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What to Keep
Denny Roman at twelve: a midwestern girl with a clueless family, a bit part in the school play, a crush on the drama teacher, and concerns about frontal development. Her mother and father, divorced neuroscientists, are raising her with benign neglect. The family is virtually run by an agoraphobe named Maureen, who has a taxi fleet and a superorganized and compassionate method of managing other people’s lives, especially Denny’s.
Denny Roman at twenty-six: jets home from Hollywood for the weekend and lands in the marital minefield of her mother and stepfather’s imminent relocation to New York. She has to pack up her childhood possessions in forty-eight hours before returning to L.A. for a big audition with Robert Altman. She’s supposed to be deciding what to keep, but she’s worried about what to wear. In a deranged moment, she kisses her stepfather. On the lips.
Denny Roman at thirty-six: A playwright on the eve of her first Off-Broadway production and once again living within sparring distance of her mother, she comes home from rehearsal one afternoon and finds a thirteen-year- old boy on her doorstep: Luke, the son of Maureen and a Mauritanian refugee cabdriver. Bewildered by his mother’s recent death, Luke is looking for a place where he might fit. Will Denny keep him in New York? Will she get any help from Sean—an actor whose good looks may be all there is to him? Will she be reconciled with her mother at long last?
What to Keep looks into the lives of Denny Roman, her mother, her father, her stepfather, and her surrogate mother—all practicing variations on the theme “parent” but none of them quite done being children themselves. Bubbling with sly humor and psychological insight, their story holds out a refreshingly flexible and realistic model of what a good family—whether created by nature or chance or both—can consist of.
From the Hardcover edition.
Denny Roman at twenty-six: jets home from Hollywood for the weekend and lands in the marital minefield of her mother and stepfather’s imminent relocation to New York. She has to pack up her childhood possessions in forty-eight hours before returning to L.A. for a big audition with Robert Altman. She’s supposed to be deciding what to keep, but she’s worried about what to wear. In a deranged moment, she kisses her stepfather. On the lips.
Denny Roman at thirty-six: A playwright on the eve of her first Off-Broadway production and once again living within sparring distance of her mother, she comes home from rehearsal one afternoon and finds a thirteen-year- old boy on her doorstep: Luke, the son of Maureen and a Mauritanian refugee cabdriver. Bewildered by his mother’s recent death, Luke is looking for a place where he might fit. Will Denny keep him in New York? Will she get any help from Sean—an actor whose good looks may be all there is to him? Will she be reconciled with her mother at long last?
What to Keep looks into the lives of Denny Roman, her mother, her father, her stepfather, and her surrogate mother—all practicing variations on the theme “parent” but none of them quite done being children themselves. Bubbling with sly humor and psychological insight, their story holds out a refreshingly flexible and realistic model of what a good family—whether created by nature or chance or both—can consist of.
From the Hardcover edition.
320 pages, Paperback
First published March 29, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
February 11, 2019
I’m not sure this was a bad book, it just wasn’t always interesting to me and I didn’t connect with it. The last section was the best, but I had to push myself to finish it the book and it didn’t leave me feeling wowed.
July 24, 2007
Throughout “What to Keep,” even though the characters all reveal deep flaws that would tend not to endear them to the reader, I found myself consistently rooting for them to connect; to make the leap across the divide inbred in their relationships, and of course exacerbated by separation and literal distance.
Late in the book, Denny, the main protagonist, is trying to explain to her mother, Lily, that a play Denny had written was not about her; the explanation is going nowhere, and Lily grows more and agitated and confrontational. Finally, Denny, at last, hits the spot:
“…it's about how easy it is to screw things up with the people you love.” It gets through to Lily. It connects directly to her heart, much like this book does.
So often, the relationships depicted in works of art, whether they be film, a book, a play, even a song, tend to resolve exactly and boringly right where we expect them to. That is not the case at all in this book, and at the book's conclusion, I can't imagine a reader who has made it to the final page being disappointed.
In “What to Keep,” the circumstances each character is placed in call to mind the famous quote from Heraclitus: “A man's character is his destiny.” Yet, each character in “What to Keep” struggles mightily, if not always willingly or successfully, with their flaws and foibles, to avoid the logical result of Heraclitus' dictum. In the end, some of the flaws are dispatched with more ease than others. But it is the struggle to truly determine in one's life what is important, what keeps us whole and at peace, and what tethers us to those we love, that is the goal. It is, as the other cliché goes, the journey that matters, and “What to Keep” is a lovely 24-year journey that leaves you emotionally entangled with the wonderful characters and holds you steady, hoping for their journeys to come to a satisfying and positive end.
