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jillpadams's review against another edition
I 'read' this as an audio book which may or may not have been abridged. If I had read it, I would maybe have gotten more involved to the characters. As it stands, it was a decent book with nice interwoven storylines, and good use of advanced math.
alongsworth's review against another edition
3.0
While I found the ending highly unsatisfying, I enjoyed the format of revisiting a life and marriage in a single night. The reminder that we all have secrets, passions, fears... I liked Nina so much and wanted to like Phillip.
k2biker's review against another edition
3.0
An artist and a mathematician meet at a cafe in Paris...I like this author's writing style. It is a quick read that gives the reader a glimpse behind the curtain of this couple's courtship and marriage, from the wife's perspective. I enjoyed the touches of French sprinkled throughout this story. And the husband's passages almost made me fascinated by math again...almost.
readersaurusrobin's review against another edition
4.0
A woman reflects on her life and marriage on the eve of her husband's death. Touching, never saccharine. Realistic. I would read more by Lily Tuck.
melissamaerz's review against another edition
1.0
This author has one National Book Award and no soul. It's supposed to be an intimate look at a 40-year-marriage: it begins with a woman holding the hand of her husband, who has just died moments before, and follows her through her memories our their relationship from there. But apparently, all her nostalgia's saved for the outfits she was wearing and the exotic locations they visited together and whether or not she was pretty when they went there. Lady, your husband just died! Who cares which striped bikini you wore! There's also way too many passages like this: "What did he say to her exactly? 'I am a bit tired, I am going to lie down before supper.' or 'I'm going to lie down a bit before supper, I'm a bit tired." No wonder he was tired, living with a wife like this!
lwmallard's review against another edition
2.0
This books starts out very interesting: a woman's husband dies and she spends the night with his body, reliving memories of their marriage. But, the more you read the more annoyed you get with these exact memories. There is no cohesive thread throughout the book, no true narrative and the ending seems rushed, forced, and vague. While the author has a way of creating gorgeous sentences, for me it isn't enough to save this book.
jillzybean's review against another edition
5.0
this is a book unlike anything I have ever read in style and story. I desperately fear this happening in my own life and am so grateful someone has written it head on.
hannahparadise's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
This book is great for people who love math and love. I thoroughly enjoyed it the constant mathematical/statistical theorems overlapping with art/religion was an exceptional combination. I loved Nina and how imperfect she was. This was so close to being a 5/5, but I would’ve killed for some clarity on the ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Abortion
shirleytupperfreeman's review against another edition
The entire book takes place in one night as Nina, an artist, sits by the bedside of Philip, her mathematician husband, who went up to lie down before dinner but has died. Nina reviews their courtship and marriage - a generally happy one but not without some complications. She does a fair amount of imagining also - of Philip's interior life and current status. This is well written though I had a hard time relating to it.