Love in the Middle Ages

The widow Scortesethe pronunciation of whose last name is a cause celebre with her daughter Laddielives in a suburban house and takes part in suburban activities, conscientiously listed. But Donna Scortese, passively cocking an eye toward romance, keeps herself in shape for such an eventuality by working out at a gym where she meets and quickly falls in love with an out-of-towner named Murray Buddenberg. Daunted though she is by Bud's lifestyle and ethnic backgroundto say nothing of his still-married stateDonna allows her heart to rule. They decide to live together, only to discover that sex and even love are unequal to the task of uniting polar opposites. Since their protestations of love are unconvincing and their encounters in bed less than orgiastic, this will surprise nobody. It is difficult to care what happens to this characterless couple or to find in their story a single taut or tension-rousing episode. Barolini has neither stylistic grace nor narrative skill. (June 23)