📖 Overview
Martha McPhee is an American novelist and teacher known for her exploration of social and financial mobility in American society. Her work has gained recognition through multiple awards, including a National Endowment for the Arts grant and a Guggenheim Fellowship, and her novels have been translated into several languages.
McPhee's literary career began with her 1997 debut novel "Bright Angel Time," which became a New York Times Notable Book. Her second novel "Gorgeous Lies" established her as a major literary voice when it became a National Book Award finalist in 2002.
Her subsequent works include "L'America" (2006), "Dear Money" (2010), and "An Elegant Woman" (2020), along with her 2023 memoir "Omega Farm." McPhee currently serves as a professor of English at Hofstra University, and her writing regularly appears in prestigious publications including The New Yorker, Harper's Bazaar, and Tin House.
McPhee comes from a family of creative professionals, being the daughter of renowned literary journalist John McPhee and photographer Pryde Brown. Her work continues to examine themes of class, identity, and social transformation in contemporary America.
👀 Reviews
Readers appreciate McPhee's nuanced portrayal of family relationships and social class dynamics. Many reviews highlight her detailed character development and exploration of American identity across generations.
Liked:
- Complex female characters and mother-daughter relationships
- Rich, descriptive prose style
- Historical research and period details in "An Elegant Woman"
- Treatment of wealth and social mobility in "Dear Money"
Disliked:
- Pacing issues, particularly in novel beginnings
- Some find the narratives overly complex
- Multiple timeline shifts can be hard to follow
- Several readers note difficulty connecting emotionally with characters
Ratings:
Goodreads averages:
- An Elegant Woman: 3.7/5 (500+ ratings)
- Dear Money: 3.3/5 (300+ ratings)
- Gorgeous Lies: 3.4/5 (200+ ratings)
Amazon averages range from 3.8-4.2 stars across titles, with "An Elegant Woman" receiving strongest reader response. Common praise focuses on "sophisticated writing" and "compelling family stories," while criticism often mentions "slow plot development."
📚 Books by Martha McPhee
Bright Angel Time (1997)
A young girl navigates life on a commune in the American West during the 1970s with her mother's new boyfriend and his children.
Gorgeous Lies (2002) The story follows the complex family dynamics of dying patriarch Anton Furey and his many adopted and biological children.
L'America (2006) An American woman's life becomes intertwined with an Albanian refugee's experience in 1990s Italy.
Dear Money (2010) A novelist transforms her life by becoming a bond trader on Wall Street during the period leading up to the 2008 financial crisis.
An Elegant Woman (2020) A multi-generational saga traces the lives of American women from the early 20th century to present day, focusing on reinvention and survival.
Omega Farm (2023) A memoir chronicling the author's experiences growing up on a Pennsylvania farm with her literary father.
Gorgeous Lies (2002) The story follows the complex family dynamics of dying patriarch Anton Furey and his many adopted and biological children.
L'America (2006) An American woman's life becomes intertwined with an Albanian refugee's experience in 1990s Italy.
Dear Money (2010) A novelist transforms her life by becoming a bond trader on Wall Street during the period leading up to the 2008 financial crisis.
An Elegant Woman (2020) A multi-generational saga traces the lives of American women from the early 20th century to present day, focusing on reinvention and survival.
Omega Farm (2023) A memoir chronicling the author's experiences growing up on a Pennsylvania farm with her literary father.
👥 Similar authors
Claire Messud explores family dynamics and class consciousness through multi-generational narratives that examine American identity. Her novels deal with similar themes of social mobility and complex female characters that McPhee readers will recognize.
Jennifer Egan writes about transformation and reinvention in American society, particularly focusing on cultural shifts and economic forces. Her work shares McPhee's interest in how money and class shape personal identity.
Susan Choi crafts narratives about identity and belonging that cross social boundaries and examine American institutions. Her precise prose and exploration of complicated family relationships align with McPhee's literary approach.
Meg Wolitzer chronicles contemporary American life through stories about ambition, creativity, and generational change. Her focus on women navigating professional and personal spheres mirrors themes in McPhee's work.
Curtis Sittenfeld examines class distinctions and social climbing in American society through character-driven narratives. Her work addresses similar questions about privilege and authenticity that appear in McPhee's novels.
Jennifer Egan writes about transformation and reinvention in American society, particularly focusing on cultural shifts and economic forces. Her work shares McPhee's interest in how money and class shape personal identity.
Susan Choi crafts narratives about identity and belonging that cross social boundaries and examine American institutions. Her precise prose and exploration of complicated family relationships align with McPhee's literary approach.
Meg Wolitzer chronicles contemporary American life through stories about ambition, creativity, and generational change. Her focus on women navigating professional and personal spheres mirrors themes in McPhee's work.
Curtis Sittenfeld examines class distinctions and social climbing in American society through character-driven narratives. Her work addresses similar questions about privilege and authenticity that appear in McPhee's novels.