Separation Anxiety (Zigman) - Book Reviews

Book Reviews
What is the name of the emotion that mixes exasperation with sympathy? This was the question going through my head as I read Separation Anxiety, Laura Zigman’s wistful and somewhat erratic fifth novel. The story of Judy Vogel, a middle-aged writer, mother and wife consumed with loneliness as her husband and son drift away, it is a tale that elicits a curious combination of those feelings.… It is unclear why otherwise passive people have decided to get divorced since they seem to like each other and are kind. This dynamic, at least, is fresh; you root for Zigman’s decent and vulnerable characters even while wanting to give them a good shake.… Zigman has brought her ur-self firmly into middle age—and while she is a familiar, self-deprecating, likable protagonist with self-esteem issues, one does find oneself wondering why, with the supposed vantage point of some years, she hasn’t yet gotten out from under the weight of her own judgment.
Janice Y.K. Lee - New York Times Book Review


Judy [is] a 50-year-old mother going through some serious changes.… Readers who enjoyed Maria Semple's far superior Where'd You Go, Bernadette… may enjoy this, but it is not Zigman's best effort. She is a popular writer, though, so buy for demand only. —Stacy Alesi, Eugene M. & Christine E. Lynn Lib., Lynn Univ., Boca Raton, FL
Library Journal


A world where motherhood, wifely duties, and career aspirations take hard twists and turns. With plenty of snark and a dash of humor, [Zigman] shows just how real the struggle bus is, perfect for readers who like a heroine with a messy life.
Booklist


[A] bit unsettling.… [Judy] almost doesn't seem to care about [the dog]… [and when] a group of people at the dog park… charge her with animal abuse, you wonder whose side you're on. The author gamely combines characters and caricatures, real pain and farce.
Kirkus Reviews


Every middle-aged woman who has ever felt invisible, lost or depressed will connect with some aspect of Judy’s life…. Unpredictable and delightfully original. For those seeking a good laugh and a good cry, look no further than Separation Anxiety.
BookPage