Scan barcode
smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting exploration of relationships and sexuality and the fluidity of individual sexuality.
lalunitalee's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Homophobia and Cancer
elienore's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.25
maralyons's review against another edition
4.0
The Fixed Stars by Molly Wizenberg is a thought-provoking memoir about the author’s decision to turn her marriage upside down. At the beginning, Wizenberg is a seemingly content wife, mother, writer, and co-owner of several successful Seattle restaurants. A chance interaction with a woman who greatly intrigues her causes her to question everything in her life. She embarks on a personal journey, and with her husband’s approval, begins dating women outside her marriage. The memoir is largely made up of her ruminations and what has been said by others about marriage, relationships, and sexual orientation. The segues can be a little awkward, but Wizenberg covers a myriad of topics. Some including: marriage, motherhood, sexual fluidity, sexual orientation, guilt, selfishness/selflessness, gender, privilege, etc. Her journey is very relatable and it caused me to ponder my own life, marriage, children, and decisions we’ve made as a couple. Overall, a very interesting memoir on marriage and Wizenberg’s personal journey.
Thank you Abrams and NetGalley for providing this ARC.
Thank you Abrams and NetGalley for providing this ARC.
arielamandah's review against another edition
4.0
I've loved Molly Wizenberg's writing since before she started publishing books. A couple years older than I am, she's someone who I find connection with through her words. If you were a blog reader in their hey-day, you know what I mean: there are people out there who you've never met, but somehow reading their personal, down-to-earth voice about the minutiae and mundanity of their lives helps you set a course through your own experience. "We're the same, you're normal, everyone's lives are weird, you're not the only one with a very specific odd-seeming interest." I've followed her writing throughout her career and jumped when I heard she was publishing a third memoir: The Fixed Stars.
Goodreads friends, it did not disappoint. This thoughtful investigation into herself and her realization in her mid-thirties that she wasn't straight, is braided through with her usual good humor, self-reflection (though not shoe-gazingly so), and generosity to those around her. Her writing is clear and lovely, though more complex in this book than in her prior two. Something here feels more grown up (no surprise, a life lived will do that to a person). At the same time, I feel this book is meant for people already familiar with her story and her writing. I can't imagine opening it and beginning to read had I not already been familiar with her story. Me? I loved it. I appreciated it. I devoured it. Thank you, Molly, for sharing your life and your family with us.
Goodreads friends, it did not disappoint. This thoughtful investigation into herself and her realization in her mid-thirties that she wasn't straight, is braided through with her usual good humor, self-reflection (though not shoe-gazingly so), and generosity to those around her. Her writing is clear and lovely, though more complex in this book than in her prior two. Something here feels more grown up (no surprise, a life lived will do that to a person). At the same time, I feel this book is meant for people already familiar with her story and her writing. I can't imagine opening it and beginning to read had I not already been familiar with her story. Me? I loved it. I appreciated it. I devoured it. Thank you, Molly, for sharing your life and your family with us.
texbooks's review
2.0
This is one vapid tale of someone blowing up their life. The author delivers helpings of cruelty to everyone around her with a distinct sense of entitlement that I can only compare to a disaffected
colonialist travel writer with no apparent self-awareness. It took me a while to decide how I felt about this book. I can’t get over how she bailed on her 3 yr old daughter to expatriate to queer-land and how hollow it all lands. Thud.
colonialist travel writer with no apparent self-awareness. It took me a while to decide how I felt about this book. I can’t get over how she bailed on her 3 yr old daughter to expatriate to queer-land and how hollow it all lands. Thud.
burghblakebooks's review
A Strong memoir that strayed from the themes of her others and challenged her former self. I had a few issues with the way she portrayed her husband - it felt like she was trying to “justify” leaving him when I didn’t feel it needed further justification than her finding herself. But otherwise a really great read.
keysersuze's review against another edition
4.0
I have followed Orangette’s blog for a while, on the recommendation of my excellent and dear friend, Liz. I knew that Molly had had some life changes which, from the outside, looked unexpected, and so I was really excited to see the ARC available on Netgalley, and much more excited when my request was granted from Abrams Press – thank you!
It zoomed to the top of my list and I read it in a couple of days – definitely a sign of a compelling story.
Molly’s writing style is like a voice in your head, informal and friendly, but somehow able to convey complex thoughts and ideas.
After being in a heterosexual marriage for 10 years, Molly has a chance encounter with someone who causes her to address the big questions; is she in the right place? Is she with the right people? Should she shake up her life in favour of pursuing this new one, which might destroy her and those around her?
As is often the case with memoir, it’s not the ending but the journey you’re interested in. Her discussions with her friends and family, the frank conversations with her husband around their options, provided a unique perspective. It’s evidently a really, really complicated situation, without clear ‘good’ or ‘bad’, and the story is told so well that you are able to appreciate the nuances and the time taken to understand what’s happening.
The other area I found interesting was the approach Molly took with examining sexuality – her own and the ideas and theories surrounding gender/sexuality and whether it changes over the course of your life(s). It fits with the ‘Molly’ you might be familiar with in the blog, and the other writing from her – she’s methodical, rational and keen to understand the facts as well as aligning that with how she feels.
Recommended, and I’d like to read her previous memoir now too, which I managed to miss - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18144099-delancey
It zoomed to the top of my list and I read it in a couple of days – definitely a sign of a compelling story.
Molly’s writing style is like a voice in your head, informal and friendly, but somehow able to convey complex thoughts and ideas.
After being in a heterosexual marriage for 10 years, Molly has a chance encounter with someone who causes her to address the big questions; is she in the right place? Is she with the right people? Should she shake up her life in favour of pursuing this new one, which might destroy her and those around her?
As is often the case with memoir, it’s not the ending but the journey you’re interested in. Her discussions with her friends and family, the frank conversations with her husband around their options, provided a unique perspective. It’s evidently a really, really complicated situation, without clear ‘good’ or ‘bad’, and the story is told so well that you are able to appreciate the nuances and the time taken to understand what’s happening.
The other area I found interesting was the approach Molly took with examining sexuality – her own and the ideas and theories surrounding gender/sexuality and whether it changes over the course of your life(s). It fits with the ‘Molly’ you might be familiar with in the blog, and the other writing from her – she’s methodical, rational and keen to understand the facts as well as aligning that with how she feels.
Recommended, and I’d like to read her previous memoir now too, which I managed to miss - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18144099-delancey
juliecheek5's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Molly Wizenberg has written in a soul language, my soul’s mother tongue, and I feel the relief of recognition.