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I was so disappointed after all the praises to this book. Totally mediocre and wearying book about practically nothing. Characters were unlikable people, their behavior was stupid and incomprehensible...
12-5-20: My 102nd finished book of 2020! The Wife follows Joan Castleman as she contemplates the life she has led with her husband, the famous novelist, Joe. Their meeting in 1956, the ups and downs before fame took hold, the raising of their kids, all leading to the trip they are currently on to Helsinki, where Joe is to receive a major award. Joan is coming to terms with what she has given up and what she still wants. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 👍🏼📖1️⃣0️⃣2️⃣
I actually finished another book I own this time 😅
This was a good one. After seeing Glenn Close's acceptance speech on the Golden Globes and seeing my mother cry as Close talked about her mother saying she felt she hadn't accomplished anything, I knew I had to read this book and see this movie. I was not expecting the ending it had, and I don't know how I feel about it, but I know this is book I will reread because I liked it that much.
Made a run to the next town over's library as mine is closed for 3 months. Came home with all this. 😀📚❤
On Chapter 3, and it is 11:30 pm in Ireland.
Time for bed 😴
#wintergames #thefilthyanimals #24B42020. I finished these four from my TBR stack. Surprisingly my least favourite was “Behold the Dreamers” because I‘d great things about it. My favourite was the tagged book. It made me angry, frustrated, and outraged. The story unfolds slowly but the conclusion is worth the wait!
👏Wonderful voice, great pacing that moves back and forth in time to show Joan and Joan in the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of a marriage, a literary career and an examination of men and women and the creative process. Great book 👏
My first Meg Wolitzer book and I REALLY enjoyed it! Excellent story and I really like her writing style, especially the time line and when/how she executed the the big, awe type events. I heard her speak last year and I‘m so glad I did!
I enjoyed the book but it was rather depressing. Does that make sense?
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: I had seen the movie, and this is my first Wolitzer. Her writing just swept me away. Really enjoyed revisiting this story in book form. #BookToFilm
A good read 👍🏻 Marriages are full of secrets aren‘t they, big and little. Joe is a first class arse though isn‘t he.
#booked2019 #booktomovie
Summer done - now I need ideas about POC/MC paranormal and public domain my remaining ones.
Meh. It‘s a well written book. And the character development is great. But I kept asking why? Why did she put up with being disrespected like that? Why didn‘t she leave him sooner? Why didn‘t she like herself? It left me feeling frustrated.
“Genitals like marzipan fruit.”
That‘s some descriptive writing. 😂
Currently reading for movie/bookclub.
#Booked2019 #BooktoMovie An interesting read on fame & fortune & love .. The relationship of Joan , &
Joe ( her famous writer/husband ) great story as she looks back on their 45 + years of marriage. The ending was So-So for me , but I don‘t always put too much pressure on the ending ... so it‘s a winner for me 4⭐️ Another one done ✅ & enjoyed ♥️👍🏻
#booked2019 I wouldn‘t be reading this otherwise & I‘m so enjoying it 👍🏻📚
Great weather here today & Great book , and The quote is the main character at her Bookclub ... ♥️what could be finer ...
I was finding it hard to settle into a new book .. but I‘ve landed, this one is good & it‘s for #Booked2019 #BooktoMovie ... the writing, the story, the characters, loving it 👍🏻♥️
Oh this was good! Following the wife of a successful writer through decades of marriage, children and disappointments. This was right up my street! Truly terrific writing and fantastic characters, I was sucked in from page one. What stops it being a 5 star read for me was the dragging out of the, oh so obvious, reveal. But still a solid 4 stars and would defo recommend. 👍🏻
#WanderingJune #FlyAway
"The moment I decided to leave him, the moment I thought enough, we were thirty-five thousand feet above the ocean, hurtling forward but giving the illusion of stillness and tranquility. Just like our marriage.”
The 1st line of the book sets up the story of Joan, self-proclaimed King-maker and Wife to her narcissistic novelist husband. I think this is Wolitzer‘s best novel, with sharp writing full of bitterness and regret.
Latest scores from my building‘s book exchange. I heard Meg Wolitzer speak at the Sydney Writer‘s Festival so I am looking forward to her one. There must be at least one other avid reader in my building as the other book is an ARC of a book I wanted. I love the cover. Of course the author is a dancer who teaches adults ballet so now I am following her on Litsy. It‘s the first book I‘ve opened that mentions Litsy. Woo hoo!
This book by the end made me angry. I wanted Joe exposed for the fraud he was. It didn‘t quite happen like that but in my imagination I have Joan writing and being published long after Joe is dead. An exposure of sorts. You‘ll know what I mean if you‘ve read the book. I haven‘t seen the movie yet but it‘s on my list to watch. I hope it doesn‘t disappoint but alas most movies aren‘t a patch on a brilliant book. I‘m giving this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌛.
