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A review by burdybooks
Hausfrau by Jill Alexander Essbaum
1.0
This book is a light, fairly engrossing story based on simple events that compound and culminate into the ultimate conclusion. It is upfront, uncomplicated, basic. If it were a coffee, it'd be pumpkin spice instant latte mix. If it was a TV show, it'd be Desperate Housewives (the first 2 seasons, that's as far as I watched). I'm not saying that's a bad thing, I'm saying it's not MY thing. And that's fine. If other people like pumpkin spice instant latte, go for it, friend.
So that's why for the one star. I felt like I was tricked into thinking I would like this. I read reviews and they compared Hausfrau to Anna Karenina, a book I've read once before and loved. It's a lot like Desperate Housewives, or even Lost for that matter: it convinced me it was much more meaningful and allegorical than it ever really was.
It's not fair to compare this to Anna Karenina, just because of some vague similarities. Both titular characters have extra-marital affairs, both. But, unfortunately where Anna Karenina stood for a greater portrait of Russian society, Hausfrau is just simply that story of an unfaithful wife. And I happen to like the kind of depth in Anna Karenina, and am easily bored when deeper meaning cannot be found in a book.
I originally gave this book 3 stars, thinking it would be nice. But then I realized that was dishonest, and I thought that if I can't be honest in a book review, what am I even doing?
Hausfrau...
Like reading a wikipedia page describing the CliffNotes of a children's abridged version of Anna Karenina, as recalled by a drunken 32 year old trying to sound impressive to university juniors at a party s/he has no idea how s/he got into. It's like that. With some sex that's just uncomfortable, and some odd, needless tragedies. I mean, Anna's already having a hard time with her intense depression and apathy, did you have to, Jill? Seriously?
So that's why for the one star. I felt like I was tricked into thinking I would like this. I read reviews and they compared Hausfrau to Anna Karenina, a book I've read once before and loved. It's a lot like Desperate Housewives, or even Lost for that matter: it convinced me it was much more meaningful and allegorical than it ever really was.
It's not fair to compare this to Anna Karenina, just because of some vague similarities. Both titular characters have extra-marital affairs, both
Spoiler
give birth to children from their affairs, and both complete suicide at the endI originally gave this book 3 stars, thinking it would be nice. But then I realized that was dishonest, and I thought that if I can't be honest in a book review, what am I even doing?
Hausfrau...
Like reading a wikipedia page describing the CliffNotes of a children's abridged version of Anna Karenina, as recalled by a drunken 32 year old trying to sound impressive to university juniors at a party s/he has no idea how s/he got into. It's like that. With some sex that's just uncomfortable, and some odd, needless tragedies. I mean, Anna's already having a hard time with her intense depression and apathy, did you have to