This discussion originally appeared in Beach Read Book Club , a limited-run newsletter where New York staff discuss the season’s buzziest books alongside our readers. To be the first to join the discourse, sign up here . Welcome back to Beach Read Book Club ’s discussion of Taffy Brodesser-Akner’s Long Island Compromise.
Today, we’re talking about the Beamer section of the novel, which means BDSM, Hollywood satire, and, of course, the cultural impact of Mandy Patinkin. (If you’re new, you can catch up on part one here .) Kathryn VanArendonk: One of the Beamer things I really did enjoy is every time the narrator’s like, “Beamer can’t understand why nobody likes these shows anymore, Beamer’s completely baffled about how the world has changed.
” I found that more cutting and funny than the stuff like, “Beamer really needs somebody to step on his balls. He just needs it so bad.” Does this narrator love these people or does this narrator hate these people? And am I supposed to be with the narrator or not with the narrator in either one of those configurations? How much of what we’re watching is supposed to evoke deep pity for this person? Which is so uncomfortable to spend that much time in.
How much of that am I supposed to be questioning? I spent a lot of time wondering about the depiction of Beamer’s wife who is clueless and unthinking in her own way and yet every time she calls him to be like “where the fuck are you?” I’m like, “yes, where th.