the story was a little too dispiriting to enjoy it as much as I would have liked.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 6, 2019
3.5 set design stars
This was my first read from Carol Anshaw and I liked her writing. This one is centered around Cate, who is a set designer for plays (bonus 0.5 stars for this cool occupation!) in Chicago. I did enjoy learning more about what goes into set design.
The characters in this one are quirky, but I didn’t get super-entrenched with any of them. Cate is involved with someone new – Maureen – while she pines for true love Dana. Cate’s conspiracy-obsessed ex-husband has moved back in with her and that twist brings more quirkiness to this cast of characters. Throw in a best friend yoga teacher and her son and that rounds out the group.
A violent incident throws Cate into a tailspin and she never completely deals with the fallout. This one moves along a bit slowly and I didn’t find the end terribly satisfying. However, life sometimes isn’t terribly satisfying and every book doesn’t have to end with a storybook happy ending.
I will plan to read "Carry the One" by this author as I've heard good things about that one.
Thank you to Atria Books, Carol Anshaw, and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book to read.
This was my first read from Carol Anshaw and I liked her writing. This one is centered around Cate, who is a set designer for plays (bonus 0.5 stars for this cool occupation!) in Chicago. I did enjoy learning more about what goes into set design.
The characters in this one are quirky, but I didn’t get super-entrenched with any of them. Cate is involved with someone new – Maureen – while she pines for true love Dana. Cate’s conspiracy-obsessed ex-husband has moved back in with her and that twist brings more quirkiness to this cast of characters. Throw in a best friend yoga teacher and her son and that rounds out the group.
A violent incident throws Cate into a tailspin and she never completely deals with the fallout. This one moves along a bit slowly and I didn’t find the end terribly satisfying. However, life sometimes isn’t terribly satisfying and every book doesn’t have to end with a storybook happy ending.
I will plan to read "Carry the One" by this author as I've heard good things about that one.
Thank you to Atria Books, Carol Anshaw, and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book to read.
August 26, 2019
I really enjoyed this bittersweet novel about Cate, her girlfriends, her friendships, her ex-husband, and her inability to understand how she fits in each facet of her life. The writing is lovely and I found myself caught up in her constantly second-guessing her decisions as she is wary of change but also wary of life passing her by. Then when a life-altering event presents itself, she can't quite perceive the repercussions and consequences it will have on her otherwise-daily existence as a set designer. And although it ended quite abruptly, I appreciated the effect it had as life rarely gets tied up in a neat little bow!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
January 10, 2020
For me this is more like a 2.5 star rating. I'm rounding up because there were small aspects of the story I thought were decent and I just can't give my first book of 2020 a low rating.
I guess I don't really understand the title of the book. As a reader that drives me up the wall. I kept waiting and waiting for that moment in reading where everything clicks and makes sense. That moment never happened for me. When the publisher sent me a copy to read I was excited after reading the blurb about the book. For the first 45% of the book I kept wondering when any of the blurb was going to play out in this book. That was frustrating as well. So many times I almost put this down as a DNF, but then a small moment would happen that I thought maybe this will turn around. The book never turned around for me. I felt there were three or four different storylines going on and I know the purpose was for all of them to converge and overlay in some fashion for the book to make sense as a whole. I just didn't feel they really did. One or two moments did, but not enough to string each storyline together to make a cohesive unit.
I realize the book description says it's set "against the backdrop of the new Trump presidency ". What I didn't think, nor cared for, is how much of a political agenda would be shoved down your throat while reading. (I'm coming from a stance of not being for or against Trump in saying that. I would feel the same way if the person was a Democrat). I don't feel what the author was conveying had much to do with the storyline.
Lastly the book read way too slow for me. Nothing grabs you in and takes ahold of you. There isn't a moment where I felt "I just can't put this book down" or "I have to know what happens next". Moreso I said when will this end? It fell flat to me.
I don't want my entire review to be negative. There are some good aspects of the storyline. Cate is an interesting character and I do believe the author did a fantastic job with her character development. There is an audience for this book, one that will love it. I'm not that audience. Having said that, the author showed me enough good qualities that I would consider another book or hers. (All of these positives added to me rounding up versus down).
My thanks to the Carol Anshaw, Atria Books and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I guess I don't really understand the title of the book. As a reader that drives me up the wall. I kept waiting and waiting for that moment in reading where everything clicks and makes sense. That moment never happened for me. When the publisher sent me a copy to read I was excited after reading the blurb about the book. For the first 45% of the book I kept wondering when any of the blurb was going to play out in this book. That was frustrating as well. So many times I almost put this down as a DNF, but then a small moment would happen that I thought maybe this will turn around. The book never turned around for me. I felt there were three or four different storylines going on and I know the purpose was for all of them to converge and overlay in some fashion for the book to make sense as a whole. I just didn't feel they really did. One or two moments did, but not enough to string each storyline together to make a cohesive unit.
I realize the book description says it's set "against the backdrop of the new Trump presidency ". What I didn't think, nor cared for, is how much of a political agenda would be shoved down your throat while reading. (I'm coming from a stance of not being for or against Trump in saying that. I would feel the same way if the person was a Democrat). I don't feel what the author was conveying had much to do with the storyline.
Lastly the book read way too slow for me. Nothing grabs you in and takes ahold of you. There isn't a moment where I felt "I just can't put this book down" or "I have to know what happens next". Moreso I said when will this end? It fell flat to me.
I don't want my entire review to be negative. There are some good aspects of the storyline. Cate is an interesting character and I do believe the author did a fantastic job with her character development. There is an audience for this book, one that will love it. I'm not that audience. Having said that, the author showed me enough good qualities that I would consider another book or hers. (All of these positives added to me rounding up versus down).
My thanks to the Carol Anshaw, Atria Books and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 20, 2019
Carol Anshaw has written a good deal of fiction, but this is the first time I have read her work. Right After the Weather turned up on Net Galley when I ran a search for humor; thanks go to Net Galley and Atria Books for the review copy. This book will be available to the public October 1, 2019.
