I’m so happy I’ve discovered Barbara Pym, and slightly ashamed that it took me this long to find her. She writes characters you’d never guess you were interested in knowing more about, but it turns out, you are. Quartet in Autumn, along with the rest of Pym's novels, could be described as being about nothing in particular, but it's written so well that you might come away feeling that it’s actually about everything, a profound plumbing of everyday life.
In Quartet in Autumn, these characters are named Edwin, Letty, Marcia, and Norman. They all work together in a nondescript office, and two of them are about to retire. The novel takes you through each person’s private judgments, habits, joys, and fears, leading to an ending that is both affecting and completely non-noteworthy. Pym is also known for her dry, subtle brand of humor, so be advised: you might find yourself smothering your laughter on the bus home.
--reviewed by Annie A.