This modern-day novel of manners (I wouldn't go so far to call it a "comedy" as the book jacket does) follows three friends in the greatest city on earth. Messud's character insights are spot-on, absolutely pitch-perfect. The one thing that rings odd to me is that the three main characters, supposedly in their 30s, don't seem like 30-somethings to me. Granted, I have no idea what it's like to be 30-something, but unless it's much the same as being 20-something, this part of the book needs a little work.

Beyond that I was interested in the way Messud gives her secondary characters much more physical description than the three main characters: I can picture Ludovic, Bootie, and Murray perfectly, whereas Julius, Danielle, and Marina are indistinct. But I think this is part of Messud's plan. The three protagonists, while distinct characters, don't have to look like distinct people. They could be anyone. They could be us.

I especially enjoyed how the sense of foreboding just builds--I don't think she ever mentions that it's 2001, but early on you know it's the height of the dot-com era and as the summer progresses it becomes clear that a lot of important things are taking place right around Labor Day, or right after. To be specific, a Tuesday in September...

But the Towers comprise perhaps a tenth of the book, if not less. What's really wonderful here are the interactions between characters--and of course that fantastic, ominous buildup..