Cate is a set designer working in Chicago. She’s divorced and looking for the right woman to settle down with. She’s in her early forties, and the clock keeps ticking; Dana is the one she wants, but she wants to be more than Dana’s woman-on-the-side, and Dana isn’t leaving her girlfriend for Cate. Cate meets Maureen who is actually fairly awful, but Maureen makes her life easier and wants her desperately, and so she is trying to persuade herself that Maureen is the woman she wants. Meanwhile her ex-husband, a nice guy that she dumped when she came out, is camped out in her apartment. All of these things make it hard for Cate to move forward. Her role model is her best friend Neale, a single mother that lives nearby, but all hell is about to break lose at Neale’s place.
Alternately with Cate’s narrative, we have infrequent but unsettling blurbs from a different point of view. Nathan and Irene are addicts, “casual sociopaths.” Every now and then there’s a page or two-- distinguished by a different font—that articulates their priorities and plans, such as they are. Anshaw is clever as hell, planting these tiny landmines that let us know that at some point, Cate and our criminals’ lives will intersect; at the same time, when it comes to people like this, less is more, and so they pop into the story just long enough to leave me feeling a little jarred, and then it’s such a relief to return to Cate’s story that I immediately forget about these other guys. The author plays fairly in letting us know that something is coming, but it takes awhile before I start anticipating what their role in this story will be. It’s so much easier to not think about them.
There’s some very uncomfortable material about Maureen about ten percent of the way into the story, and if I hadn’t had a review copy I might have stopped reading. However, that business gets put into context right away, and the rest of the story, though edgy, isn’t in that same out-of-bounds zone. Instead, Anshaw makes me laugh out loud several times with her dry humor and the perception that goes with it; in particular the scene with Cate’s mother is uproariously funny. I am ordinarily not pleased by bad-mother humor because it’s becoming a cliché, but when Anshaw goes there, she outclasses others and there’s no putting this book down.
I would read this author again in a heartbeat.
Cate is a set designer working in Chicago. She’s divorced and looking for the right woman to settle down with. She’s in her early forties, and the clock keeps ticking; Dana is the one she wants, but she wants to be more than Dana’s woman-on-the-side, and Dana isn’t leaving her girlfriend for Cate. Cate meets Maureen who is actually fairly awful, but Maureen makes her life easier and wants her desperately, and so she is trying to persuade herself that Maureen is the woman she wants. Meanwhile her ex-husband, a nice guy that she dumped when she came out, is camped out in her apartment. All of these things make it hard for Cate to move forward. Her role model is her best friend Neale, a single mother that lives nearby, but all hell is about to break lose at Neale’s place.
Alternately with Cate’s narrative, we have infrequent but unsettling blurbs from a different point of view. Nathan and Irene are addicts, “casual sociopaths.” Every now and then there’s a page or two-- distinguished by a different font—that articulates their priorities and plans, such as they are. Anshaw is clever as hell, planting these tiny landmines that let us know that at some point, Cate and our criminals’ lives will intersect; at the same time, when it comes to people like this, less is more, and so they pop into the story just long enough to leave me feeling a little jarred, and then it’s such a relief to return to Cate’s story that I immediately forget about these other guys. The author plays fairly in letting us know that something is coming, but it takes awhile before I start anticipating what their role in this story will be. It’s so much easier to not think about them.
There’s some very uncomfortable material about Maureen about ten percent of the way into the story, and if I hadn’t had a review copy I might have stopped reading. However, that business gets put into context right away, and the rest of the story, though edgy, isn’t in that same out-of-bounds zone. Instead, Anshaw makes me laugh out loud several times with her dry humor and the perception that goes with it; in particular the scene with Cate’s mother is uproariously funny. I am ordinarily not pleased by bad-mother humor because it’s becoming a cliché, but when Anshaw goes there, she outclasses others and there’s no putting this book down.
I would read this author again in a heartbeat.
February 1, 2020
Just an okay read. It just kind of plodded along the main character being Cate, a gay woman in her 40’s trying to find her place in life and trying to find a relationship that gives her everything she wants - love, lust, financial stability, happiness. I did like reading about her job as a set designer, which she was very passionate about. Her quest to find some window blinds was very pointed - they had to be from the time period and they had to have that yellow cigarette smoke tinge to it or the set wouldn’t give off the time period/image they made the play. She really was creative and took this seriously. It is too bad she was floundering and confused in her other parts of life, most especially her relationships with other women. Not one had everything she was looking for in her “desired package.”
There was a lot of political movement/discussions going on in the book for the time - while it was relevant, it was not something I wanted to get into during this read so skipping parts is an option for others who may feel the same way.
There was a lot of political movement/discussions going on in the book for the time - while it was relevant, it was not something I wanted to get into during this read so skipping parts is an option for others who may feel the same way.
October 25, 2019
Carol Anshaw has written a wonderful character in Cate, who is juggling a series of events and relationships, none of which quite connect or overlap with each other. The writing is smart and often funny, and the detail, perceptive and brilliantly observed. I loved being submerged in Cate's chaotic life, and even as I closed the last page, I was completely sure that she and all the other characters were alive and well, and continuing to muddle through, somewhere in Chicago.
(This was a proof sent to me by my publisher, but it hasn't influenced my review.)
(This was a proof sent to me by my publisher, but it hasn't influenced my review.)
Want to read
May 24, 2019Right After the Weather is a unique story. It's not for everyone, and I didn't love it. It's okay but kind of slow and flat for my taste. I think it's good for the right audience, but it's not for me. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
September 14, 2020
📚 Hello Book Friends! RIGHT AFTER THE WEATHER by Carol Anshaw is a beautifully written LGBT contemporary literary fiction. This is about a forty-something woman who tries to manage her relationships with her girlfriend, ex-girlfriend, ex-husband, and, on top of that, who saves her friend from being raped by killing her assailant. The story somewhat successfully deals with all the deep emotions that come with these events. This book had so much potential but fell short because there was no closure.
#bookstadog #poodles #poodlestagram #poodlesofinstagram #furbabies #dogsofinstagram #bookstagram #dogsandbooks #bookishlife #bookishlove #bookstagrammer #books #booklover #bookish #bookaholic #reading #readersofinstagram #instaread #ilovebooks #bookishcanadians #canadianbookstagram #bookreviewer #bookcommunity #bibliophile #bookphotography #rightaftertheweather #carolanshaw #bookreview
June 9, 2019
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published on October 1st, 2019.
