Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
An incredible book, I finished it so quickly. The book is broken up into three parts, with each part sharing a different woman’s story. Every woman felt so real and believable, I had so much sympathy for all of them. The first part, “The Age of Discretion” was a moving piece about the stubbornness, fear, and stagnation of growing older. The woman’s husband, attributing all of his loss in passion to growing older—and the woman herself refusing to give up her passions to old age. She also is dealing with the shock of her son choosing a career that she feels betrays their political and social beliefs. On top of this, her latest book was lacking in “new ideas” and she faces harsh criticism from the academic world that sends her spiraling into a depression. The middle part, “The Monologue” was a confusing and rambling story told from the perspective of a woman on New Years who is so angry; it was really incredible how Simone wrote her perspective so beautifully. She is trying to mend her relationship with her ex husband so that she can see her son again. Her loneliness is tangible. The last part, “The Woman Destroyed” is about a woman who finds out her husband is having an affair with a younger woman and tries to come to terms with it. It is heart wrenching. I couldn’t help but be a mix of angry and sad as I read about how “natural” it was that her husband of twenty two years would rather cheat and allow her to stagnate rather than break off the relationship early on and set her free. Absolutely wonderful book, full stars.
