The Wife

I had to sit with this one a minute to truly appreciate what was a pretty remarkable book. It came at me so simply, so quietly, that I initially forgot to write about it when I wrote reviews of books that I read on my vacation. But, don't let that fool you; this is a story worth reading.

Married to a famous novelist on his way to accept a major award, Joan Castleman makes a monumental decision: she's going to leave him, finally, after all these years. When she describes their union and the comfortable simplicity of it, you can't help but question her decision. But, as the novel unfolds and describes the years of their lives leading up to that day, you see how the decision had been smoldering for some time.

Wolitzer lays out the story of a strong woman - a strong woman - who has held back and held her tongue to allow her husband's career to unfold. She's given up her own writing to support him, appear at his side and raise their children.  There are times she seems almost okay with that, accepting of the life she chose. That's the duty of a wife, after all, isn't it?

"Everyone needs a wife," Wolitzer writes. "Even wives need wives. They tend, they hover. Their ears are twin sensitive instruments, satellites, picking up the slightest scrape of dissatisfaction. Wives bring broth, we bring paper clips, we bring ourselves and our pliant, warm bodies. We know just what to say to the men who for some reason have a great deal of trouble taking consistent care of themselves or anyone else. 'Listen,' we say. 'Everything will be okay.' And then, as if our lives depend on it, we make sure it is."

Until one day, we decide we don't want to live for someone else anymore.

The story is written simply and beautifully and it almost seems boring at times. But, you find yourself so compelled to see how she ends it. Then, Wolitzer throws in a twist that you never see coming (or at least I didn't!) and she finally gets her due.

Turns out they made a movie of this - with Glenn Close, no less! Here's the trailer if movies are more your thing.