Almost Perfect

by Alice Adams

Book Overview

"[A] sharp, spare novel written by a wonderful, observant writer." COSMOPOLITAN Richard and Stella balance each other almost perfectly. Sometimes he drinks too much, gets too loud, or is too quick to anger. Stella also knows how generous he can be, too, but she begins to wonder if their violent fights and passionate reconciliations point to a deeper problem that Richard doesn't even suspect. There is something terribly wrong with the two of them together,...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0679423982
• ISBN13: 9780679423980
• Release Date: June 1993
• Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
• Length: 243 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.6" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

A LOVE STORY

"Richard arrives, bearing wine and sometimes bourbon, often flowers, and after an endless languishing kiss at the door, they settle in the living room for several drinks. For talking, for kissing." I just had to read this book, having just completed Superior Women by this author. I found this book rather entertaining with a multitude of characters of the art a literary world. The couple in the story, Stella Blake and Richard Fallon seems to have the world at their feet for them, and they are compatible in many ways. They both love cooking for each other, dining out at exotic restaurants, and they truly seem to love each other very much. But do they really? For Richard Fallon is a dificult man, sometimes hard to please and poor Stella finds herself sometimes trying too hard. That's the mystery of it all and the reason this book is called Almost Perfect, so you must read on and see what happens when the party decorations come down and life challenges are thrown their way. Almost Perfect held my interest and attention, and I highly recommend it. Reviewed by Heather Marshall Negahdar (SUGAR-CANE 18/03/06)

Not exciting...but made to savor slowly

I found this book very easy to read. Indeed after picking up the book for the first time I put it down at the 6th chapter. I think that I enjoyed Superior Women more, although this book was also good in its way. It is far more personal with only one main character. And doesnt really draw out on more themes other than male-female bonds and rich-poor bonds. It is a study in to the needs-wants and what makes them up especially in love. I enjoyed this and would recommend this to anyone who likes character portrait books rather than a plot driven novel. I think I will remember this book for a long time.

Good writing, not her best work

I read Almost Perfect right after I read Adams' Superior Women. Almost Perfect is not as good, but still display's Adams' talents: character studies, touching upon the protagonists' motives, describing the ambiance and politics to romance and keeping it all readable and engaging. I walked away from this book still not really knowing the characters and I know that Adams does better at getting inside her characters' heads. Read it anyway. Then read Superior Women.

Excellent fictional treatment of narcissism

Highly recommended for anyone who's ever been mixed up with someone with Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Unfortunately highly realistic and distressing. I was moved to write a review by the Kirkus Review -- all the dramatic faults noted are not Adams's artistic failure but rather her artistic success, for narcissists are like this: weirdly static, while also alternating between extremes of vainglorious grandiosity and nihilistic emptiness and despair. NPD doesn't make good drama because it doesn't go anywhere.