Late in the book, Denny, the main protagonist, is trying to explain to her mother, Lily, that a play Denny had written was not about her; the explanation is going nowhere, and Lily grows more and agitated and confrontational. Finally, Denny, at last, hits the spot:
“…it's about how easy it is to screw things up with the people you love.” It gets through to Lily. It connects directly to her heart, much like this book does.
So often, the relationships depicted in works of art, whether they be film, a book, a play, even a song, tend to resolve exactly and boringly right where we expect them to. That is not the case at all in this book, and at the book's conclusion, I can't imagine a reader who has made it to the final page being disappointed.
In “What to Keep,” the circumstances each character is placed in call to mind the famous quote from Heraclitus: “A man's character is his destiny.” Yet, each character in “What to Keep” struggles mightily, if not always willingly or successfully, with their flaws and foibles, to avoid the logical result of Heraclitus' dictum. In the end, some of the flaws are dispatched with more ease than others. But it is the struggle to truly determine in one's life what is important, what keeps us whole and at peace, and what tethers us to those we love, that is the goal. It is, as the other cliché goes, the journey that matters, and “What to Keep” is a lovely 24-year journey that leaves you emotionally entangled with the wonderful characters and holds you steady, hoping for their journeys to come to a satisfying and positive end.
April 14, 2015
Almost a coming-of-age story that spans from pre-teen awkwardness to nearly middle age defiance and everything in between. Denny Rowan, the product of two brilliant neurosurgeons, is smart, sassy, and lonely. Her mother doesn't know how to be a mother and after she divorced Charles, Denny becomes even more removed from her life.
Denny rebels, sort of, heads to Berkeley for college, and stays on in California to try her luck at acting. As we all know, this usually does not work out too well, and in her 30's, Denny heads to New York as the play that she has written is about to be produced off-Broadway.
Along the way, she falls in and out of relationships, falls in and out of connections with her parents, but her one true constant is family friend, Maureen, a loving, non-judgmental soul who always has good advice for Denny. Maureen becomes a single mom to Luke, a multi-racial boy who is the love of her life. Unexpectedly, Maureen dies, leaving 12-year-old Luke alone in the world (except for a distant grandmother).
Denny and Luke connect, through their mutual love of Maureen, and it is up to the two of them to keep her memory alive. How they accomplish this, is, well, another story. What to Keep: A Novel is really all about maturing, appreciating what you have, and knowing what to keep in your heart.
Denny rebels, sort of, heads to Berkeley for college, and stays on in California to try her luck at acting. As we all know, this usually does not work out too well, and in her 30's, Denny heads to New York as the play that she has written is about to be produced off-Broadway.
Along the way, she falls in and out of relationships, falls in and out of connections with her parents, but her one true constant is family friend, Maureen, a loving, non-judgmental soul who always has good advice for Denny. Maureen becomes a single mom to Luke, a multi-racial boy who is the love of her life. Unexpectedly, Maureen dies, leaving 12-year-old Luke alone in the world (except for a distant grandmother).
Denny and Luke connect, through their mutual love of Maureen, and it is up to the two of them to keep her memory alive. How they accomplish this, is, well, another story. What to Keep: A Novel is really all about maturing, appreciating what you have, and knowing what to keep in your heart.
January 27, 2009
It’s written about a girl and the different stages of her life. Part one is Denny at 12 years old. Part two she is 26. Part three is about Denny in her 30’s. It took a while to really capture my interest but I’m really made an effort to branch out and read books that I would usually pass on. After a rough start it started to intrigue me a bit but then the book took a turn and started to suck a bit. The story just ends, without any explanation or further insight to the characters or the story line. It’s like an unfinished sentence that you want to point out makes no sense at all. What did the author do get bored with writing and just put it out into the world without any final thought on how it would end? It’s a shame because I like the concept of the book being divided into three stages of the characters. It could have had a chance if more thought was put into it.
October 15, 2010
This is the story of Denny, raised less by her own divorced parents than by their not-in-office manager extraordinaire, Maureen.
Though living with her neurology researcher mother, Denny goes to Maureen when she needs advice or love. As an adult, Denny moves to LA to be an actress. She re-meets Maureen when back in Ohio to help her mother and stepdad close up the house to move to NY, where her mother will have her own lab.
Denny herself moves to NY as a playwright. It is there that Maureen's son, Luke, arrives on her doorstep.
Denny must decide: Will she give him a place to live? Can she be a grownup and do it? Will her play succeed? Can she and her mother finally get along?
An OK book. Readable, but nothing worth staying up late over. I can see how it might really catch some people who can relate to it.
