An Actual Life [Paperback]

Abigail Thomas (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 4, 1997

In this delightful novel, Abigail Thomas takes readers back to the summer of 1960 and into the heart of a young woman embarking on a marriage not exactly made in heaven.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"It is too bad marriage doesn't come with attachments like a vacuum cleaner. You can't do anything with ours. Ours just sits there and blows hot air," says Virginia, the 19-year-old narrator of An Actual Life. Having gotten pregnant in the late 1950s after a single night of not so blissful sex, she is now mired in a joyless marriage. Her young husband Buddy works, goes to school, and ignores her, preferring to spend free time with his high school girlfriend Irene, whose marriage to Buddy's best friend Chick seems just as much of a sham. In the meantime, Virginia plays with their daughter Madeline, repeats every superstition she's ever heard--passing on the stairs is bad luck, a dropped knife heralds a man's arrival--and obsessively charts Buddy's comings and goings. Quirky humor makes the reader laugh and wince, while adept characterization and flowing prose add up to a wonderful, featherweight novel.

From Publishers Weekly

In her first novel, Thomas, who began writing at age 50 after a career as a literary agent and editor, displays the same incisive character portrayal and bantering prose that readers enjoyed in her collection of short stories, Getting Over Tom. Here, she has taken one of those stories, about the shotgun wedding of college students Virginia and Buddy in 1960, and produced a spirited and often very funny novel about their horrendous marriage. The events, related in Virginia's voice, take place mostly in the house of Buddy's sweet, goofy Aunt Dot, in Buddy's New Jersey hometown. Virginia's life now revolves around her baby, Madeline-which is a good thing, since Buddy is sneaking around with his longtime love and ex-girlfriend, the truck-driving, heavily made-up Irene, who happens to be married to his best friend. Although she doesn't love Buddy and bravely accepts Irene's attempts at friendship, Virginia is still hurt by Buddy's infidelity. Ultimately, she must decide whether she will conform to what her family-and even Buddy himself-expect: that she stay in a loveless marriage for the sake of the baby. Thomas does a masterful job in portraying Virginia: she is terribly naive, has little sense of herself, is uptight, sexually prudish and superstitious. Yet she is also a very young woman stuck in a rotten situation, and her spunky, if often clueless, attempts to make the best of things-and to discover what she wants-are endearing and compelling.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Touchstone (November 4, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 068483751X
• ISBN-13: 978-0684837512
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #829,640 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A mix of happy and sad, November 9, 2000

By 

Dianna Johnston "Compulsive Reader" (Joplin, MO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: An Actual Life (Paperback)

An Actual Life tells of the miserable marriage between Virginia and Buddy, two just-out-of-high-school sweethearts who married out of duty. A year later, there is nothing between them but forced politeness, a lingering ex-girlfriend, and a daughter named Maddie.

Their story is one of sadness, painful truth, and the realization that marriage is no cakewalk. Virginia and Buddy have their happy moments, but they are short-lived, especially when Buddy's ex, Irene, is around. The best thing that came out of this shotgun wedding is Maddie, who brings out the best in mommy and daddy.

An Actual Life is a terribly sad and poignant novel written with a sense of humor. There are very funny parts in this novel, even about not-so-funny situations. A quick, easy read with a very powerful message.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In all our lives, a little sadness must fall., September 21, 2000

By 

sassi214 (Arlington, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Actual Life (Paperback)

I read this book in one day. It broke my heart in one minute. On the first few pages you see Buddy has left Virginia. You already know what is going to happen. You want to spare sweet Virginia all the upcoming pain, but you can't. I knew things would never be grand again for these two children, not that they ever were. But I continued to read although I knew the end. And I'm glad I did. Thomas' words were beautiful. This book exuded emotion. Virginia's adoration with her daughter was precious and I feel, held her together when Buddy and Irene were grinding their shoes into her heart. I knew she would have the strength to leave, and I was glad when she finally did. I knew she would be okay.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Funny, bittersweet, & hard to stop reading, August 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: An Actual Life (Paperback)

Virginia is a lovable, passive, 50s good girl who "had to get married" to the uncommunicative Buddy. She loves her baby daughter, but marriage seems lonely and disappointing. Her awakening into the complexities of love and life--and to her own freedom--is revealed by the author with great subtlety through Virginia's own very entertaining observations and experiences. Funny and ultimately moving, this is a "period piece" that anyone from any time period who's ever found themselves "trapped" in the wrong relationship will identify with. I missed Virginia when the book was over, and would love to know what happened to her next.