Customer Reviews

Everything She Thought She Wanted: A Novel

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Before I begin this review, once again I must rant about Elizabeth Buchan's American publishers, who keep coming up with the silliest, most insulting titles for her books. On the cover, the word "Thought" is underlined, lest we lose the point. Oh please! Argh!

Anyway, this is a highly disjointed very slow story of two women in different eras: Barbara, quintessential 50s housewife who is so boring (although we are meant to know that she has Deep Thoughts) and inconsequential that it is impossible to engage; and Siena, a spoiled, self-centered fashion writer who lives in a perfect apartment with her lawyer husband.

Each woman's story is told in competing chapters, with no foreseeable link between them, and nothing to draw the reader. Siena's issue is that she doesn't want children and her husband does. Barbara's issue is that she sometimes feels stifled in her perfect life, and is drawn to a young man (yawn). By the way, she is only 42, and thinks of herself as at least 60, so it's very hard to sympathise.

ANYWAY, the link between the two women is revealed on the very last page, and my reaction was, "So?"

This is NOT Buchan's best; and nothing near "Revenge of the Middle-Aged Woman." Be forewarned.

I had a harder time relating to the two main characters - Barbara and Siena - than I did in Buchan's two other novels I've read and loved. ESTSW didn't truly engage me like The Good Wife Strikes Back and Revenge Of The Middle-Aged Woman did.

Barbara's story of wanting more after catching the eye of a younger man seemed at times cliche and common. But as cloistered as she was, I can imagine how it must have turned her life upside down. Her distress was palpable, and ultimately heartbreaking.

Siena's quandary over whether or not to have children with her second husband did not grab me at all. I didn't feel for her situation, didn't feel sorry for the fact that she might have to make a choice, and didn't really see her as a mothering type. I wondered why Siena and Charlie never had the baby discussion before they were married.

As an aside, the decision to underline the word Thought in the title was ridiculous and unnecessary.

The ending, with its linking up of Siena and Barbara, was poignant. Overall, I look forward to Buchan's next novel.

I enjoyed this book. I have to say I really felt for both of the characters featured. First, you have a woman approaching her twilight years in the fifties in a small town outside of London. She partially reminisces about her marriage, raising her children, and she also gets into a new 'friendship' with a young boarder in town. The other narrative is in the voice of a young woman who is deciding whether she should have children with her husband. These are unique storylines to me-- albeit for a quick read-- about women who are working on issues that aren't just about fashion and being single (though I do love Bridget Jones and Sophie Kinsella's books). So it had a nice combination of thought provoking issues along with the delicious thrill of decisions and new romances and fashion (the modern-day narrative character is a fashion consultant). I was impressed with this author, and am eagerly awaiting my next read of hers! She has a good eye for details (the older character maintaining her house, the apple shed, the nuances of her marriage). While I was a little confused at some of the conflict in the younger character, I ahve to say that the author approached her character's problem with a sensitivity and gentleness that I really admired.

I couldn't identify with either of the main characters, and the time shifts were maddening. Just as I adjusted to switching from present day to the 50s, the author would make another leap into the World Was II era. The way the two story lines were linked in the end was too contrived. The only reason I even finished the book was that it was all I had to read on an airplane trip. Buchan's other books are far superior. Mavis Cheek's are even better.

I see there are some mixed reviews for ESTSW, but I loved it. I like how the author told two stories at once. Each chapter was titled either Siena or Barbara, depending on who the chapter was about. I was trying to figure out why the author was telling the story this way and you eventually figure it out at the end. And ... it's not just that, there are other things that make you reflect upon the similarities between these two different women across the decades.

Elizabeth Buchan is still a top author and story-teller in my book!

This book is worth the full price I paid for it, and I will recommend it to my friends, with the caveat that they must read the dust jacket flap first. I let several weeks elapse between reading the reviews and reading the book. I was confused by the switching back and forth until I reread the flap, refreshing my memory of the idea Buchan had in mind.

Buchan is good at presenting her characters' feminism, without making them less feminine. The women are neither too strong nor too weak. Buchan's style is well-paced and her supporting characters are portrayed realistically. Neither Charlie nor Ryder is written as being an overbearing or demanding husband, or as being unreasonable in his demands. They are both likeable people. Ryder is the product of the era in which he lives. Charlie is fighting for what he wants and needs in his life, even though they are things his wife isn't sure she wants.

I liked REVENGE OF THE MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN and THE GOOD WIFE STRIKES BACK better than this book. Nevertheless, EVERYTHING SHE THOUGHT SHE WANTED is a welcome addition to my personal library.

The above is the original title for the book as it was printed in the UK. I am on a hunt for this author's UK titles that have yet to make it "over the pond". I do think the English title is more evocative of the novel itself and the characters in the novel. Others have stated what this book is about, I just want to encourage you to give this author your time. Provocative, textured read.

Songs, poems, essays, and books have been devoted to the question of what it is a woman wants. Perhaps it's best that this question remains unanswered as quite often the woman herself does not know. In Elizabeth Buchan's latest novel we find two very different women faced with this dilemma.

A pair of expert voice performers, Ruth Moore and Katherine Kellgren, relate the stories of these women in alternating chapters. The upshot? As far as decisions facing a woman, there haven't been many dramatic changes in a half a century. It seems that while many would like to have it all - few, if any, have figured out to do it.

Our story opens with Siena, a very today woman, with a successful career. She's involved in the tough-to-stay-on-top fashion world, and there's a lucrative television deal in the offing. Her husband, Charlie, is a fine man. Only thing is he has different aspirations, such as a country life and children. What's Siena to do?

On the other hand, Barbara Beeching lived almost fifty years ago. She's the mother of two adult children, and married to Ryder. A favorite of both friends and family, she's generous, accommodating, and content. At least she thought she was content until she spied a handsome younger man who is strongly attracted to her. Another choice.

Women will especially respond and relate to Siena and Barbara as they face critical issues at midpoint in their lives.

- Gail Cooke

This was a pick by my book club, and it seemed to drag on for me. The reviews of our club were mixed--a few gals really liked it, but most thought the pace was too slow--not enough interest or excitement to carry the two story lines in this book.

I was excited to listen to this story on cd and was soooo disappointd. I thought it predictable, empty and just boring.