Herb's Pajamas

Herb's Pajamas, a superbly crafted ensemble of related vignettes, reminds us that life holds both laughter and loss. Happily, life also holds the writing of Abigail Thomas, a former editor who has the uncanny ability to incisively yet deferentially reveal her characters' hearts. With an ear for nuance and unerring eye Ms. Thomas presents four Manhattanites, all apartment dwellers on the Upper West Side. What a bittersweet quartet they are - strangers inhabiting the same block, patronizing the same shoe repair, browsing the same book shop, as each, in his or her own way, struggles to cope with loss. Walter, the middle-aged author of a moderately successful sci-fi epic is plagued by insomnia as he waits, hoping that his wife will return. Although he dreams of coming home one day to find her in the kitchen, "pots of things simmering on the stove," his only solace is found in vivid memories of happier days. Although disagreements have separated them, Walter tends to his aged mother, taking her on outings. Mindful of her dislike for plastic utensils, he brings along a silver spoon with which he feeds her vanilla ice cream from a vendor's cup. When she declares her love, his eyes fill as he says he loves her, too, "Grateful to whatever it is that allowed him to love her at long last." At fifty-four Edith has never seen a man naked. Seeking to satisfy her curiosity she treks to the Metropolitan Museum in search of statuary only to remember that it's Monday and, of course, the Museum is closed. She settles for a bacon sandwich. When opportunity does arrive in the form of a dotty exhibitionist, one glance is all she needs to deem the sight a letdown - just another in the string of disappointments that punctuate Edith's days. Perhaps the most heartbreaking member of this foursome is Bunny, a 14-year-old runaway whose all-wise facade is so brittle we fear she'll soon break. She's headed for the inked "X" on a dog eared picture postcard sent by her beloved older sister who disappeared sometime ago. Spurred on by hash brownies and nowhere else to go she reaches her destination which, inevitably, it seems, is a bridge. Heroine of the title piece is sixtyish Belle whose lover dies outside her apartment door clad in her late husband's pajama top. Belle's solution to this inconvenient occurrence is hilarious, thoughtful, and fitting. But, as Belle says, "I have given love freely and sometimes God cuts me a little slack." No slack needs to be cut for Ms. Thomas who blends humor and pathos, deftly capturing quicksilver with a phrase. Estrangement and love, alienation and devotion, laughter and tears are brush strokes in these artfully sketched portraits. Herb's Pajamas shines not because characters are drawn larger than life but because they are drawn so poignantly true to life. - Gail Cooke

Not often have I come across a book that I feel the need to read twice. Thomas' character development and intertwining plots are to be commended. Though best read in one sitting (and, indeed, it is possible), each story is also capable of standing on its own.

Read this book. Such wonderful characters-Walter, Edith, Bunny. Thomas delineates her characters so profoundly you can only take them into your heart. The words are woven on saffron. Buy this book for yourself and your friends. It's a wonderful read. You won't be sorry.

This was the third book by Abigail Thomas that I had read, and like those before, I had a hard time putting it down. Once again, Thomas has enlightened us with stories that make us laugh and make us cry. Her talented writing draws us in until the end. Each story contains characters that seem as though they could be living next door. For those of us that have followed Thomas' path as a writer and have anticipated the release of each new book, you know that Thomas has talent that we haven't seen for some time. For those of you who haven't had the opportunity to read one of her books, you will be pleasantly pleased with Thomas' brilliance in "Herb's Pajamas".

Herb's Pajamas is almost a five-star, maybe a 4.8 !! What a fascinating little book. I am not usually the "short story type", however I was very intrigued by this book. The author's style of somehow fitting all four stories together was quite different. As I read the book, I was curious as to how things were going to tie together. I even re-read the book to see what "tie-ins" I had missed. The characters were GREAT. From the 52 year old virgin to the book store owner...what an ecclectic group of people! A great passage is when Thomas writes of Georgia's (bookstore owner) conception of her child, Lorenzo, the much loved product of a "one-afternoon stand". What great writing in just a few short paragraphs.Readers who are just "surface readers" will enjoy these tales, but those readers who enjoy delving deeper will really find this book quite good. Nice little compact size as well, and the cover shot is a classic.I have never read Abigail Thomas' works before, but now I'm eager for more.