Though living with her neurology researcher mother, Denny goes to Maureen when she needs advice or love. As an adult, Denny moves to LA to be an actress. She re-meets Maureen when back in Ohio to help her mother and stepdad close up the house to move to NY, where her mother will have her own lab.
Denny herself moves to NY as a playwright. It is there that Maureen's son, Luke, arrives on her doorstep.
Denny must decide: Will she give him a place to live? Can she be a grownup and do it? Will her play succeed? Can she and her mother finally get along?
An OK book. Readable, but nothing worth staying up late over. I can see how it might really catch some people who can relate to it.
July 17, 2008
An interesting story that could have used another 100 or so pages to fully develop, this is ultimately about finding one's self and one's purpose. Split into three definite periods of her life, pre-teen, young adult, and 30-something, Denny's story isn't heartbreakingly unique--she worries about growing boobs, she worries about her relationship with her mother, and she comes to terms with her own upbringing as she prepares for motherhood.
Some of the characters are far-fetched (Maureen, the agoraphobe, who suddenly overcomes her years of fear in a matter of hours, if not minutes), but they ultimately lend to the story. Cline holds the story together enough to make for a decent debut and I'm interested to see what her second novel delivers.
Some of the characters are far-fetched (Maureen, the agoraphobe, who suddenly overcomes her years of fear in a matter of hours, if not minutes), but they ultimately lend to the story. Cline holds the story together enough to make for a decent debut and I'm interested to see what her second novel delivers.
November 4, 2007
I read this on the plane and while on a visit to London while Doug was on business. While it was a pleasant read, less than a month later I could hardly recall it. It’s the story about a self-deprecating young lady, Denny Roman, at different stages in her life: confused teenager, twenty-six year old actress and a thirty-six year old playwright. There are other bit players. I didn’t think the author got you sufficiently involved in any of their lives.
November 10, 2014
This was an interesting little book. Parts of it were great, particularly Denny's one act of rebellion in part one. But I could never wrap my head fully around the character of her mother, Lily. Why did Denny hate her? She seemed like such a non-entity. Loved Phil and Maureen, though. Resented the portrayal of Phoenix, of course lol!
January 2, 2008
This has to be one of the most boring books I've read in a long time. I got to page 100 and just couldn't force myself to keep going. It's so disappointing because Cline is obviously a talented writer... but this book was simply painful. Not worth the time.
May 28, 2014
What to Keep was not a surefire hit: I skimmed a good deal of the first two sections before the story and characters got interesting enough to slow me down. Cline's a skilled writer, but her characters were prickly enough that it took some time for them to win me over.
August 3, 2018
I read some reviews and was a little apprehensive on whether or not I would like it. I did like it, especially when Denny (Eden) is a young girl (Neurogenesis 1976), there were some very funny parts in this. Denny's parents are both brain surgeons. They are smart, but do not know how to be parents. Lucky for Denny, her parents use the services of Maureen, who keeps up with their appointments, remind them of Denny's birthday, arranges transportation and orders their groceries. Maureen is there for Denny when life's problems catch up with her. Time marches on, Denny's parents separate and eventually remarry, Denny starts a life of her own, but Maureen and Denny stay in touch. One review asked why Denny was angry with her mother during this time (The Camel Stop 1990) and I think it is because she feels so detached from her due to the lack of parenting up until this point. Lily really hasn't been there for Denny when she needed her and now when she is there to help Lily, she wants to, but all of the hurt comes back. She runs into Maureen at this point and finds that Maureen too has moved on and now is a mother, yet there is still that connection. The last section of the book (Funny Cry Happy 2000) find Denny living in NYC. Maureen has died and her son Luke, now on the cusp of 13, spends all his money to travel to Denny. Denny is as unsure what to do as Luke is. Luke's arrival and Denny's play just off Broadway bring more changes in Denny's life and not necessarily bad ones.
October 13, 2017
Only read to page 71 of What to Keep by Rachel Cline.
I enjoyed bits of humor found in those pages, but the narrator's breathless style got weary. Mauren could be Denny could be Lilly, could be any character due to the narration sameness.
I kept wondering, okay when am I going to learn what is this story's plot or reason for being; got hopeful when Denny moved some troll dolls to a drawer (what to keep, what to discard?), but mostly I felt that I was reading a racy pre-teen fiction novel, not something geared to adults.
I enjoyed bits of humor found in those pages, but the narrator's breathless style got weary. Mauren could be Denny could be Lilly, could be any character due to the narration sameness.