Writing: 4/5 Plot: 2/5 Characters: 3/5
Cate is a single, forty-something, lesbian, set designer in Chicago whose friends and colleagues have largely moved on. It is 2016 — Cate’s ultra-paranoid, thrice divorced, ex-husband is shacking up in her extra room; she is struggling to end an ongoing affair with a married woman; and a new girlfriend she sees as her best shot at adult stability is exhibiting questionable ethical behavior. In this setting she simultaneously experiences the “worst event and biggest break”: she rescues a friend during a violent and traumatic home invasion and is offered the chance to work on an exciting off-broadway play.
The book is beautifully written and the characters (especially Cate) are portrayed with great depth. While being a lesbian is not the point of the book, Cate’s queerness (her selection of term) informs a great deal of her thoughts and actions. There is not a lot of action — the home invasion takes place about half way through the book and itself takes up few pages. Instead, it is a thorough portrayal of her life -- thoughts, actions, interactions, and world events — during a few months late 2016 / early 2017. I appreciated the scenes about her theater work (I wish there had been more) and the writing is really excellent, but for me there was not enough insight or character change to warrant the book length (without any compensating action). Things moved on in a very slow-paced, realistic, and ultimately unsatisfying, way. I found Cate to be a weak character, still struggling with the same issues (all completely under her own control) at the end of the book as at the beginning.
This book does have great lines — here are a few:
“Living casually in the moment seemed so vibrant, but has left her looking over her shoulder at a pile of used-up hours and days, hearing the scratchy sound of frittering.”
“She has come to understand that room temperature in the demographic she aspires to is a more personally controlled business.”
“The other customers exist somewhere else on the dining matrix, all of them in parallel, convivial but hushed universes.”
“Now, though, the cat’s out of the bag. Now the cat is hopping all over the place, demanding attention.”
“A heavy, standing ashtray is surrounded by a population of emphysemic ghosts.”
“Something delicious about all the secrecy. Now everything’s so in the open, we’re free from fear and oppression, but we’ve traded up for being commonplace. Queer’s as boring as straight now.
“She understand she has arrived on another side of everything. No one is over here with her.”
“Everything about him is aimed at the greater good, but in matters of personal kindness, he often comes up short.
“Her thoughts these days are not her friends. Which doesn’t keep them from stopping by, particularly at night when she is too tired to fight them off.”
Writing: 4/5 Plot: 2/5 Characters: 3/5
Cate is a single, forty-something, lesbian, set designer in Chicago whose friends and colleagues have largely moved on. It is 2016 — Cate’s ultra-paranoid, thrice divorced, ex-husband is shacking up in her extra room; she is struggling to end an ongoing affair with a married woman; and a new girlfriend she sees as her best shot at adult stability is exhibiting questionable ethical behavior. In this setting she simultaneously experiences the “worst event and biggest break”: she rescues a friend during a violent and traumatic home invasion and is offered the chance to work on an exciting off-broadway play.
The book is beautifully written and the characters (especially Cate) are portrayed with great depth. While being a lesbian is not the point of the book, Cate’s queerness (her selection of term) informs a great deal of her thoughts and actions. There is not a lot of action — the home invasion takes place about half way through the book and itself takes up few pages. Instead, it is a thorough portrayal of her life -- thoughts, actions, interactions, and world events — during a few months late 2016 / early 2017. I appreciated the scenes about her theater work (I wish there had been more) and the writing is really excellent, but for me there was not enough insight or character change to warrant the book length (without any compensating action). Things moved on in a very slow-paced, realistic, and ultimately unsatisfying, way. I found Cate to be a weak character, still struggling with the same issues (all completely under her own control) at the end of the book as at the beginning.
This book does have great lines — here are a few:
“Living casually in the moment seemed so vibrant, but has left her looking over her shoulder at a pile of used-up hours and days, hearing the scratchy sound of frittering.”
“She has come to understand that room temperature in the demographic she aspires to is a more personally controlled business.”
“The other customers exist somewhere else on the dining matrix, all of them in parallel, convivial but hushed universes.”
“Now, though, the cat’s out of the bag. Now the cat is hopping all over the place, demanding attention.”
“A heavy, standing ashtray is surrounded by a population of emphysemic ghosts.”
“Something delicious about all the secrecy. Now everything’s so in the open, we’re free from fear and oppression, but we’ve traded up for being commonplace. Queer’s as boring as straight now.
“She understand she has arrived on another side of everything. No one is over here with her.”
“Everything about him is aimed at the greater good, but in matters of personal kindness, he often comes up short.
“Her thoughts these days are not her friends. Which doesn’t keep them from stopping by, particularly at night when she is too tired to fight them off.”
March 13, 2020
A bittersweet six months in the life of a liberal lesbian and the contrary effects of tragedy.
3.5 stars
Beguiling and bittersweet, Right After the Weather is centred around forty-two-year-old lesbian theatre set designer, Cate, and opens in Chicago in the weeks ahead of the 2016 presidential election. Subsisting on a series of low-paid and second-rate work gigs, subsidised by her divorced parents and powerless to resists the lure of her ex, Dana, who is never going to leave her long-term partner, Cate is stuck in a rut. Determined to transition to a more grown-up existence she has recently hooked up with Maureen, an eligible costume designer who does all the running in their relationship, and now only has the issue of how to sort out her ex-husband and conspiracy theorist, Graham, who is shacked up in her spare bedroom. Best-friend and yoga instructor, Neale, is her sounding board and model for adulthood and together they mourn the arrival of a Republican president.
Creative, wryly humoured, politically active and a stalwart of a friend, Cate, might not be seen as the most compassionate of people and along with Neale is quick to judge, snarkily critical and also keeping the much keener Maureen at arm’s length! Anshaw’s honest portrayal of Cate - a picky character who I could readily imagine and identify with - pulled me into the story. When Cate gets a shot at working on an off-Broadway show in New York for an up-and-coming female duo it holds the promise of moving her career onto a higher echelon. But when she returns to Chicago and walks into a violent confrontation which she is completely unprepared for it has unexpected repercussions that leave Cate changed by her actions and a decades old friendship tarnished.
