Customer Reviews

The Doctor's Wife

5 star:		(46)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(16)
1 star:		(16)

 

 

Perhaps I'm in danger of becoming one of those cynical single urbanites, but whenever I pick up a novel that starts out with a seemingly perfect couple and their seemingly perfect children, living in a seemingly perfect neighborhood, I want to rub my hands together with glee. You just KNOW it's all going downhill from there. But even this cynical urbanite was surprised by the depths to which Elizabeth Brundage will go with her characters. And THE DOCTOR'S WIFE is all the better for it. Note here: if your book club has gotten too genteel lately and is in need of a good cage-rattling, this is just the novel to do it.

THE DOCTOR'S WIFE is set in upstate New York --- civil, picturesque, well-mannered upstate New York --- and centers on Michael and Annie Knowles, the kind of couple that sits around listening to NPR's soothing, well-modulated liberal voices on Sunday mornings while doing the crossword in the Times; the smell of their toasted designer bagels mingling with the scent of their designer coffee, while their perfect children in Gap chic are playing nearby before rushing off to soccer and other mainstays of suburban life. Michael is a young, extremely busy and successful OB/GYN at a prominent hospital; Annie is a Miss Porter's School-educated college professor who teaches creative writing (naturally). But wait --- is that a rat we smell amidst the Starbucks?

Annie is growing bored being "the doctor's wife," particularly since the Good Doctor is never around. It appears that Doc's bell is being rung these days by Celina James, an old flame who appeals to much more than Michael's libido --- she has a good-sized socio-political agenda wrapped up in the shape of her Women's Health Clinic, the town's only provider of abortions. Celina enlists Michael to help her at the Clinic, and soon Michael's already-limited free time from the hospital is being spent at Celina's clinic. There are no sparks between them these days except professional ones, but clearly he prefers the energy of Celina to Annie's world.

Unfortunately for Michael, the guy who IS around for Annie just happens to be Tall, Brooding, Successful-yet-Misunderstood Suffering Artist-turned-Art-Professor Simon Haas. Never mind that Simon himself is married to the beautiful Lydia Haas, his longtime muse, though she has enough skeletons in her closet to populate a Grateful Dead concert. When the Knowles family starts getting all kinds of anonymous threats, it's not clear at first where they're coming from or why --- are they the work of the Right-Wing Extremists running around town protesting Michael's moonlighting gig, or are these more personal in nature?

What evolves is a novel of psychological suspense that is edgy and compelling. Brundage's sense of plot and timing is impeccable, and she really knows how to hook a reader from the very first chapter. The action starts with a kidnapping and it does not let up from there. The story unfolds with many of the twists coming out of the past.

While her characters were multi-faceted, complex and memorable --- particularly the Haas family --- I confess to being ultimately disappointed in the somewhat black-and-white view she took on the abortion issue. The way the characters are depicted, everyone who feels abortion is wrong is not only half-crazy but leans so far to the "Religious Right" that they're in danger of falling over. Still, enough time and devotion are spent developing all of the primary characters to keep this from being overwhelmingly negative. In fact, even the two-dimensional characters provide ample fodder for discussion.

Surprisingly, this is Brundage's first novel and is sure to be a tough act to follow --- although I for one will be looking forward to seeing her try. Full of suspense, memorable characters and thought-provoking issues, I can pretty much guarantee that THE DOCTOR'S WIFE will be making its rounds for a long time to come.

--- Reviewed by Lourdes Orive

A recently published review of this book calls it wooden.
I strongly take issue with the critic and wonder if in fact
he/she read it in its entirety, as it is anything but...

I consider myself a serious reader, preferring to read for
language rather than content. I found this book to be
extremely well crafted, tightly edited, with a strong involving
plot line, nuanced character development, and an imaginative structure
that is neither confusing nor obtuse.

The lovely, occasionally harsh, readily poignant use of language,
informs the complexities of the characters
making them not so dark as much as human,
drenching them in a full range of sincere humanity and all its
foibles.

Whether on the beach this summer or sitting reflectively
with a pencil underscoring the delicious use of language,
I heartily recommend The Doctor's Wife.

