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3.19 AVERAGE
3.19 AVERAGE
This book was recommended to me as a funny novel, along the lines of Where’d You Go Bernadette. This book is NOT funny. Some quirky things happen but at it’s base, it is about a marriage in trouble due to infidelity. The end is decent if a bit tidy. I’m glad I got there but it was not the book I expected or hoped for.
This was a wonderful slice of life novel. It makes you think about the relationships you have with others. I was drawn in right at the beginning which is always nice because it usually takes me a few chapters. I'd definitely like to read more of Courtney Maum's works.
read this over 2 nights, a cute read, funny in places. About a failing marriage, glimpses into long marriages, the nuances and politics of a marriage, the take and give, the give and take, or even the take and take and the give and give of a relationship (relationshit???!!!) and finally a man in his attempts to woo his wife back.
Recommend for a cabin read, sunny day or beach. Light and easy.
Recommend for a cabin read, sunny day or beach. Light and easy.
I got this paperback off a Barnes & Noble clearance rack at least a year ago after vaguely remembering seeing if on one of Oprah's list. But as my New Year's resolution is to slowly make a dent in the pile of 'to read' books that line my bedroom wall, I picked this one up. And it's fantastic. It is as honest a fictional account of the struggles of monogamy that I've ever read. Some seriously great stuff in here and glad I finally got around to reading it.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Miscarriage, Racism, Xenophobia
The review blurb on Amazon said this: "In this reverse love story set in Paris and London, which Glamour hailed as one of the “10 Best Books to Add to Your Summer Reading List Right This Second,” a failed monogamist attempts to woo his wife back and to answer the question: Is it really possible to fall back in love with your spouse?" The blurb later references the "charming and engrossing portrait as one man's midlife mess." It sounds interesting and appealing, yes?
But 25% into the book, I just couldn't go any further. The husband/ narrator just sounded too whiny, claiming that he wanted to revive his marriage while pining for his mistress, plotting to keep connections to her, and continuing to lie to his wife. Maybe it's that I've been a wife myself, but I couldn't stop feeling seriously annoyed at how self-indulgent this guy sounds, not to mention how he repeatedly misses the point of reconnecting with his wife. (And again, maybe it's my own projection but gosh, I found it almost painful how little he seemed to care about his daughter.)
Maybe the story -- and the character -- takes a turn as the novel progresses. I got as far as I did because I kept thinking the author was setting up the background of this guy's selfishness to show his efforts at redemption. And maybe I'll return to finish it and find out. But for now, I just couldn't stand reading one more page. And really, this probably serves me right for relying on Glamour magazine for book recommendations.
But 25% into the book, I just couldn't go any further. The husband/ narrator just sounded too whiny, claiming that he wanted to revive his marriage while pining for his mistress, plotting to keep connections to her, and continuing to lie to his wife. Maybe it's that I've been a wife myself, but I couldn't stop feeling seriously annoyed at how self-indulgent this guy sounds, not to mention how he repeatedly misses the point of reconnecting with his wife. (And again, maybe it's my own projection but gosh, I found it almost painful how little he seemed to care about his daughter.)
Maybe the story -- and the character -- takes a turn as the novel progresses. I got as far as I did because I kept thinking the author was setting up the background of this guy's selfishness to show his efforts at redemption. And maybe I'll return to finish it and find out. But for now, I just couldn't stand reading one more page. And really, this probably serves me right for relying on Glamour magazine for book recommendations.
3.5 STARS...but not rounding up. I found this book hard to get into until I was almost halfway finished already. Plus, those comparing it to Beautiful Ruins or Where'd You Go Bernadette? are crazy...it's nothing like either of those. The overall sentiment of the book/about marriage was wonderful though. Good moral to the story and lessons learned, I even got a little teary-eyed!