Even though this was a predictable read the writting style flowed nice & quick. I really enjoy Wolitzer's character development in her writing style. She goes back & forth in time in a perfect way it's not too long or drawn out. She gives the reader the perfect amount of detail that keeps you interested in turning the pages wanting to know more.
Full review:
https://griplitgrl.wordpress.com/2019/03/30/the-wife-by-meg-wolitzer/
Oh my gosh, whyyyyyyy am I choosing super depressing books about marriage this month? I love this author. That is why I had it on my to-read list. It just happened to become available on Overdrive, so I snatched it quick.
I cannot STAND how the women in this book put up with such ***holes for YEARS. To be married in that day and age was like being trapped. Once again this is a book in which every male sleeps around. Ugh. 😩 I need a new genre.
Getting some backlist in; looking forward to seeing Glenn Close portray Joan Castleman, now that I‘ve finally caught up and read the book first!
I tried to rave about this book, halfway through reading it, to my book club; we read “The Interestings” together a few years back. One friend immediately asked, “Does it have a plot?” 😅 And the answer is: “I mean, no. Not really.” Here‘s the outline: The wife of a renowned male novelist (of debatable talent) reflects on their lengthy courtship on the cusp of her decision to leave him.
The plot *isn‘t* what makes it good.
*Cont‘d below 👇🏻
“Bone did literary profiles and book reviews, commentary on different topics from both high and low culture, the kind of pieces in which he somehow managed to mention the names Jacques Lacan and George Jetson in the course of a single paragraph.”
What a dream career! 😉
I don‘t know about George Jetson, but I once wrote a paper for my Critical Theory class about Lacan & #buffythevampireslayer (“Restless,” s.4, ep. 22) featured prominently). 🖤⚰️
3/5 🌟
Well written book but I don't understand why it took her so long to leave him - he was a selfish, arrogant cheat. The ending was not surprising nor satisfying.
Things Meg Wolitzer has me worried about:
“Shit. My hair isn‘t the color of a manila envelope...is it?”
🙈😅😆
“Everyone knows how women soldier on, how women dream up blueprints, recipes, ideas for a better world, and then sometimes lose them on the way to the crib in the middle of the night, on the way to the Stop & Shop, or the bath. They lose them on the way to greasing the path on which their husband and children will ride serenely through life.”
Excerpt From
The Wife
Meg Wolitzer
This material may be protected by copyright. #womenshistorymonth
#itme 💕
It‘s Sour Power Hour. 💪🏻🍓🍺📖
I‘m really hoping tomorrow will be a snow day. 🤞🏻We‘re expecting 7 inches but y‘all know that the library closes for (almost) NO act of god!
I enjoyed this book. The writing was beautiful. A glance into the power trade offs within this marriage and the concept of the wife as a caretaker.
1. I stop by every week on my way home from handbell practice, plus special trips for events or to pick up a hold.
2. I have 14 items checked out from four libraries.
3. Fiction, travel, poetry, ebooks, and one lonely audiobook that‘s waiting patiently for me to catch up on some podcasts.
4. Not yet!
5. I‘ve got 17 items on hold at two libraries, unless I‘ve forgotten something.
6. Movie for the tagged book.
#librarylove
A re-read on Audio for a bookclub.
I just love the character of Joan (played by Glenn Close and her daughter as the young Joan in the movie!)
I really love the writing - so sharp edged, bursting with bitterness and regret. Joanie is a self-proclaimed “king-maker” yet this is HER story - full of choices made in different time, defining the life she lives.
Easily the best thing Meg Wolitzer has written. Really compelling, even second time around.
I watched this one earlier this week and I have to say I wasn‘t expecting much from this one, it isn‘t up for best picture, but it is for Best Actress. Such a twisty and timely moment for this movie as Women‘s Marches and #MeToo are currently news . Definitely a good one about writers and writing as well, and one whose book it‘s based on I will be adding to my TBR list.
#Oscars2019
I didn‘t read the book, but I just watched the movie,what a powerful story. To me it was about a woman who wanted to write,but this was the 50/60s when like ever other industry woman were not taken seriously,and she did fall in love.I don‘t want to give the story away,but I think Glenn Close well deserves all the accolades she is getting for this movie.
Enjoyed this story about an older woman‘s decision to leave her husband of 40+ years. The author writes in a way that draws you in and let‘s you feel you‘re there watching as the story unfolds. I‘m curious about how the movie turns out.
Watched the movie tonight and it was just as infuriating as the book. Glenn Close did a great job.
So, out of the four books I‘ve tackled this month, 3 of them have a red cover, weird. All have been great, and it got me thinking about the whole “judging a book by its cover” wisdom. I‘m interested friends, what are your thoughts about cover art and it‘s value to the story it wraps around? I‘d love to hear y‘alls thoughts! 💕