They May Not Mean To, But They Do

"They May Not Mean To, But They Do" is a very funny novel. . . . This is a situation plenty of readers will recognize. . . . Schine reminds us that a family is as united by its trials as by its triumphs. . . . Schine writes with economy and style. . . . Deftly handled storytelling. Penelope Lively, "The New York Times Book Review"

Cathleen Schine [is] one of our most realistically imaginative, dependably readable novelists. . . [H]er ten books comprise a sly, illuminating corpus that seems more related to the English comic novel than to most contemporary American fiction. [S]hapely and precisely structured. . . ruefully satiric. . . buoyant. . . sharply observant. . . Her tenth and newest novel . . . cuts deeper, feels fuller and more ambitious, and seems to me her best. Phillip Lopate, "The New York Review of Books"

This is one of those novels that somehow manages to be funny and heartbreaking at the same time; Schine has a gift for transforming the pathos and comedy of everyday life into luminous fiction. "Entertainment Weekly"
""
Wise and witty. . . a return to form. NPR

A seamless blend of humor and heartbreak, shot through with so many funny, painful truths that absorbing them all is an experience to be savored. . . . Warm, lively and generous, it s one of the must-reads of the summer. Connie Ogle, "The Miami Herald"

Schine examines what happens when your other half dies with adroit observations about family, loss, and aging . . . Joy s doggedness when it comes to taking care of herself is recognizable and understandable, showcasing Schine s intuitive empathy, and any adult with an aged parent will recognize her children s well-meaning concern. "Publishers Weekly"

Cathleen Schine has written a beautiful book that should be on every nightstand this summer. Autumn Markus, "New York Journal of Books"
""
Schine once again captures the love laced with guilt and sardonic humor that keeps generations of New York families together, whether they like it or not. "Booklist "
""
Schine s latest novel combines the dark, pithy humor of a Lorrie Moore short story with quieter insights into aging, death, and the love, loneliness, and incomprehension that gets passed back and forth between generations. "Tablet"

The fictional equivalent of Roz Chast s brilliant memoir of dutiful daughterhood, Can t We Talk About Something More Pleasant? Schine writes about the fierce love that binds generations. . . This novel has an extra layer of depth and dignity, making for a profound but very readable novel that is among her very best. BookPage

With its unexpected moments of profundity and laugh-aloud humor, Cathleen Schine s novel movingly demonstrates how parents and children may not mean to but they do, ultimately, strain yet sustain one another. "Lilith Magazine""

They May Not Mean To, But They Do is a very funny novel. . . . This is a situation plenty of readers will recognize. . . . Schine reminds us that a family is as united by its trials as by its triumphs. . . . Schine writes with economy and style. . . . Deftly handled storytelling. Penelope Lively, The New York Times Book Review

Cathleen Schine [is] one of our most realistically imaginative, dependably readable novelists. . . [H]er ten books comprise a sly, illuminating corpus that seems more related to the English comic novel than to most contemporary American fiction. [S]hapely and precisely structured. . . ruefully satiric. . . buoyant. . . sharply observant. . . Her tenth and newest novel . . . cuts deeper, feels fuller and more ambitious, and seems to me her best. Phillip Lopate, The New York Review of Books

This is one of those novels that somehow manages to be funny and heartbreaking at the same time; Schine has a gift for transforming the pathos and comedy of everyday life into luminous fiction. Entertainment Weekly

Wise and witty. . . a return to form. NPR

A seamless blend of humor and heartbreak, shot through with so many funny, painful truths that absorbing them all is an experience to be savored. . . . Warm, lively and generous, it s one of the must-reads of the summer. Connie Ogle, The Miami Herald

Schine examines what happens when your other half dies with adroit observations about family, loss, and aging . . . Joy s doggedness when it comes to taking care of herself is recognizable and understandable, showcasing Schine s intuitive empathy, and any adult with an aged parent will recognize her children s well-meaning concern. Publishers Weekly

Cathleen Schine has written a beautiful book that should be on every nightstand this summer. Autumn Markus, New York Journal of Books

Schine once again captures the love laced with guilt and sardonic humor that keeps generations of New York families together, whether they like it or not. Booklist