Interspersed with Cate’s story is the chilling first-person narrative of degenerate, Nathan, and his sordid pursuits alongside his drug-addicted sidekick, Irene, which goes beyond breaking and entering and into far creepier territory. Living a stones throw from Neale’s dilapidated neighbourhood it is only a matter of time before they intrude on Cate’s ordinary existence in a frenzy of violence with irrevocable consequences that alter everything.
Despite the books central focus being Cate I never felt I got to know her character intimately and whilst I was interested to see where the novel would take her, I never felt like I got close to understanding her. Cate’s politics are very much her characters and as someone who dislikes reading the work of writers who attempt to further their political agenda through their novels I never felt like I was being dictated too but simply seeing Cate’s outlook. The backdrop to the novel, specifically the country in the aftermath of the 2016 election and the wider malaise of the nation, gives the micro and macro dramas a startling congruence.
I doubt that Carol Anshaw’s style will suit everyone with the novel is made up of staccato snapshots that offer glimpses into the life of Cate rather than a continuous stream of prose, which some may find discordant. Right After the Weather is a character study of Cate as opposed to a plot driven story, the pace is languorous and the prose understated, meaning there is much for the reader to ruminate on. However the collision of Cate’s life with that of Nathan’s does not occur until halfway through the novel and readers who demand action may find themselves having lost interest in the story by that point.
Anshaw’s flawed characters are compassionately observed, her insights are psychologically astute and she resists the temptation to sentimentalise events in favour of accepting that life can throw a curveball and send anyone of us on a new trajectory. Her wit is dry and plentiful, her character are wonderfully unvarnished and there is some moments of startlingly perceptive prose and poetic turns of phrase which deserve recognition. Despite the novel painting a fairly bleak picture of modern life I cannot quibble about Anshaw’s depiction of its complexities and a conclusion that satisfies with its recognition that life is more about muddling through than plain-sailing.
3.5 stars
Beguiling and bittersweet, Right After the Weather is centred around forty-two-year-old lesbian theatre set designer, Cate, and opens in Chicago in the weeks ahead of the 2016 presidential election. Subsisting on a series of low-paid and second-rate work gigs, subsidised by her divorced parents and powerless to resists the lure of her ex, Dana, who is never going to leave her long-term partner, Cate is stuck in a rut. Determined to transition to a more grown-up existence she has recently hooked up with Maureen, an eligible costume designer who does all the running in their relationship, and now only has the issue of how to sort out her ex-husband and conspiracy theorist, Graham, who is shacked up in her spare bedroom. Best-friend and yoga instructor, Neale, is her sounding board and model for adulthood and together they mourn the arrival of a Republican president.
Creative, wryly humoured, politically active and a stalwart of a friend, Cate, might not be seen as the most compassionate of people and along with Neale is quick to judge, snarkily critical and also keeping the much keener Maureen at arm’s length! Anshaw’s honest portrayal of Cate - a picky character who I could readily imagine and identify with - pulled me into the story. When Cate gets a shot at working on an off-Broadway show in New York for an up-and-coming female duo it holds the promise of moving her career onto a higher echelon. But when she returns to Chicago and walks into a violent confrontation which she is completely unprepared for it has unexpected repercussions that leave Cate changed by her actions and a decades old friendship tarnished.
Interspersed with Cate’s story is the chilling first-person narrative of degenerate, Nathan, and his sordid pursuits alongside his drug-addicted sidekick, Irene, which goes beyond breaking and entering and into far creepier territory. Living a stones throw from Neale’s dilapidated neighbourhood it is only a matter of time before they intrude on Cate’s ordinary existence in a frenzy of violence with irrevocable consequences that alter everything.
Despite the books central focus being Cate I never felt I got to know her character intimately and whilst I was interested to see where the novel would take her, I never felt like I got close to understanding her. Cate’s politics are very much her characters and as someone who dislikes reading the work of writers who attempt to further their political agenda through their novels I never felt like I was being dictated too but simply seeing Cate’s outlook. The backdrop to the novel, specifically the country in the aftermath of the 2016 election and the wider malaise of the nation, gives the micro and macro dramas a startling congruence.
I doubt that Carol Anshaw’s style will suit everyone with the novel is made up of staccato snapshots that offer glimpses into the life of Cate rather than a continuous stream of prose, which some may find discordant. Right After the Weather is a character study of Cate as opposed to a plot driven story, the pace is languorous and the prose understated, meaning there is much for the reader to ruminate on. However the collision of Cate’s life with that of Nathan’s does not occur until halfway through the novel and readers who demand action may find themselves having lost interest in the story by that point.
Anshaw’s flawed characters are compassionately observed, her insights are psychologically astute and she resists the temptation to sentimentalise events in favour of accepting that life can throw a curveball and send anyone of us on a new trajectory. Her wit is dry and plentiful, her character are wonderfully unvarnished and there is some moments of startlingly perceptive prose and poetic turns of phrase which deserve recognition. Despite the novel painting a fairly bleak picture of modern life I cannot quibble about Anshaw’s depiction of its complexities and a conclusion that satisfies with its recognition that life is more about muddling through than plain-sailing.
March 20, 2024
I grabbed this book as a sort of palate cleanser after some ghastly over-salted literary gruel, and I wasn't disappointed. I've always viewed Carol Anshaw's writing as the written version of clean eating, and this book is just the best of that.
Cate is an intelligent, creative, gay doormat with a succession of frenemies that include exes and workmates. "She's not much good at making the first move. She's a lot better at standing still and waiting for whomever to show up and making her desire half of a coincidence." She is given several life and work opportunities and finds that wielding power gives her a different view of herself. No spoilers here, everything is given away in the cover blurb anyway. The biggest thing I can possibly say about Anshaw's writing is that she actually knows how to write. What a treat to be shown characters and situations without craploads of explanation and drippy adjectives (are you listening, all you creative writing class hopefuls?) In the scenes with Cate's father and his companion Seneca, we didn't need descriptions of anything - the weight and gravity of the characters and situation was right there. No adjectives needed. Even the name Seneca pulls along an emotional sledge. Names are important here and add a whole other level to the characters.
A few things I loved:
- Sailor, the enormous dog. "He's so long, he's a laps dog." The visuals of Sailor running with his dog friends were wonderful.
