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If You Left
If You Left | Ashley Prentice Norton
9 posts | 5 read | 12 to read
A seductive novel about a privileged but damaged Manhattan wife whose main source of stability — her marriage — comes under threat, from forces both without and within. For most of their marriage, Althea has fluctuated between extreme depressive and manic states — what she calls “the Tombs” and “the Visions” — and Oliver has been the steady hand that guided her to safety. This summer, Althea decides that she will be different from here on. She will be the loving, sexy wife Oliver wants, and the reliable, affectionate mother their nine year-old daughter Clem deserves. Her plan: to bring Clem to their Easthampton home once school is out — with no “summer girl” to care for her this time — and become “normal.” But Oliver is distant and controlling, and his relationship with their interior decorator seems a bit too close; Clem has learned to be self-sufficient, and getting to know her now feels like very hard work for Althea. Into this scene enters the much younger, David Foster Wallace–reading house painter, who reaches something in Althea that has been long buried. Fearless, darkly funny, and compulsively readable, If You Left explores the complex dance that is the bipolar marriage, and the possibility that to move forward, we might have to destroy the very things we've worked hardest to build.
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Bookwormjillk
If You Left | Ashley Prentice Norton
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Picked this up randomly, and I'm not sure what to think about it. The story doesn't seem to match the back cover text. Like it doesn't say what a jerk the husband is. I'm enjoying it enough to keep going though.

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theloudlibrarian
If You Left | Ashley Prentice Norton
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Mehso-so

Marriage + bipolar disorder + family disfunction + the Hamptons = a strange summer. First half of the book was compelling and readable and engaging, but then... It felt like it got lost in trying to be spicy and edgy and highbrow. I wanted more development, more resolution. Super speedy beach read!

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LitHousewife
If You Left | Ashley Prentice Norton
Bailedbailed

Well, I gave it half way. I just didn't enjoy it. I then skimmed the rest, something I usually don't do. I'm glad I did. The ending would have made me feel as though I'd wasted more time. Not even the beach made it worthwhile.

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LitHousewife
If You Left | Ashley Prentice Norton
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I'm watching my best friend's kids this week while they are on vacation. In the tradition of Flat Stanley, we're taking Flat Mark and Flat Trista with us everywhere we go. Currently they are reading at the beach. So am i

SusanInTiburon Excellent idea for family togetherness while apart! 8y
RealLifeReading That is kinda awesome! 8y
44 likes2 comments
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LitHousewife
If You Left | Ashley Prentice Norton
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I can't relate to much in this book, but Clem's birthday request list is spot on for my kids. All I'd have to do is change the location of the room.

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LitHousewife
If You Left | Ashley Prentice Norton
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Uh oh...

Imlostinbooks Oh don't do that! Not a good idea at all. 8y
LitHousewife @Imlostinbooks Oh, she did it. No spoiler there. This adds another level of complexity to the story, though. Good books need some bad choices, I suppose. 8y
W1dergrl "Good books need some bad choices..." - that's a fantastic quote! (as unintended as it is) *placing book in stack 8y
26 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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LitHousewife
If You Left | Ashley Prentice Norton
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It's overcast and stormy in my world. I'm hoping this brings me a little sun.

brendanmleonard Wow, gorgeous cover 8y
LitHousewife @brendanmleonard I know! The story is about a mother with manic depression, so it hopefully will have a nice edge to it. 8y
brendanmleonard Added! 8y
Michreads Sounds great. Added to the list! 8y
L_auren I want to read this so badly!! Absolutely loved her other book, The Chocolate Money 8y
28 likes4 stack adds5 comments
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LitHousewife
If You Left | Ashley Prentice Norton
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This book makes me wish that the pool was open now. I'm ready for some summer reads. Come on, Memorial Day weekend!