![]() Nate isn’t some ignorant clod he’s “in possession of a functional and frankly rather clamorous conscience” and an impressive intellect that he’s put to use writing criticism and a soon-to-be-published novel. What could Nate have done to behave more honorably toward Juliet, whom he just didn’t like all that much? What could Nate do to behave more honorably toward all the women he dates? ![]() Waldman spends the remainder of “The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P.” inviting us to complete Juliet’s truncated sentence. Juliet bristles at the sight of him and begins a reprimand: “You could have at least – oh, never mind.” Nate wonders, “Could have at least what?” Nate has just run into a former flame – Juliet, a woman he had gotten pregnant, accompanied to the abortion clinic (chivalrously paying for the procedure), comforted for the remainder of the day, and then summarily abandoned – near the waterfront in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. ![]() When we first meet the hero (or maybe antihero, depending on your perspective) of Adelle Waldman’s provocative debut novel, “The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P.,” he’s in a bit of an awkward situation. ![]()
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