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carlylarsson's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.25
I flew through this book! It was a joy to read and had a lot to say on marriage and relationships that I really connected with. That being said it did get into the territory of too many quotations especially padding out the middle.
eveningcrickets's review against another edition
I just think that a lot of straight people think marriage is hard…when it’s not hard…life is hard, but marriage has proven to be the easiest thing I’ve ever done when i married my wife. Just wasn’t for me! Maybe i didn’t give it enough of a chance but i don’t have the patience to stick around and find out. :/
lthale's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
I highly recommend this book of essays about marriage. There were some that did not resonate so much with me, and others that really, really did. There is so much wisdom and humor and truth- but I do think those of us married a while (at least 10 years, but probably more) will appreciate it most. I finished this with a warm feeling in my chest, and maybe with a little extra love for my husband. : )
a_ab's review against another edition
3.0
This book was short and arguably sweet. It presents a very intimate and, perhaps, somewhat oversimplified view of marriage, but it's one of those oversimplifications which generally holds true though most circumstances.
It would probably feel relatable and validating for those who had similar experiences to the ones described in the book. I found this view of marriage interesting and possibly useful as one of possible perspectives a person can have.
It would probably feel relatable and validating for those who had similar experiences to the ones described in the book. I found this view of marriage interesting and possibly useful as one of possible perspectives a person can have.
kelmallo's review against another edition
3.0
“When you fall in love, it doesn’t feel like a choice .. It feels like fate. And so when the passionate love cools in your marriage, it’s hard to feel like that’s not also fate, too. It’s hard to remember that letting yourself fall in love with this person and marrying them was a choice, and loving them again can be a choice, too.”
3
3
deniser821's review against another edition
4.0
This is a charming and clever memoir about marriage. Ada Calhoun writes very honestly about her own marriage and provides examples & advice from other long time married couples. The old adage on how to stay married is to 'not get divorced' is both true and over simplified in the examples. I enjoyed listening to Ms. Calhoun read the various stories about her marriage. It makes you realize that marriage is tough for everyone and left me feeling. like all great book do, that I am not alone. Every married couple is going through the same cycles of struggles and happiness, if not the same exact circumstances.
pattydsf's review against another edition
4.0
“By staying married, we give something to ourselves and to others: hope. Hope that in steadfastly loving someone, we ourselves, for all our faults, will be loved; that the broken world will be made whole. To hitch your rickety wagon to the flickering star of another fallible human being -- what an insane thing to do. What a burden, and what a gift.”
I should have reviewed this book months ago. I was sent an ARC to read and I did so before publication. Unfortunately, two things happened. One, we were deep into my daughter’s wedding plans and that was taking all my energy. Two, my husband picked this up and absconded with it. He just recently returned it to my clutches.
This was an excellent read. It is one of those books that while you are reading, you want to tell everyone what the author has written. I was randomly quoting this book at my spouse, which is part of the reason he took it away from me. This is one of the parts of married life that I love and he tolerates. I read a lot more than he does, so he puts up with me telling him about whatever book I am living in on that day.
Calhoun knows marriage from the inside and she is willing to share hers with the rest of us. I highly recommend this to anyone who is married or knows married people. In other words, these essays are wonderful.
BTW, the book, my daughter’s wedding and the fact that my husband read it all came together at the wedding. My husband gave a lovely toast based on Calhoun’s ideas about marriage and literature. It was a wedding toast I was glad to hear.
I should have reviewed this book months ago. I was sent an ARC to read and I did so before publication. Unfortunately, two things happened. One, we were deep into my daughter’s wedding plans and that was taking all my energy. Two, my husband picked this up and absconded with it. He just recently returned it to my clutches.
This was an excellent read. It is one of those books that while you are reading, you want to tell everyone what the author has written. I was randomly quoting this book at my spouse, which is part of the reason he took it away from me. This is one of the parts of married life that I love and he tolerates. I read a lot more than he does, so he puts up with me telling him about whatever book I am living in on that day.
Calhoun knows marriage from the inside and she is willing to share hers with the rest of us. I highly recommend this to anyone who is married or knows married people. In other words, these essays are wonderful.
BTW, the book, my daughter’s wedding and the fact that my husband read it all came together at the wedding. My husband gave a lovely toast based on Calhoun’s ideas about marriage and literature. It was a wedding toast I was glad to hear.
greensalbet's review against another edition
informative
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
A charming book about marriage and the temptations of crushes, flirtation, and affairs that can destroy good bonds. It's also about the grown-up concept of marriage, hanging in there by learning how to soften each other's rough spots as you compromise and grow.
Marriage is hard, damn hard, but, ultimately, it can lead to a joyful and enduring commitment. "You're my person through thick and thin, and. I will not forfeit what we've built because of a dry spell, restlessness, or ennui.
Marriage is hard, damn hard, but, ultimately, it can lead to a joyful and enduring commitment. "You're my person through thick and thin, and. I will not forfeit what we've built because of a dry spell, restlessness, or ennui.
lettycorona's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
3.75
Maybe essays aren’t for me because I enjoy a good story line but aside from that - I enjoyed this book and insight into what marriage is really like. The essays were insightful and vulnerable. Marriage is not easy, it’s a choice and this was reflective in not only the authors first hand experience but those people she did research on.