Rise and Shine by Anna Quindlen

Still in Rochester, still have the library! So, I was delighted to find a book by Anna Quindlen that I hadn't already read. This book is a delight. While much of Quindlen's humor is cynical, all of it is smart. And the dialogue between the interesting characters is bright, witty, and carbonated! The story fizzes right along with two contrasting views of New York City represented by two sisters. The sister who works as a social worker is also the narrator, and the story evolves around her sister, a TV star. In between is a deeply contrasting way of living and of viewing the world. Quindlen's descriptions of people and NYC life are illuminating, often funny, often tragic, and insightful. I found myself alternately fascinated and appalled by the lifestyles she describes. The glamorous aspects of the rich life is contrasted perfectly with its pain. The absurdity of the welfare system is contrasted sympathetically with the poor who receive it. Interesting characters inhabiting an interesting milieu...with a lot of heart thrown in for good measure.