- the concept of luxury fears. I won't go into this, you have to read the passage. I have to give this more thought as I have a history of luxury fears.
- the mildly sarcastic humour within the dialogues.
I highly recommend this book to everyone.
Cate is an intelligent, creative, gay doormat with a succession of frenemies that include exes and workmates. "She's not much good at making the first move. She's a lot better at standing still and waiting for whomever to show up and making her desire half of a coincidence." She is given several life and work opportunities and finds that wielding power gives her a different view of herself. No spoilers here, everything is given away in the cover blurb anyway. The biggest thing I can possibly say about Anshaw's writing is that she actually knows how to write. What a treat to be shown characters and situations without craploads of explanation and drippy adjectives (are you listening, all you creative writing class hopefuls?) In the scenes with Cate's father and his companion Seneca, we didn't need descriptions of anything - the weight and gravity of the characters and situation was right there. No adjectives needed. Even the name Seneca pulls along an emotional sledge. Names are important here and add a whole other level to the characters.
A few things I loved:
- Sailor, the enormous dog. "He's so long, he's a laps dog." The visuals of Sailor running with his dog friends were wonderful.
- the concept of luxury fears. I won't go into this, you have to read the passage. I have to give this more thought as I have a history of luxury fears.
- the mildly sarcastic humour within the dialogues.
I highly recommend this book to everyone.
May 19, 2020
I knew this was going to be a tough book to get through from the very first page. When I read in the very first sentence, “Cate prowls across a vast plain of old office desks,” I had a red flag go up that this book was going to be over written. And my instincts were not off. There was actual dialogue where one character says, “She’s plighting her troth.” That is not a thing anyone says.
Then, there is the fact that the book jacket is entirely misleading. You could skip the first half of the book and just read the first paragraph of the book jacket and not miss anything important. You’d read the summary and think most of the book is about how Cate and Neale navigate their relationship after Neale’s assault. In reality, Neale’s assault doesn’t happen until page 140 in a 270-page book. And then the last 130 pages don’t even answer the questions posed on the book jacket: “How does she move forward from this new and isolated vantage point?” I don’t’ really know! Because the book abruptly ended without any resolution or answer to that question.
Final major complaint: there are super weird, random first-person chapters from Nathan, Neale’s attacker. These chapters feel so out of place. Why are they first person? How are we, the readers, coming across these first-person insights? I don’t know. And I don’t think these sections add anything to the narrative.
In sum, this book isn’t about the plot, it is about the characters…but it’s pretending to be a plot-driven novel and it just doesn’t work. This book was so frustrating it took me 11 days to get through when it should have taken 3-4. I wish I had that time back.
Then, there is the fact that the book jacket is entirely misleading. You could skip the first half of the book and just read the first paragraph of the book jacket and not miss anything important. You’d read the summary and think most of the book is about how Cate and Neale navigate their relationship after Neale’s assault. In reality, Neale’s assault doesn’t happen until page 140 in a 270-page book. And then the last 130 pages don’t even answer the questions posed on the book jacket: “How does she move forward from this new and isolated vantage point?” I don’t’ really know! Because the book abruptly ended without any resolution or answer to that question.
Final major complaint: there are super weird, random first-person chapters from Nathan, Neale’s attacker. These chapters feel so out of place. Why are they first person? How are we, the readers, coming across these first-person insights? I don’t know. And I don’t think these sections add anything to the narrative.
In sum, this book isn’t about the plot, it is about the characters…but it’s pretending to be a plot-driven novel and it just doesn’t work. This book was so frustrating it took me 11 days to get through when it should have taken 3-4. I wish I had that time back.
February 13, 2020
Cate works as a theatre set designer. Neale is a yoga instructor. They have been friends since junior high school. Nathan and Irene are drug addicts. They prowl the streets .looking for the opportunity to thieve. Cate pays Neave a visit, only to find her getting brutally assaulted by Na5han and Irene. Cate goes to help her friend. But she's full of rage and adrenalin. Next thing that Cate is aware of is that she is in the police station, being interviewed by a detective. Cate can't remember what had happened.
Just as Cates life is going well, the violent confrontation she had changes her forever. It affects her friends and relationships. She has to live with the outcome of her actions. The story examines the myriad ways an act of violence can bring. I did like the authors writing style. The pace is slow. Although this isn't what I would call a gripping read, it did keep my attention.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Penguin Books (UK) and the author Carol Anshaw for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Just as Cates life is going well, the violent confrontation she had changes her forever. It affects her friends and relationships. She has to live with the outcome of her actions. The story examines the myriad ways an act of violence can bring. I did like the authors writing style. The pace is slow. Although this isn't what I would call a gripping read, it did keep my attention.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Penguin Books (UK) and the author Carol Anshaw for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 26, 2019
Three and three-quarters stars.
Over the last twenty years, when a novel set in New York starts out with a vivid blue morning sky on a Tuesday, you know planes will soon be crashing into buildings. The two images are paired, the blue sky before the terror. I guess now, when a novel starts out in October of 2016 and the characters are just going about their lives, maybe speculating lightly about the upcoming election, you know they probably are going to be traumatized and horrified by the outcome, much like many of us, the twinned emotions of life before and life after.
So Right After the Weather begins, and the first half of the novel establishes the setting, a forty-something woman named Cate who is a theatrical set designer living in Chicago, trying to find the right woman to date, dedicated to her best friend Neale and Neale's pre-adolescent son. She's also taking care of her ex-husband, whose mental state is precarious and gets worse once the outcome of the election is known.
Trauma comes in many forms, and this novel is full of various assaults, mental and otherwise. It might be trying to do too much, but it also conveys to the sympathetic reader a state of agitation and moral decay, alongside trying to simply live our lives. The novel's observations are cutting; the main character very rarely doles out the benefit of the doubt toward her romantic partners or herself. But there are small glimmers of happiness that peek out from time to time.
All in all, thoughtful and downbeat. I'll be thinking about it beyond today.
Over the last twenty years, when a novel set in New York starts out with a vivid blue morning sky on a Tuesday, you know planes will soon be crashing into buildings. The two images are paired, the blue sky before the terror. I guess now, when a novel starts out in October of 2016 and the characters are just going about their lives, maybe speculating lightly about the upcoming election, you know they probably are going to be traumatized and horrified by the outcome, much like many of us, the twinned emotions of life before and life after.
