Reviews

Hausfrau by Jill Alexander Essbaum

savaging's review

Unreadable.

It would be readable if it were just unabashedly a romance novel. But it attempts to be a retelling of Anna Karenina, and so drags all us readers through efforts at 'psychological depth,' revealed in little quips and endless one-line paragraphs that are designed to be ironic, like:

"They were mostly in love."

"She was a good wife. Mostly."

May as well just say they don't like each other and she's going to cheat.

Also maybe the pain and angst of a wealthy white housewife can't hold our attention for long now, when the world is full and there are many things a person could do.

dphillips's review

4.0

Intensely honest writing about a woman who couldn't be honest and what becomes of that.

lastpaige111's review

5.0

I listened to the Audible version of this novel and loved every intense minute of it. If you have ever suffered the boredom and constriction of being an at-home mom with few intellectual stimulations, you will appreciate this story. I have a special interest in German-speaking nations, too, and found this depiction of Zurich fascinating. Essbaum really knows her Zurich ... The psychoanalyst sections blew me away and keep the novel much more than just a narrative about a confused housewife (Hausfrau) in a foreign land, as do the metaphoric connections between the German language and life. Everything about the book is nuanced--no blacks and whites, all grays. Bravo.

williamz4lyf's review

1.0

I did not and could not finish this book about a pathetic, navel gazing, selfish and basically irredeemable person. I gave up at 40%, after having spoiled it and found that it did not get any better. I felt very uncomfortable reading this book and the writing was very disjointed. I did not care for any of the characters. Nobody was sympathetic, least of all the lead. Awful characters and awful writing. I've given up.

macyinretrograde's review

challenging dark reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

sofia_aifos's review against another edition

3.0

Schweiz, tåg, livskris

lizbeth_wolff's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

lsparrow's review

3.0

Pulled along in this internal swamp of passive despair. I found myself sympathetic and annoyed by the main character and her lack of ownership in her life but understanding how one gets lost in the current of life. I found the conversations and questions with her therapist interesting.

peace2717's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

saracha22's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.25

This book really had me reflecting on myself and I related to some of her inner struggles. I liked the prose, the language and wordplay was clever and made me reflect. I think the staggered storytelling made it more interesting. 

However I found the main character to be incredibly unlikeable, and the ending dissatisfying.

major spoiler: at the end it felt like she finally made a breakthrough mentally but then she just decides to jump?!? Successfully shocked me, but poor victor losing his mom and his brother so close together. That didn’t feel like a resolution to me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity

Moderate: Sexual content and Domestic abuse

Minor: Sexual assault and Suicide

child death