This is an extremely impressive debut novel which
I intend to savor with a second read.

This is a story about marital infidelity and mental psychosis. That sounds pretty heavy for a good book, but it works. The book centers around two married couples: Simon and Lydia Haas and Michael and Annie Knowles. Their lives intertwine in a shocking and fascinating way. The climax of the book was satisfying and exciting. I kind of stumbled upon this book at the library one day and thought I'd try it. I'm glad I did.

I just finished this book...I stayed up all through the night to do so. I'm also in tears. This book is quite possibly the best book I've ever read. It's so powerful. The book touches on so many different high-impact topics, such as, infidelity, insanity,manipulation,right-to-life, pro choice. And deep love. The whole time I was reading this book, I kept thinking how real-to-life it played out. You could actually see the headlines in your mind from today's newspapers. I loved Annie. She was imperfect, and the author laid her out for the reader, warts and all. I'm so used to the heroine's in stories coming across as perfect, that it was nice to read about one who's just like the rest of us, more or less. Buy the book, you will not be sorry. Can't wait for her next book.

This is a very heavy book. Personally, I found it to be dark and have no joy in the characters which is part of the story. This book is just not what I expected it to be and upon finishing it, it left me feeling disturbed. Although it is a well written book, I am not sure I am glad I read it. I do think this would be great for a book club because of the disturbing nature and thought provoking storyline.

The Doctor's Wife opens with a mystery and it is gripping. I wanted to know the conclusion, and what causes one to do a shocking act. So begins a book between primarily four people, and the relationships they share. Some have said it a dark book. Life is not always happy, there are ups and downs for any relationship.

I think this book makes us understand how the characters cope with intricate predicaments they face. The characters reach a juncture where the their values are tested. Some of these characters values or blurred or corrupted. No one can know what the outcome will be, and that made it difficult for me to put down. I do not condone what the characters do in the book. Sometimes right and wrong can be blurred. Reading this made me examine my own rush to judgement about certain events in the book; but also how I may react if in a similar situation.

This book is a riveting. The author is a good storyteller. If a book can be on your mind for a while, then that is remarkable. I read it 9 months ago. If you are looking for a tidy happy book, then this is not a book for you. If you want to read a relational mystery unfold that is controversial, insightful, and thought-provoking--then this is a book for you.

I give this book a 4.5. The only reason I dock the book is because I am a Christian and there was some content regarding Christianity that I felt may skew people from Christianity or religion--by continuing with stereotypes. I know this is a personal bias and I have the courage to admit it. I feel religion is taking a hit in the media and this can affect opinions. In essence, potentially corrupt opinions of Christianity and religion. However there is a small segment of nutty religious sects, and also nutty non-believers.

I do not think that was the author's intention to continue the stereotype. I do think the author accomplished what she desired--that is to think. I highly recommended this good, fictional book.

I think that Elizabeth Brundage made a wonderful first attempt at literary fiction with The Doctors Wife. Very rarely can you find an author who can write about such unsavory subject matter as rape, kidnapping, attempted murder, adultery, child abuse, abortions, and mental illness and yet still have the ability to keep you wanting to turn the page to find out how the story is going to end. Kudos!!

This book was a very good read. As the other reviewers mentioned earlier this book dealt with so many 'bad' subjects. The author handled them all so well. I loved the character Annie. I seen myself in her, the good and the bad. Mrs. Haas was perfectly demented. The character went deeper and deeper in a slow manner at first--and then the build up to the ending. Very good novel. I would've liked to have seen more time spent on Simon Haas though. I will definately be looking for this author's next novel.

This book had me riveted from the moment I started it. I don't usually read books about women, but I found this to be a highly engaging read. My wife was annoyed with me for keeping the bedroom light on all night because I could not put it down. I don't generally write reviews, but with this book I couldn't resist. It will not disappoint you.

The Doctor's Wife is a Stephen King "Misery" wanna-be that misses the mark by a football field. How is this for an unoriginal plot: an abortionist is kidnapped and secretly held by a crazy person. Uh huh. Where have we heard this one before? Steer clear, unoriginal and frankly boring.