Many of the reviews for The Imperfectionists referred to the author as being insightful in regard to human nature. Suggesting that the characters he created were true to life. I find this a cynical comment. None of the main characters (about a dozen) were able to maintain a long term relationship with someone of the opposite sex and nowhere was a good marriage relationship described. Does this mean the reviewers thought this situation was normal behaviour? It is certainly not in my part of the world where the majority of the people I know are able to maintain long term relationships. Some may have gone through a divorce and remarried or maybe in a de facto relationship but mostly these relationships are stable and respectful. A far cry from the ones portrayed in this book. Not that I am saying this to distract from a well written, well told story but just making the point that fiction, although often inspired by fact, must still be read as fiction.
