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A review by samizimecki
Mrs. Kimble by Jennifer Haigh
3.0
This was 2.5 stars, rounded up to 3 but I was really on the fence between 2 and 3.
It follows the story of Ken Kimble through the eyes of his three wives, Birdie, Joan and Dinah. I really struggled with this book, because all of the characters are unlikable. Ken is a con man who never seems to really love anybody but himself. He marries Birdie when he is in his mid-thirties and she is just 18. They have two kids that he pretty much ignored for 8 years before he runs off with another of his students. He just ups and leaves his family and kids and never seems to give them a second thought, even though Birdie had no way of supporting herself or the kids. Birdie then turns into a drunk, with the two kids (Charlie and Jody) being neglected to the point of almost getting taken away by CPS. Both adults are terrible characters, and Charlie (who was only 7 at the time) had to take care of himself and his mother and sister. This was a frustrating section to read.
Then we see Ken's next years through Joan, who meets Ken after his relationship with his student didn't work out. Joan used to be a strong, independent woman, but after a bout with cancer, she dims her personality and becomes passive and weak. She's also loaded, so Ken pursues her and she, happy for a man's attention again, continues to make bad decisions. I was hoping I could like Joan, but she also is a terrible character.
Lastly we see through the eyes of Dinah, who, spoiler alert, USED TO BABY SIT KEN'S FIRST KIDS. Gross. Thankfully we see Dinah 15 years into her marriage with Ken, disillusioned and trying to find her own agency. If not for Dinah's chapters, I would've given this book a 1 star.
Haigh has a beautiful style of writing and even with such terrible people to read about, she kept the story interesting enough for me to finish. But she also created characters who I really disliked, and while I'm sure that was her intention for Ken, I don't think she wanted the readers to hate the first two wives as much as I did. There are very few people I'd recommend this book to, but I could see how some person could potentially enjoy this story.
It follows the story of Ken Kimble through the eyes of his three wives, Birdie, Joan and Dinah. I really struggled with this book, because all of the characters are unlikable. Ken is a con man who never seems to really love anybody but himself. He marries Birdie when he is in his mid-thirties and she is just 18. They have two kids that he pretty much ignored for 8 years before he runs off with another of his students. He just ups and leaves his family and kids and never seems to give them a second thought, even though Birdie had no way of supporting herself or the kids. Birdie then turns into a drunk, with the two kids (Charlie and Jody) being neglected to the point of almost getting taken away by CPS. Both adults are terrible characters, and Charlie (who was only 7 at the time) had to take care of himself and his mother and sister. This was a frustrating section to read.
Then we see Ken's next years through Joan, who meets Ken after his relationship with his student didn't work out. Joan used to be a strong, independent woman, but after a bout with cancer, she dims her personality and becomes passive and weak. She's also loaded, so Ken pursues her and she, happy for a man's attention again, continues to make bad decisions. I was hoping I could like Joan, but she also is a terrible character.
Lastly we see through the eyes of Dinah, who, spoiler alert, USED TO BABY SIT KEN'S FIRST KIDS. Gross. Thankfully we see Dinah 15 years into her marriage with Ken, disillusioned and trying to find her own agency. If not for Dinah's chapters, I would've given this book a 1 star.
Haigh has a beautiful style of writing and even with such terrible people to read about, she kept the story interesting enough for me to finish. But she also created characters who I really disliked, and while I'm sure that was her intention for Ken, I don't think she wanted the readers to hate the first two wives as much as I did. There are very few people I'd recommend this book to, but I could see how some person could potentially enjoy this story.