So Right After the Weather begins, and the first half of the novel establishes the setting, a forty-something woman named Cate who is a theatrical set designer living in Chicago, trying to find the right woman to date, dedicated to her best friend Neale and Neale's pre-adolescent son. She's also taking care of her ex-husband, whose mental state is precarious and gets worse once the outcome of the election is known.
Trauma comes in many forms, and this novel is full of various assaults, mental and otherwise. It might be trying to do too much, but it also conveys to the sympathetic reader a state of agitation and moral decay, alongside trying to simply live our lives. The novel's observations are cutting; the main character very rarely doles out the benefit of the doubt toward her romantic partners or herself. But there are small glimmers of happiness that peek out from time to time.
All in all, thoughtful and downbeat. I'll be thinking about it beyond today.
October 18, 2019
When I was on vacation abroad, I finished reading this very interesting, contemporary, women’s fiction novel, set in my home town of Chicago. This book was offered to me by the author’s publicist, and if you want to know what I thought of it, I hope you'll read my #bookreview on my blog now. https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2019/10/1...
September 17, 2019
“All the time people send her videos of rescued dogs and how happy they are now. Like a dog so frightened by his pat that he stands facing a yellow wall, his nose an inch away. He just stands there. Then he’s shown in his new happy home playing with another dog. “Isn’t this heartwarming?” the sender will say. But all Cate can see is the dog staring at the yellow wall”.
This quote perfectly captures the complexity and raw human emotion that fills this book. Cate is navigating shallow and deep relationships while trying to find her place in the world, and seriously makes you wonder if the author came into your own head to grab those feelings. Absolutely fantastic character driven novel.
This quote perfectly captures the complexity and raw human emotion that fills this book. Cate is navigating shallow and deep relationships while trying to find her place in the world, and seriously makes you wonder if the author came into your own head to grab those feelings. Absolutely fantastic character driven novel.
August 4, 2019
But oh! she can write. Many years ago now, I read Anshaw's book, Carry the One and was roused by the emotions, thoughts and sympathies thrust upon me. Here also, whole, believable characters are moulded on the page with beautiful, believable prose; "when she tried to pull back she found her principles had been shredded by desire. Principles lay in ribbons around her feet. She had allowed herself to fall into a ridiculous sort of heart-throbbing love based on small, colourful explosions of urgent sex and careless revelation."
At one point, Carol Anshaw describes; "the thuddy drop into the gray scale of actual life." And perhaps my difficulty with this book, is that it struggles to pull itself beyond the monotony that bad decisions can create-frustrating in our day-to-day existence; gruelling when trying to immerse yourself in a story.
So, is it that I wanted to take Cate by the shoulders and firmly shake some sense into her: why is her ex-husband still living in her flat; why does she allow contact with her married ex-girlfriend; why is she pursuing a relationship that does not excite her; why is she working on set-design jobs for weak scripts that only promise small audiences? Or, is it that Anshaw takes such an interminably long time to get to the main plot point tantalisingly promised in the book's blurb?
I am grateful to netgalley and the publisher for sharing an advanced copy in return for my honest opinion.
At one point, Carol Anshaw describes; "the thuddy drop into the gray scale of actual life." And perhaps my difficulty with this book, is that it struggles to pull itself beyond the monotony that bad decisions can create-frustrating in our day-to-day existence; gruelling when trying to immerse yourself in a story.
So, is it that I wanted to take Cate by the shoulders and firmly shake some sense into her: why is her ex-husband still living in her flat; why does she allow contact with her married ex-girlfriend; why is she pursuing a relationship that does not excite her; why is she working on set-design jobs for weak scripts that only promise small audiences? Or, is it that Anshaw takes such an interminably long time to get to the main plot point tantalisingly promised in the book's blurb?
I am grateful to netgalley and the publisher for sharing an advanced copy in return for my honest opinion.
September 19, 2019
I don't understand why this book is advertised as similar to Ask Again, Yes. It's not similar at all in terms of storyline or writing style. Unfortunately, I DNF'd 75 pages into it. The story wasn't going anywhere and I just couldn't get into it. Disappointed.
July 7, 2019
(Thank you to the publisher for my copy of this book!)
I'm struggling big time with my star rating for this book because to be honest, when I first started it I didn't like it at all. I almost DNF-ed it. It took me until almost 50% of the book to start liking it. But once I got about halfway through, I actually started loving it. To the point where I didn't want to put it down. And now I feel like if I were to pick it up again, I'd appreciate the first part of the book much more.
So, be aware that this book starts slowly, but that if you stick with it, it will pay off (at least it did for me). Cate is a set designer for theater and is currently living with her ex-husband (as he goes through another divorce), getting over her ex-girlfriend, dating a new woman, and spending time with her best friend Neale and her son Joe. There are little interludes featuring a man and woman breaking into houses. At first I thought these interludes were really strange, but they'll all make sense about halfway through the book when Neale is attacked.
While not a particular likable character in many ways, the more I got to know Cate, the more I really liked her. Emotionally, I feel like I have a lot in common with her, especially in regard to her thoughts on animals and observations on life. She's flawed, yes, but in ways I think many people can relate to.
Overall, I'm happy I stuck with this one and will likely return to it at some point. But first I want to read more by Anshaw!
I'm struggling big time with my star rating for this book because to be honest, when I first started it I didn't like it at all. I almost DNF-ed it. It took me until almost 50% of the book to start liking it. But once I got about halfway through, I actually started loving it. To the point where I didn't want to put it down. And now I feel like if I were to pick it up again, I'd appreciate the first part of the book much more.
So, be aware that this book starts slowly, but that if you stick with it, it will pay off (at least it did for me). Cate is a set designer for theater and is currently living with her ex-husband (as he goes through another divorce), getting over her ex-girlfriend, dating a new woman, and spending time with her best friend Neale and her son Joe. There are little interludes featuring a man and woman breaking into houses. At first I thought these interludes were really strange, but they'll all make sense about halfway through the book when Neale is attacked.
While not a particular likable character in many ways, the more I got to know Cate, the more I really liked her. Emotionally, I feel like I have a lot in common with her, especially in regard to her thoughts on animals and observations on life. She's flawed, yes, but in ways I think many people can relate to.