I kept wondering, okay when am I going to learn what is this story's plot or reason for being; got hopeful when Denny moved some troll dolls to a drawer (what to keep, what to discard?), but mostly I felt that I was reading a racy pre-teen fiction novel, not something geared to adults.
January 20, 2025
I love how everyone here got in their own way -- that is, it's about the devil inside. But really, it wasn't about any devil, as much as about the grace of going on. I love how time goes on here. I love how difficult the parents found parenting. I really loved Luke.
Personal note: So fun to see my beloved Columbus appear right next to my newly beloved NYC. I had forgotten how important Lazarus was in the landscape. And Maureen's date on campus felt all too real.
Thank you, Rachel for this book.
Personal note: So fun to see my beloved Columbus appear right next to my newly beloved NYC. I had forgotten how important Lazarus was in the landscape. And Maureen's date on campus felt all too real.
Thank you, Rachel for this book.
April 20, 2020
This was my first read with this author. I did struggle in the beginning and I have to say that I learned some words that I did not know the exact meaning and rather than look each word up I tried to understand what it might be based on how it was used. I kept at it and I was glad I did. The insight about how our lives happen in spite of it all, gave purpose to the title.
September 21, 2017
Quick chick-lit book. Improbable situations, happy ending.
March 14, 2019
Liked first 2/3 very, very much.
September 24, 2021
Not this.
April 9, 2022
Boring!! Yawner!! But I finished it. Just skimmed the last 5-6 chapters. No substance to this story or the characters.
May 24, 2024
Lovely family fiction; a story of several in a family over many years. One of those hopeful, life-affirming novels. Can't get too many of those.
October 14, 2024
“That moment of fear and aggression came from deep inside her, from a place she rarely has access to but which, tonight, she sees that she must trust:
It is the part of her that loves.”
It is the part of her that loves.”
March 28, 2025
Book -no longer have
October 21, 2017
"What to Keep" by Rachel Cline is one of those books that once you get into the story line you just can't walk away from the book for very long. It's the story of a woman named Denny beginning at the age of 12 with a terribly distant-minded set of parents but who manages to make her way through the world with the help and counseling of her good friend and her mother's assistant, Maureen. Each section of the book shows Denny at various ages and stages in her life, growing, gathering new experiences, and adjusting to her family and her career. I believe this would be a great book club selection and would generate lots of discussion about Denny's reaction, how the different parts of her immediate and extended family's problems and experiences bear on Denny's life. For some reason, the story reminds me a bit about "Gone, Girl" but I'm sure why. Would love to hear comments from others!
October 29, 2011
This is my favorite part:
Lily has not exactly forgotten about the plane she's supposed to be on, or the paper she's supposed to present, but the last thing she needs today is a roomful of neuroscientists and she is stalling. What her research has uncovered is something no one wants to hear: her mockingbirds don't just learn new tunes, they grow new brain cells within which to store them.
Nice, huh?
Lily has not exactly forgotten about the plane she's supposed to be on, or the paper she's supposed to present, but the last thing she needs today is a roomful of neuroscientists and she is stalling. What her research has uncovered is something no one wants to hear: her mockingbirds don't just learn new tunes, they grow new brain cells within which to store them.
Nice, huh?
September 20, 2008
A very so-so book that dragged me through it. It encapsulates 3 time periods in a woman's life - late teens, mid-20's, and then late 30's. The focus is on her self-views, relationships with family (esp. her mother) at each of these time periods. Truly, this is only 1.5 stars for me. Boring, but some of the thoughts are intriguing.
September 23, 2007
ehhhh, if I hadn't been on vacation and dangerously close to the end of my stack of 5 books, I probably wouldn't have finished reading this... the story was fine, I just thought it was mostly poorly written... too much trying to jam "drama" into places where it didn't quite fit.
July 25, 2008
I can't quite figure out why I haven't put this book down yet. It really is not a good story. For some reason I'm complelled to finish it! I finished the book and it was just as dull at the end as at the beginning.
October 3, 2011
I guess I didn't understand this book. There were parts of the story line that I really enjoyed, but for the most part the story seemed to wander aimlessly and when it ended I turned the page looking for the rest of the story.
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February 2, 2016The story of a young woman at three pivotal moments in her life. We meet Denny when she is twelve and growing up on her own, since her scientist parents are not very good at parenting. Again in her 20s as she's trying to become an actress, and then in her 30s as she becomes a de facto foster mom.
January 21, 2016
An OK book. Some parts were good, some not. There were some touching moments and then there were the parts that didn't really work. The odd bits where the narrator butts in were annoying. Not as bad a book as this review seems to imply but it really didn't go anywhere.
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July 11, 2008I just couldn't get into this book. It was boring. Period.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews