THE DIVORCE PAPERS: SUSAN RIEGER

A first novel for Rieger, wife of The New Yorker film critic David Denby, also a professor and lawyer the past twenty years or so.  Thus, she knows law inside out, has been divorced, Denby's her second husband, and has published numerous papers, mostly in law journals.  So this is new for her, especially the genre, an epistolary novel, or a series of letters and in today's world, emails.  Most of the letters are from Sophie Diehl, a fledgling criminal lawyer in a Big Name law firm in New Salem, Narragansett. Because the firm's hot divorce lawyer is on vacation, Sophie is asked by David, the firms head, to do a one time interview of Mia Durkheim, scorned wife of oncologist David Durkheim.  They hit off, like two girl friends, and Mia wants Sophie to take her case, pissing off Fiona, the firm's top divorce lawyer, who eventually leaves the firm in a pique over their handling of this case.

We not only get to know the family which is divorcing, but their parents as well, who are interesting in their own right.  Thus, the background for the divorce is filled in.  The lawyer as novelist comes through when we get to read various sections from the laws of the State concerning divorce, the ins and outs, the rights and limitations of the divorcing couples.  The reader comes away with a thorough understanding of a divorce, both personal and lawyerly, as we see the two sides seek a compromise, a mini war really, as both lawyers open with outrageous claims and desires, knowing that ultimately, unlike a criminal trial, there is no winner, only a compromise, where both sides win and lose.

We also get to live in Sophie head, her shoes, both personal and professional.  She has a good friend from  way back, Maggie, an aspiring actress, whom she emails daily, about her work and personal life, which allows the reader) into Sophie's thinking and feelings, about her relationships with guys, her parents, her colleagues, and her case.  Thus, we get to know her quite well, as well as Mia, her client, and the families surrounding both of them and, of course, Maggie.

I won't go into the details of the divorce; you get the idea of the book.  I really liked it, found the process interesting, the laws concerning divorce enlightening.  And there's a real clarity to who gets what at the end, in dollars, so you really have a primer in case you are planning a divorce.  I am not but if you are, read this book.  You will love it, perhaps decide not to get a divorce, which the book suggests should be avoided if possible.