The Position

The Position centers on a 1970s sex manual called "Pleasuring: One Couple's Journey to Fulfillment," written by Paul and Roz Mellow and featuring illustrations of themselves. When their four children discover the book, it sets in motion reverberations that echo through decades of their family's life. The narrative alternates between different family members' perspectives, spanning from the 1970s to the present day. Each character processes the book's existence and impact differently, from the parents who remain unaware of their children's discovery to the siblings who must reconcile their parents' private and public personas. The story examines the complex dynamics between spouses, siblings, and parents and children as they navigate relationships, careers, and personal identity. Their individual paths diverge and intersect as they cope with the shadow of their parents' notorious publication. The Position explores themes of intimacy, family secrets, and how a single object can shape the trajectory of multiple lives. Through the lens of this unconventional family history, the novel considers how children's perception of their parents evolves over time.

Readers found the premise intriguing but many felt the execution fell flat. The novel follows children discovering their parents' sex manual, but reviewers note the story meanders away from this hook into less compelling territory. Readers praised: - The realistic portrayal of family dynamics - Sharp observations about marriage and aging - Wolitzer's wit and humor - The distinct personalities of the four siblings Common criticisms: - Plot loses momentum in the middle - Too many timeline jumps - Characters become less engaging as adults - Sexual content feels forced rather than natural Ratings: Goodreads: 3.2/5 (3,800+ ratings) Amazon: 3.3/5 (80+ reviews) "Started strong but lost its way," notes one Amazon reviewer. A Goodreads user writes: "The children's perspectives were compelling but the adult sections dragged." Several readers mentioned abandoning the book partway through, while others pushed through for an "unsatisfying ending."

The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo This multigenerational story traces the complex relationships between four sisters and their parents as family secrets emerge across decades.

Commonwealth by Ann Patchett The lives of two families intertwine across five decades after an affair disrupts both households and binds their children together.

The Vacationers by Emma Staub A family vacation to Mallorca forces long-held secrets and tensions to surface among parents, children, and friends.

The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer Six teenagers meet at summer camp in 1974 and their relationships evolve through success, failure, and revelation over the following decades.

Modern Lovers by Emma Staub Three friends from college face midlife crises while watching their teenage children repeat their past mistakes in Brooklyn.

🔸 The 1970s, when the novel's sex manual was published, saw a surge in similar literature including "The Joy of Sex" (1972), which revolutionized how sexuality was discussed in mainstream culture. 🔸 Meg Wolitzer began her writing career at age 21 with her first novel "Sleepwalking," making her one of the youngest authors to be published by a major publishing house. 🔸 The narrative structure of "The Position" reflects the psychological concept of "family systems theory," where each family member's actions and reactions create a complex web of interconnected relationships. 🔸 During the time period covered in the novel (1970s-2000s), the publishing industry saw a dramatic shift in how controversial or intimate content was marketed, moving from brown paper wrapping to mainstream display. 🔸 The book's exploration of parent-child relationships draws parallels to real-life cases of children discovering their parents' public personas, similar to when Madonna's daughter Lourdes had to navigate her mother's provocative public image.