So Much for That

So Much for That is a 2010 novel by Lionel Shriver. The novel was shortlisted for the 2010 National Book Award for Fiction.[1]

The novel, a social satire, follows American entrepreneur Shep Knacker, as he is forced to sell his business to pay for medical care for his wife, forcing him from following his goal to retire to a third world country.[2][3] The novel exhaustively critiques the various problems created within society by the expensive nature of the American medical system, and the larger capitalistic economic system.[2][3][4][5]

Critical reception

Reception of the novel was mixed. NPR reviewer Maureen Corrigan is much more positive about the novel, praising its language and writing, saying "What's really striking here is the way Shriver's juiced-up language and droll social commentary never flag once throughout this long and deliciously involved novel."[3] Ron Charles of Washington Post Book World, concluded that " So Much for That is a furious objection to watching the dream of health, financial security and old-age companionship wither and die."[6] Telegraph reviewer Lucy Daniel described the novel as successful critiquing the American health care system, writing " It’s a wonder that subject matter on the surface so bleak can be transformed into something so uplifting."[5]

The Guardian was more mixed, praising the "fast-paced exchanges" within the novel, but noting that she has a "tendency to rely too heavily on dialogue to explain complicated issues such as the workings of the US healthcare system or the intricacies of chemotherapy."[7] Though favouring the social critiques in the novel, New York Times reviewer Leah Hager Cohen described the novel as "lack[ing] a fullness of wisdom about its characters’ potential for growth."[2]

References

  1. ↑ "Lionel Shriver, So Much For That - 2010 National Book Award Fiction Finalist, The National Book Foundation". www.nationalbook.org. Retrieved 2016-05-23.
  2. 1 2 3 Cohen, Leah Hager (2010-03-14). "Pre-existing Conditions". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-05-23.
  3. 1 2 3 "A Novel Tallies The Real Cost Of Health Care". NPR.org. Retrieved 2016-05-23.
  4. ↑ "Dysautonomia Foundation - So Much For That". www.familialdysautonomia.org. Retrieved 2016-05-23.
  5. 1 2 Daniel, Lucy. "So Much for That by Lionel Shriver: review". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-05-23.
  6. ↑ Charles, Ron (2010-03-17). "Book review: Ron Charles reviews 'So Much for That' by Lionel Shriver". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2016-05-23.
  7. ↑ O'Kelly, Lisa (2010-03-28). "So Much For That by Lionel Shriver | Book review". the Guardian. Retrieved 2016-05-23.
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