Elinor Lipman’s newest “The View From Penthouse B” probably falls in the category of chick-lit, beach read. It is a silly, yet funny book. The four main characters are what moves the plot along.
Margo and Gwen are two sisters in their early fifties whose lives have fallen apart but for different reasons. Margo was married to Charles, an eminent OB-GYN, whose specialty was infertility. He was such a caring doctor that he personally tried to help many of his patients conceive. He got three years in a country-club prison for his efforts. Margo promptly made him her ex-husband and used the divorce proceeds to invest in what seemed like a fool-proof means to increase her wealth. Yes, she is one on the many victims of Bernie Madoff.
Gwen was happily married to a music teacher, who dies of an unknown heart problem. At the suggestion of a third sister, Gwen moves into Margo’s Art Deco apartment in the West Village. Gwen helps with the rent, and keeps Margo from doing anything foolish. Margo, on the other hand, tries to reintroduce Gwen to the dating world via on-line dating services.
When it appears that they are really short of capital, they enlist a third boarder. Anthony is a young, gay man who worked on Wall Street until the recession. He moves into what was the maid’s room in the penthouse.
The fourth character is Charles, Margo’s ex-husband. He eventually is released from prison and winds up in a very small apartment in the same building as, you guessed it, his ex-wife.
Yes, this is all very silly, but the author can write funny situations and funny dialogue. “The View From Penthouse B” is not great literature, but the plot moves along quickly and, as a reader, I did become invested in the characters. Just a fun read.