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A review by carolpk
Hausfrau by Jill Alexander Essbaum
4.0
4.5
The Hook - Hausfrau promised an unlikable character and it delivered.
The Line – ”Anna was a good wife, mostly”
immediately I wanted to know what that meant.
The Sinker – Hausfrau is one of those books that causes passionate differences in opinion, you either love it or you hate it. It wasn’t clear to me where I stood until I had read over half the book. There are many that will not agree with me but no apologies here. I really liked Essbaum’s debut in the end.
Anna Benz, the mostly good wife, seemingly has it all, money, a good husband, and beautiful children. An American, she finds herself out of her element when she and her husband, Bruno, a Swiss banker, transfer to Zurich. What possesses Anna to forsake the sanctity of her marriage by indulging in affairs? These encounters are many, and more sexual in nature than any meeting of minds or thoughts of love. They are hard for us to fathom and most readers will find Anna very unlikable. The sex is raw and naked and will turn some away.
We are on the outside looking in on this exploration of a marriage and its shortcomings. It takes two to make a marriage yet it is easy to put the blame on Anna. Why does anyone have an affair? Is it revenge, boredom, low self-esteem, lack of a partner’s attention, loneliness? What role does Bruno play in Anna’s cheating? Though I do not like what Anna does, there is only one thing I cannot forgive her and it is not the affairs. I wanted this “sin” to be fleshed out more and it is the sole reason for 4.5 instead of 5 stars.
Using sessions of psychoanalysis and German language classes, Hausfrau builds tension in its acceleration to Anna’s self-destruction.
Hausfrau is a perfect vehicle for book discussion. The moral dilemma it presents will leave its readers divided. Which side will you be on?
Take the time to listen to this brief clip from NPR Hausfrau Strips Down Its Modern Day Madame Bovary. In a bit over four minutes it explains a great deal.
The Hook - Hausfrau promised an unlikable character and it delivered.
The Line – ”Anna was a good wife, mostly”
immediately I wanted to know what that meant.
The Sinker – Hausfrau is one of those books that causes passionate differences in opinion, you either love it or you hate it. It wasn’t clear to me where I stood until I had read over half the book. There are many that will not agree with me but no apologies here. I really liked Essbaum’s debut in the end.
Anna Benz, the mostly good wife, seemingly has it all, money, a good husband, and beautiful children. An American, she finds herself out of her element when she and her husband, Bruno, a Swiss banker, transfer to Zurich. What possesses Anna to forsake the sanctity of her marriage by indulging in affairs? These encounters are many, and more sexual in nature than any meeting of minds or thoughts of love. They are hard for us to fathom and most readers will find Anna very unlikable. The sex is raw and naked and will turn some away.
We are on the outside looking in on this exploration of a marriage and its shortcomings. It takes two to make a marriage yet it is easy to put the blame on Anna. Why does anyone have an affair? Is it revenge, boredom, low self-esteem, lack of a partner’s attention, loneliness? What role does Bruno play in Anna’s cheating? Though I do not like what Anna does, there is only one thing I cannot forgive her and it is not the affairs. I wanted this “sin” to be fleshed out more and it is the sole reason for 4.5 instead of 5 stars.
Using sessions of psychoanalysis and German language classes, Hausfrau builds tension in its acceleration to Anna’s self-destruction.
Hausfrau is a perfect vehicle for book discussion. The moral dilemma it presents will leave its readers divided. Which side will you be on?
Take the time to listen to this brief clip from NPR Hausfrau Strips Down Its Modern Day Madame Bovary. In a bit over four minutes it explains a great deal.