Take a peek into upper-crust society in ‘Seating’

By Amanda St. Amand / St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Published: July 01. 2012 4:00AM PST

“Seating Arrangements” by Maggie Shipstead (Knopf, 299 pgs., $25.95)

If you are deeply entrenched in the upper-crust of society, complete with summer houses, college clubs and country clubs, “Seating Arrangements” might hit a bit too close to home.

Then again, even those readers likely will find Maggie Shipstead’s sharp debut novel a witty and spot-on satire that looks at the world of Winn and Biddy Van Meter and their uptight New England existence.

“Seating Arrangements” covers just three days in the family’s life as they prepare for pregnant daughter Daphne’s wedding at their summer home to an affable and equally well-off groom named Greyson.

But nothing is simple, and Shipstead does a fine job of introducing the many complications: Winn’s longstanding crush on one of the bridesmaids, and the other daughter’s recent abortion and heartbreak over being jilted. Mix in a variety of smaller dramas — the groom’s man-whore brother, Winn’s longing for an invitation to an exclusive club and a hard-drinking aunt — and readers get a feel for the long-held resentments and dramas that make up a family.

Winn and other daughter, Livia, are the most fully developed characters. Winn long has followed the proper script for a proper life. How proper?

Shipstead takes Winn to the edge, but she doesn’t push him. That will be a relief to readers who will grow to at least understand him even if they don’t particularly like what he represents.

For a first novel, Shipstead delivers a delight.

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