The Clasp: A Novel Paperback – June 7, 2016

As a big fan of Ms. Crosley's last two books, I was very excited to read her first novel.I must say, it was a bit disappointing. Most of "The Clasp" is spent on backstory, leaving me eagerly awaiting to finally get to the adventure that the book's synopsis promises. But when the adventure actually begins, I actually missed reading the backstory again about the 3 characters relationships and the events that brought them together.The clasp itself is merely a symbolic piece that's endeavoring to reunite three friends from college, but it's hardly believable.My biggest issue with the book is the lack of distinction in voice. There is little variation between the narrator's voice and the three character's voice. Having spent most of her professional writing career, focusing on crafting one voice, Ms. Crosley failed to adequately master the ability to differentiate the three characters from even the narrator's tone.Having said that, there were certainly some lines in the book that I absolutely loved so much, that I had to dig for a highlighter and highlight them. She is still a master at creating short, concise thoughts that really make you think, and for that, the book was worth the read.

Living in Crosleyworld would be such a trip. You’d be laughing most of the time, and wondering why you donned those funny glasses that makes everything look a little skewed. Kind of like eating lunch at the Algonquin with Dorothy Parker, but replacing her mean-spirited quips with genuinely funny bon mots, and her whiskey voice with a warm, throaty laugh. That what the The Clasp is like: delightful, and a pleasant escape with likable, witty people. If anyone is wondering, as I was, if our deep-rooted appreciation for Crosley’s snort-your-drink-out-your nose humor in Cake and Number is sustained in this novel, I’d have to say “most of the time, but appropriately not always.” But that’s okay: it’s subdued here, as it needs to be in a real novel. She’s left the kid’s table, and expertly crossed the line into the scary world of writing grown-up books. The characters are distinct, multi-dimensional, and engaging. The imagery is concise, precise, and colorful. The structure balances perfectly the triangle of the protagonists’ blended narrative (each time Crosley switches to a new chapter following one of them, it hasn’t been long enough that you forget what’s happening with him/her, but seamlessly at the point that you can pick right back up on their narrative arc. Nicely done!) All of the familiar Crosley tropes are there, especially her wickedly spot-on similes (my favorite was viewing quaint French rooftops as Keebler Elf houses) and her “I Can’t Believe She Just Wrote That” phrasing that captures expertly the magical mixture of twenty-something innocence and naughtiness. Why, then, did I not give it five stars? Because this is an honest review. Yes, I did like it, very much. But I didn’t go running down the street screaming, “OMG, it’s totes brill!!” There were some contrivances in getting all of the plot gears to mesh that stretched credulity a bit, and some of the dialogue was a wee tad too précieux (do people really quip like that, or do writers spend hours laboring over the right rejoinder that then just blips out supposedly spontaneously?) Bottom line: this is a genuinely amusing book that makes you contemplate what a wonderful body of work lies ahead of Crosley. Yes, it is worth buying and reading, if you’re not looking for Cake/Number Part III.

If there is a town named Crosleyville, I want to be elected mayor. Sloane Crosley had me laughing from first page to last as I read her brilliant debut novel, and I want what she has, whether it be something in her drinking water or the mulch on her vegetables. This is not a book of funny one-liners; rather The Clasp has a viable plot based in part on Guy de Maupassant's short story, The Necklace.Aside from its biting wit, much of which I could identify with, this is a grownup book with characters I fell in love with. Having been college friends, they are now on the cusp of 30 when they meet at the extravagant wedding of two former classmates. Each character, with the exception of the bride, exudes a special charm and joy, and they genuinely care for one another. Their quirky personalities do not define them, but they result in many laugh out loud moments.I envision Sloane Crosley as a member of a modern day Algonquin Round Table. Her brand of humor is that of a thoughtful writer and is often situational. The mental images of the characters during various escapades had me laughing hysterically, but she did not have to hit me on the head to elicit a maniacal guffaw. And a lesson to budding writers of humor, no scatological jokes necessary. Enjoy your visit to Crosleyville; you won't want to leave.

I am such a fan of Sloane Crosley's nonfiction and looked forward to the release of her first novel all year. I was sorely disappointed by it as it was such an unpleasant read. While Crosley's dry sense of humor and quick wit are evident throughout, it doesn't even begin to make up for the actual story, which falls flat right from the beginning. The plot is uneven, the characters are vapid and boring, and the entire book drags and drags. Nothing compelled me to keep going and it took me forever to finish because it was so uninteresting. I am so bummed! Truly, don't let this turn you off of Crosley's other books, which are fan-freaking-tastic, but "The Clasp" is a major dud.