Schine s latest novel combines the dark, pithy humor of a Lorrie Moore short story with quieter insights into aging, death, and the love, loneliness, and incomprehension that gets passed back and forth between generations. Tablet

The fictional equivalent of Roz Chast s brilliant memoir of dutiful daughterhood, Can t We Talk About Something More Pleasant? Schine writes about the fierce love that binds generations. . . This novel has an extra layer of depth and dignity, making for a profound but very readable novel that is among her very best. BookPage

With its unexpected moments of profundity and laugh-aloud humor, Cathleen Schine s novel movingly demonstrates how parents and children may not mean to but they do, ultimately, strain yet sustain one another. Lilith Magazine

"They May Not Mean To, But They Do is a very funny novel. . . . This is a situation plenty of readers will recognize. . . . Schine reminds us that a family is as united by its trials as by its triumphs. . . . Schine writes with economy and style. . . . Deftly handled storytelling." --Penelope Lively, The New York Times Book Review

"Cathleen Schine [is] one of our most realistically imaginative, dependably readable novelists. . . [H]er ten books comprise a sly, illuminating corpus that seems more related to the English comic novel than to most contemporary American fiction. [S]hapely and precisely structured. . . ruefully satiric. . . buoyant. . . sharply observant. . . Her tenth and newest novel . . . cuts deeper, feels fuller and more ambitious, and seems to me her best." --Phillip Lopate, The New York Review of Books

"This is one of those novels that somehow manages to be funny and heartbreaking at the same time; Schine has a gift for transforming the pathos and comedy of everyday life into luminous fiction." --Entertainment Weekly

"Wise and witty. . . a return to form." --NPR

"A seamless blend of humor and heartbreak, shot through with so many funny, painful truths that absorbing them all is an experience to be savored. . . . Warm, lively and generous, it's one of the must-reads of the summer." --Connie Ogle, The Miami Herald

"Schine examines what happens when your other half dies with adroit observations about family, loss, and aging . . . Joy's doggedness when it comes to taking care of herself is recognizable and understandable, showcasing Schine's intuitive empathy, and any adult with an aged parent will recognize her children's well-meaning concern." --Publishers Weekly

"Cathleen Schine has written a beautiful book that should be on every nightstand this summer." --Autumn Markus, New York Journal of Books

"Schine once again captures the love laced with guilt and sardonic humor that keeps generations of New York families together, whether they like it or not."--Booklist

"Schine's latest novel combines the dark, pithy humor of a Lorrie Moore short story with quieter insights into aging, death, and the love, loneliness, and incomprehension that gets passed back and forth between generations." --Tablet

"The fictional equivalent of Roz Chast's brilliant memoir of dutiful daughterhood, Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant? ... Schine writes about the fierce love that binds generations. . . This novel has an extra layer of depth and dignity, making for a profound but very readable novel that is among her very best." --BookPage

"With its unexpected moments of profundity and laugh-aloud humor, Cathleen Schine's novel movingly demonstrates how parents and children may not mean to but they do, ultimately, strain yet sustain one another." --Lilith Magazine

-They May Not Mean To, But They Do is a very funny novel. . . . This is a situation plenty of readers will recognize. . . . Schine reminds us that a family is as united by its trials as by its triumphs. . . . Schine writes with economy and style. . . . Deftly handled storytelling.- --Penelope Lively, The New York Times Book Review

-Cathleen Schine [is] one of our most realistically imaginative, dependably readable novelists. . . [H]er ten books comprise a sly, illuminating corpus that seems more related to the English comic novel than to most contemporary American fiction. [S]hapely and precisely structured. . . ruefully satiric. . . buoyant. . . sharply observant. . . Her tenth and newest novel . . . cuts deeper, feels fuller and more ambitious, and seems to me her best.- --Phillip Lopate, The New York Review of Books

-This is one of those novels that somehow manages to be funny and heartbreaking at the same time; Schine has a gift for transforming the pathos and comedy of everyday life into luminous fiction.- --Entertainment Weekly

-Wise and witty. . . a return to form.- --NPR

-A seamless blend of humor and heartbreak, shot through with so many funny, painful truths that absorbing them all is an experience to be savored. . . . Warm, lively and generous, it's one of the must-reads of the summer.- --Connie Ogle, The Miami Herald

