Reviews

The Wife's Tale by Lori Lansens

littlebookontheprairie's review against another edition

3.0

A great story about a women who struggles with many things in her life. From the beginning you feel like you are her confidant. You go through her trails and tribulations with her and by the end, you are so proud of her. Worth the read.

petitestory's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

msvenner's review against another edition

3.0

3.5 stars. I really enjoyed this book. As I read, I realized that few protagonists in fiction are overweight. At least, weight is rarely discussed, leaving the impression that protagonists are all thin. I liked Mary. I liked that the book was quirky without falling into ridiculous. Mary's battle with the 'obese' made her an interesting protagonist and gave a real depth to both her and the husband's struggles. I did feel Mary's weight 'solution' was a little too easy and unrealistic but the journey felt real. I liked too that the author managed to make me feel for the husband. He wasn't a one dimensional character, despite being portrayed only through Mary's eyes.
I do not like the cover shown here on Goodreads. The copy I read had different art work. Why is there a thin woman on this book? Is this what Mary is supposed to want to be? Not cool.

melissakuzma's review against another edition

3.0

This was a tough book for my first read of 2010. I hated the first half, really liked the second half, then was totally let down at the end. Mary Gooch is a hard person to like. She's obese (or "obeast" as she mistakenly hears the doctor call her as a child), totally paralyzed by self-hate and inertia, and is doing everything in her power to push her amazing husband of 25 years away. It took me a long time to warm up to Mary, but eventually I did, although I found some of the plot twists along the way to be totally unbelievable (why did she have her passport with her? How could a woman who has made almost no human connections in her entire life suddenly make friends with half the population of a town in southern California??). In the end, I'm glad I took the journey with Mary, but why couldn't it have had a happy ending?

alwaysreadingreview's review against another edition

2.0

I did not like this book at all. I am so disappointed. It started out as the main character complaining about her life. I don't need to hear or read that.

tessjx's review against another edition

2.0

the fatphobia in the book is genuinely disturbing. a big part of the heroine’s character arc revolves around her losing weight. the way her weight is described continuously as disgusting flesh with shocking description is awful.
being fat and codependent on her husband were mary’s only personality trait, and it was physically painful to trudge through.

mementomorel's review against another edition

5.0

I needed that. I felt Mary to the bone. Not really about her recent losses, but having a hunger, not necessarily always about food either. She lived her life in fear of so much, and was essentially dying. When she lost almost everything, she had decide to either dig into that dark hole or start living. I fell madly in love with the kind strangers that helped her along the way too! Probably one of the best books I've read this year.

gertyp's review against another edition

4.0

I'm waivering between 3 and 4. It hooked me and I read it in two days, but the end fell flat for me and a bit abrupt.

minvanwin's review against another edition

4.0

If you've read The Girls, you know that Lori Lansens has a remarkable gift for drawing vivid, vulnerable, compelling characters. While some of the plot turns and character interactions in The Wife's Tale felt inauthentic and some of the metaphors a bit heavy-handed, it really didn't matter. I was completely invested in Mary Gooch and this lovely story of battling inner demons (the obeast).

emily_miller's review against another edition

4.0

At first it was hard to feel sorry for Mary but eventually you warm up to the character. The writing is very descriptive, almost wordy at times, but it really paints a picture for the reader. The ending felt abrupt and leaves the reader hanging but I went on to imagine happy things for Mary. I think the book is definitely worth a read. It isn't fast-paced or overly thrilling but it is a good tale of change and growth.