Overall, I'm happy I stuck with this one and will likely return to it at some point. But first I want to read more by Anshaw!
February 13, 2020
Catenworks as a theatre set designer. Neale is a yoga instructor. They have been friends since junior high school. Nathan and Irene are drug addicts. They prowl the streets looking for the opportunity to thieve. Cate pays Neale a visit only to find her getting brutally assaulted by Nathan and Irene. Cate goes to help her friend. But she's full of rage and adrenalin. Next thing Cate is aware of is that she is in the police station being I interviewed by a detective. Cate can't remember what had happened.
Just as Cates life is going well, the violent confrontation she had changes her forever. It affects her friends and relationships. She has to live with the outcome of her actions. The story examines the myriad ways an act of violence can bring. I did like the authors writing style. The pace is slow. Although this is not what I call a gripping read, it did keep my interest.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Penguin Books (UK) and the author Carol Anshaw for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Just as Cates life is going well, the violent confrontation she had changes her forever. It affects her friends and relationships. She has to live with the outcome of her actions. The story examines the myriad ways an act of violence can bring. I did like the authors writing style. The pace is slow. Although this is not what I call a gripping read, it did keep my interest.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Penguin Books (UK) and the author Carol Anshaw for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 22, 2019
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a many layered story of Cate, a 40 something lesbian who has a job designing sets for plays, and her relationships with quite a few people in her life.
This book was just okay for me. Despite the many characters and possibilities for storylines, there really wasn’t much going on. When there is a major thing that happens about halfway through the book it is barely described. It just seems like there could have been more stories told.
I found the parts about her job incredibly boring and skimmed those towards the end. Overall not quite my thing.
This is a many layered story of Cate, a 40 something lesbian who has a job designing sets for plays, and her relationships with quite a few people in her life.
This book was just okay for me. Despite the many characters and possibilities for storylines, there really wasn’t much going on. When there is a major thing that happens about halfway through the book it is barely described. It just seems like there could have been more stories told.
I found the parts about her job incredibly boring and skimmed those towards the end. Overall not quite my thing.
August 23, 2024
It's not really about survival , more just about the everyday muddle of living ..and how having money or not causes small increments in some lives and huge gulfs in knowing others .
Carol Anshaw and her blissfully precise writing conjures both the pathos and humour of ordinary lives in urban Chicago around the time Trump becomes president . Mostly the lives are full of abundance , self regarding in various degrees and constantly calculating, in that way that people with things and jobs and purpose need to have plans to lead towards their fullest lives . Small differences in dress, decor and habits are unnecessarily fretted over and become sites of victory of resentment.
Cate is a conflict averse hyper observant set designer , snobby in her judgements , well established but only able to live well with parental subsidies and a stroke of luck with her flat . She's just out of a torrid affair and looking to Maureen , an ambitious and practical fixer with a flexible approach to morality , to mentor her into coupledom. Her straight best friend Neale ,a yoga teacher , is her true confident. Then there's a "change in the weather" and nothing is reliable any more . The carefully constructed set falls away and Cate finds herself looking over the edge and aware of the world in new ways
The writing is fluid and funny and the characters , including a very supportive dog , are generally good company . The plot builds gently to a crescendo then falls softly into confusion. Anshaw has a sharp eye for the subtle details of consumerism , of fine food , dating and the parallel universe of those no longer in the golden circle who live on the same streets of the city and shop at Aldi. It's a relationship novel, but with depth, as our protagonist is working on the set for a play about Vita Sackville West . So it's impossible not to contrast her life as a gay woman with the present. But it's never in your face . A novel about the impact of a drama without a single melodramatic sentence . And all the time Trump's victory resounds in the background, noises off but life-changing . Quite the achievement.
Carol Anshaw and her blissfully precise writing conjures both the pathos and humour of ordinary lives in urban Chicago around the time Trump becomes president . Mostly the lives are full of abundance , self regarding in various degrees and constantly calculating, in that way that people with things and jobs and purpose need to have plans to lead towards their fullest lives . Small differences in dress, decor and habits are unnecessarily fretted over and become sites of victory of resentment.
Cate is a conflict averse hyper observant set designer , snobby in her judgements , well established but only able to live well with parental subsidies and a stroke of luck with her flat . She's just out of a torrid affair and looking to Maureen , an ambitious and practical fixer with a flexible approach to morality , to mentor her into coupledom. Her straight best friend Neale ,a yoga teacher , is her true confident. Then there's a "change in the weather" and nothing is reliable any more . The carefully constructed set falls away and Cate finds herself looking over the edge and aware of the world in new ways
The writing is fluid and funny and the characters , including a very supportive dog , are generally good company . The plot builds gently to a crescendo then falls softly into confusion. Anshaw has a sharp eye for the subtle details of consumerism , of fine food , dating and the parallel universe of those no longer in the golden circle who live on the same streets of the city and shop at Aldi. It's a relationship novel, but with depth, as our protagonist is working on the set for a play about Vita Sackville West . So it's impossible not to contrast her life as a gay woman with the present. But it's never in your face . A novel about the impact of a drama without a single melodramatic sentence . And all the time Trump's victory resounds in the background, noises off but life-changing . Quite the achievement.
November 16, 2019
Overall I like Carol Anshaw's writing, but found the dialogue here clunky sometimes, enough that I have to say 3 stars instead of 4. Also, there was a secondary character who had chapters in the first person, and his voice wasn't believable for me.
In my mind, usually 3 stars is a B or a C, and usually means I finished the book, and considering I abandon a lot of books, is not bad. I think of 4 stars as an A, and 5 stars is an A plus. This might not make sense numerically, but in my head it does! I'd say this one is a solid B. I really liked the main character Cate, I identified with her work struggles, and there were lots of interesting details about her daily life that I enjoyed. In the end, what did it all mean? I'm not sure. Maybe that if you're having a tough time, you just have to hang in there and adjust as best you can. In any case I continue to like Carol Anshaw. P.S. There's a nice dog in the book.