-Schine examines what happens when your other half dies with adroit observations about family, loss, and aging . . . Joy's doggedness when it comes to taking care of herself is recognizable and understandable, showcasing Schine's intuitive empathy, and any adult with an aged parent will recognize her children's well-meaning concern.- --Publishers Weekly

-Cathleen Schine has written a beautiful book that should be on every nightstand this summer.- --Autumn Markus, New York Journal of Books

-Schine once again captures the love laced with guilt and sardonic humor that keeps generations of New York families together, whether they like it or not.---Booklist

-Schine's latest novel combines the dark, pithy humor of a Lorrie Moore short story with quieter insights into aging, death, and the love, loneliness, and incomprehension that gets passed back and forth between generations.- --Tablet

-The fictional equivalent of Roz Chast's brilliant memoir of dutiful daughterhood, Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant? ... Schine writes about the fierce love that binds generations. . . This novel has an extra layer of depth and dignity, making for a profound but very readable novel that is among her very best.- --BookPage

-With its unexpected moments of profundity and laugh-aloud humor, Cathleen Schine's novel movingly demonstrates how parents and children may not mean to but they do, ultimately, strain yet sustain one another.- --Lilith Magazine

Praise for They May Not Mean To, But They Do

"Cathleen Schine [is] one of our most realistically imaginative, dependably readable novelists. . . [H]er ten books comprise a sly, illuminating corpus that seems more related to the English comic novel than to most contemporary American fiction. [S]hapely and precisely structured. . . ruefully satiric. . . buoyant. . . sharply observant. . . Her tenth and newest novel . . . cuts deeper, feels fuller and more ambitious, and seems to me her best." --Phillip Lopate, New York Review of Books

"They May Not Mean To, But They Do is a very funny novel. . . . This is a situation plenty of readers will recognize. . . . Schine reminds us that a family is as united by its trials as by its triumphs. . . . Schine writes with economy and style. . . . Deftly handled storytelling." --Penelope Lively, The New York Times Book Review

"Schine's painfully beautiful depiction of a woman's heroism in the face of that abyss offers, like the best literature, a reminder of the tender, frightening vulnerability we all share." --Los Angeles Review of Books

"This marvelous novel is emotionally stirring and hilarious on virtually every page. How does Cathleen Schine know everything about everything? Her observations about family life, friendship, loss, aging, dignity, indignity, and the attachments we miraculously make that never seem to unattach are profound and rewarding. I already miss living in the world of this special and winning book." --Meg Wolitzer, author of The Interestings

"Cathleen Schine has written an entirely different kind of coming-of-age novel. This is not about how a twentysomething becomes a thirtysomething. It's about how people making the difficult and at times scary journey into old old age figure out how to live. And it's about the people who surround them--with love, anxiety, resentment, and sometimes complete misunderstanding. They May Not Mean To, But They Do is a great read: empathetic, and also very, very funny." --Roz Chast, author of Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant?

"Oh, but you do need Schine's novel. At least, you do if you're a reader who relishes acute psychological perceptions and lots of laughs to leaven the existential grimness, like those other literary domestic goddesses to whom she's sometimes compared, Jane Austen and Nora Ephron . . . Does anyone really ever do anyone else any good? That's the question this sparkling and sad novel mulls over and answers with a wry shrug." --Maureen Corrigan, NPR

"This is one of those laugh-out-loud-on-the-subway novels, but it also manages to be sad and authentic . . . [S]he tells a story that is tender, wise, hilarious and painful. Give this book to your siblings and your parents: everyone will find a passage to love." --Toronto Star

"[A] hugely satisfying novel." --Minneapolis Star Tribune

"A seamless blend of humor and heartbreak." --Miami Herald

"Schine has a gift for transforming the pathos and comedy of everyday life into luminous fiction." --Entertainment Weekly

"Schine's latest novel combines the dark, pithy humor of a Lorrie Moore short story with quieter insights into aging, death, and the love, loneliness, and incomprehension that gets passed back and forth between generations." --Tablet

"A deeply affecting yet very funny intergenerational novel . . . the novel is as humorous as it is compassionate . . . They May Not Mean To, but They Do has an extra layer of depth and dignity, making for a profound but very readable novel that is among her...