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marie_gg's review
3.0
I picked this book up at a Little Free Library, and it was compulsively readable. I did question the characters' motives throughout, though. Why did all these women fall in love with such a vacant, shallow man? How did he charm them all? He was like a chameleon, although a narcissistic one. Overall, the book just made me sad.
Birdie and Dinah, I could understand a bit more. Dinah had rarely experienced love in her life. But Joan? Why did she give up her independence, her successful career, and her sense of self to marry this awful man?
I like Jennifer Haigh's writing, and in the back of the book she said she identified with all the wives Mr. Kimble left behind, but she also identified with Mr. Kimble. I cannot relate to that statement at all. This man had absolutely no morals and no capacity for love.
I feel like I need to read an inspiring book next after this one!
Birdie and Dinah, I could understand a bit more. Dinah had rarely experienced love in her life. But Joan? Why did she give up her independence, her successful career, and her sense of self to marry this awful man?
I like Jennifer Haigh's writing, and in the back of the book she said she identified with all the wives Mr. Kimble left behind, but she also identified with Mr. Kimble. I cannot relate to that statement at all. This man had absolutely no morals and no capacity for love.
I feel like I need to read an inspiring book next after this one!
loribulb's review
5.0
Such a nice surprise to find truly superb writing coupled with an engaging story. I couldn't stop reading this book. This is the type of intelligent, insightful writing that I long to read... but which has gone mostly unnoticed while people fawn over the Dan Browns and Stephanie Meyers of the world. Most people think that anyone can write a good novel, which is untrue. Like most professions you have a few untrained geniuses and the rest require training. This novel comes from a very talented, very trained professional. Going to look for more by this author!!!
kypratt91's review
3.0
Jennifer Haigh is a talented writer- even though some areas of the book were not that exciting, her writing keeps it moving along so that I kept reading and didn’t want to stop. An interesting storyline about the 3 women that Ken Kimble takes advantage of throughout his life. He’s a sad, troubled man.
novelesque_life's review
5.0
5 STARS
"Follows the marital career of Ken Kimble, opportunist, serial husband, and all around schmuck. The first section, set in Virginia in the 1960s, revolves around alcoholic first wife Birdie. As we enter the story, Kimble has already left her alone with two small children she is ill equipped to raise on her own. Kimble's absence in this section sets the tone for the book, which is not so much about Kimble himself as it is about the women he dupes over the years. Next up is Joan, a Newsweek reporter recovering from a mastectomy at her late father's home in Florida. A wealthy, confident woman left unsteady by breast cancer, she falls for Kimble, who now turns up in a hippie-ish incarnation. In the final section, Kimble weds Dinah, who had been his children's babysitter back in Virginia. Their marriage unravels as, at the end of the book, Kimble's secrets are revealed one by one. Unfortunately, the central secret of the book is never laid bare: how did the man get to be such a jerk? Other problems are never dealt with, either: we never believe a whip-smart woman like Joan could be so transparently snow-jobbed. We never understand why Dinah stays with an aging crook."(From Amazon)
I loved this novel - I think it is a must read for everyone. If you like Anne Tyler or Sue Miller you will love Haigh. She is my new favourite author and I will read any novel buy her.
"Follows the marital career of Ken Kimble, opportunist, serial husband, and all around schmuck. The first section, set in Virginia in the 1960s, revolves around alcoholic first wife Birdie. As we enter the story, Kimble has already left her alone with two small children she is ill equipped to raise on her own. Kimble's absence in this section sets the tone for the book, which is not so much about Kimble himself as it is about the women he dupes over the years. Next up is Joan, a Newsweek reporter recovering from a mastectomy at her late father's home in Florida. A wealthy, confident woman left unsteady by breast cancer, she falls for Kimble, who now turns up in a hippie-ish incarnation. In the final section, Kimble weds Dinah, who had been his children's babysitter back in Virginia. Their marriage unravels as, at the end of the book, Kimble's secrets are revealed one by one. Unfortunately, the central secret of the book is never laid bare: how did the man get to be such a jerk? Other problems are never dealt with, either: we never believe a whip-smart woman like Joan could be so transparently snow-jobbed. We never understand why Dinah stays with an aging crook."(From Amazon)
I loved this novel - I think it is a must read for everyone. If you like Anne Tyler or Sue Miller you will love Haigh. She is my new favourite author and I will read any novel buy her.
roxannima's review
2.0
While it's great that the extended family combines and "lives happily ever after," the worst thing that happens to this womanizing, malicious, lying, manipulating, disgusting excuse for a man is that he dies. I'd rather he have gone to jail, been put in his place, at least been stood up to, so that he could know the damage he caused. Alas, he was written to die peacefully, and free of guilt ... which pisses me off.
melissakuzma's review
5.0
Wow, I really loved this book! I can't believe it's been sitting unread on my bookshelf for 5 years. It's just such a compelling story, I was constantly thinking about it and dying to get back to reading it.
lfordham9's review
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0