In my mind, usually 3 stars is a B or a C, and usually means I finished the book, and considering I abandon a lot of books, is not bad. I think of 4 stars as an A, and 5 stars is an A plus. This might not make sense numerically, but in my head it does! I'd say this one is a solid B. I really liked the main character Cate, I identified with her work struggles, and there were lots of interesting details about her daily life that I enjoyed. In the end, what did it all mean? I'm not sure. Maybe that if you're having a tough time, you just have to hang in there and adjust as best you can. In any case I continue to like Carol Anshaw. P.S. There's a nice dog in the book.
March 13, 2020
Like Everything Leads to You but much darker and significantly less enjoyable
August 11, 2019
So thoughtful and well written, and examines the myriad ways an act of violence can affect the victim and everyone around her. Although I loved the characters, I wanted to know more about them. Deeper character development would have made this good book even better.
September 27, 2019
To say that Right After the Weather is a book that’s sort of out of my wheelhouse is a bit of an understatement. Narrated by Cate, a 40-something lesbian, living and working in Chicago on the eve of Donald Trump’s presidency, Right After the Weather is, on the surface, something I wouldn’t normally be interested in. Honestly, I decided to read it because the book’s blurb mentioned a parallel universe. (spoiler alert-there’s no parallel universe). Instead of some quirky science fiction, I found a beautifully written story of a woman trying to find her place and happiness in a world that’s gone a bit topsy turvy.
Reading Right After the Weather is like sitting and watching a river slowly flow by. Sometimes it’s quiet and smooth with just a peaceful gurgle; other times it hits a rock and the sound of the splash takes you by surprise. There doesn’t seem to be much happening, but you don’t want to step away from the book because the beauty of it draws you in. This was my experience with Right After the Weather.
Carol Anshaw’s writing is truly beautiful. It’s also ironic and hilarious. The book’s heroine, Cate, is approaching middle age but still acts and thinks like someone much younger. She’s living with her ex-husband (who bought her apartment for her), she still hasn’t made much of a splash as a set designer (when the book opens she’s working on a play that even she admits is horrible), she’s involved with Maureen, someone Cate chooses because it seemed like the responsible thing to do after breaking up with the love of her life, Dana (because Dana is for all intents and purposes married to someone else), and she’s still taking money from her parents to make ends meet. Cate’s a mess and I absolutely loved her.
I loved every minute with Cate, from her walks on the beach with her dog, Sailor, to conversations in the car with her best friend Neale. With her dry sense of humor, Cate makes observations that had me laughing out loud. The people that surround Cate are almost cartoonish in their design. Graham, her ex has become paranoid in a true tin hat fashion. He holes up in her guest bedroom Skyping with strangers that encourage this behavior. When Trump is elected, this sends Graham into a tailspin. Then there’s Cate’s mother who is openly disappointed in Cate’s lesbianism and career choice (she literally says this to Cate at Thanksgiving). Maureen, Cate’s current lover, keeps bottles of Xanax and other fashionable drugs on hand “just in case” while Cate’s former lover Dana is pulling her into her restaurant’s freezer for some sexy times. They’re all crazy and out there and wonderfully so.
As Cate is juggling all of this craziness, her life changes. She’s offered the set design job on an off-Broadway show and she makes a life-altering decision to save a friend, all while America is going through a great upheaval. I loved how Anshaw shows this woman, who is queer and involved in the arts and a symbol of a woman we see walking in Women’s Marches across the country, is honest enough to say “hey, these things are super important, but so is my life and I’ve got to figure it out”.
In many ways, Right After the Weather is a tribute to all of us that feel guilty about focusing on ourselves instead of bigger things. Through Cate, Anshaw is giving readers the okay to be inwardly focused and maybe a bit selfish. This makes Cate-who seems different than this reader-incredibly relatable and reminds me that maybe we aren’t that different after all.
4 stars for Right After the Weather.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for honest feedback.
Reading Right After the Weather is like sitting and watching a river slowly flow by. Sometimes it’s quiet and smooth with just a peaceful gurgle; other times it hits a rock and the sound of the splash takes you by surprise. There doesn’t seem to be much happening, but you don’t want to step away from the book because the beauty of it draws you in. This was my experience with Right After the Weather.
Carol Anshaw’s writing is truly beautiful. It’s also ironic and hilarious. The book’s heroine, Cate, is approaching middle age but still acts and thinks like someone much younger. She’s living with her ex-husband (who bought her apartment for her), she still hasn’t made much of a splash as a set designer (when the book opens she’s working on a play that even she admits is horrible), she’s involved with Maureen, someone Cate chooses because it seemed like the responsible thing to do after breaking up with the love of her life, Dana (because Dana is for all intents and purposes married to someone else), and she’s still taking money from her parents to make ends meet. Cate’s a mess and I absolutely loved her.
I loved every minute with Cate, from her walks on the beach with her dog, Sailor, to conversations in the car with her best friend Neale. With her dry sense of humor, Cate makes observations that had me laughing out loud. The people that surround Cate are almost cartoonish in their design. Graham, her ex has become paranoid in a true tin hat fashion. He holes up in her guest bedroom Skyping with strangers that encourage this behavior. When Trump is elected, this sends Graham into a tailspin. Then there’s Cate’s mother who is openly disappointed in Cate’s lesbianism and career choice (she literally says this to Cate at Thanksgiving). Maureen, Cate’s current lover, keeps bottles of Xanax and other fashionable drugs on hand “just in case” while Cate’s former lover Dana is pulling her into her restaurant’s freezer for some sexy times. They’re all crazy and out there and wonderfully so.
As Cate is juggling all of this craziness, her life changes. She’s offered the set design job on an off-Broadway show and she makes a life-altering decision to save a friend, all while America is going through a great upheaval. I loved how Anshaw shows this woman, who is queer and involved in the arts and a symbol of a woman we see walking in Women’s Marches across the country, is honest enough to say “hey, these things are super important, but so is my life and I’ve got to figure it out”.
In many ways, Right After the Weather is a tribute to all of us that feel guilty about focusing on ourselves instead of bigger things. Through Cate, Anshaw is giving readers the okay to be inwardly focused and maybe a bit selfish. This makes Cate-who seems different than this reader-incredibly relatable and reminds me that maybe we aren’t that different after all.
4 stars for Right After the Weather.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for honest feedback.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 223 reviews