Found Objects / Peter Gelfan

Reviewed by: BigAl

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Approximate word count: 70-75,000 words

Availability    

Kindle  US: YES  UK: YES  Nook: YES  Smashwords: NO  Paper: YES

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Author:

A novelist, screenwriter, and freelance book editor, Peter Gelfan lives in New York City.

Description:

“Aldo Zoria, a successful commercial photographer, lives with his wife and their lover in a happy household that includes the lover’s two young children. Domestic bliss shatters when an unexpected guest arrives and threatens to turn their world upside down.”

Appraisal:

I’m going to start with a quote plucked from the Wikipedia article on polyamory: 

Polyamory, often abbreviated as poly, is often described as "consensual, ethical, and responsible non-monogamy." The word is sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to sexual or romantic relationships that are not sexually exclusive, though there is disagreement on how broadly it applies; an emphasis on ethics, honesty, and transparency all around is widely regarded as the crucial defining characteristic.

This is the situation Aldo, his wife Erica, and their mutual lover, Marie, have. Throw in Jasmine and Dominic, Marie’s two kids, and we’ve got one big, happy, and very nontraditional family.

Wikipedia also says that “People who identify as polyamorous typically reject the view that sexual and relational exclusivity are necessary for deep, committed, long-term loving relationships.” A 2009 article Newsweek Magazine Online contended that there were more than 500,000 polyamorous relationships in the US at that time. It doesn’t work for me, but apparently it does for some people, and it appeared to be working for Aldo, Erica, and Marie. At least it was until their delicate balance was upset by a visit from Jonah, the husband who had abandoned Marie and her kids.

If this book doesn’t get you thinking about relationships, families, and what separates the good from the not, you weren’t paying attention. If that happens, the “Questions for Discussion” section at the end might help (as well as being a good starting point for your book club’s discussion). One of those questions is, “Some reviewers saw Found Objects as a cautionary tale, others as a challenge to conventional mores. How did it work for you?” Can I pick both?

FYI:

Adult language and content.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues

Rating: **** Four stars