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Lily by Jane Smiley

Lily has two guests from her college days to visit.  Lily has been in a non-dating, virginal netherworld she doesn't like.  Her guests are married.  They are also fighting--the woman is having an affair, the man is crushed by it.  Description of love gone wrong is very good--the woman is repelled by her husband.  Nice scene where he dives and is attractive again.  They all drink some wine.  The man asks Lily:  Does she still love me?  Lily, quiet at first, finally says no.  (The wife is sitting right there.)
The couple leaves the next day.  The friendship of the three is clearly at an end -- did Lily overstep her bounds? Yes.  Did the wife want her to?  Probably.  Now they have someone to blame.  Lily, the gorgeous, brilliant poet, is once again alone with her literary prizes but no prospects for love in her own life.

Nice story.  It had an autobiographical ring to me.  The couple visiting to confirm their split-up seemed very realistic in an unexpected way.

About 30 pages

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