Customer Reviews

School for Husbands

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

 

 

I really like Wendy Holden's books, especially The Wives of Bath. I was wait-listed to get this one before it was published. It was worth the wait! This novel is charming, has a great plot, and is very, very funny. The classes in The School for Husbands are so delightful, I laughed out loud. I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to simply be entertained. Absolutely one of Ms. Holden's best.

I have always been a fan of Wendy Holden's books and this one was just as entertaining as any of them. I love the Wendy's humour and unique touches with puns and clever world-play. This story is one experienced by most couples when baby comes along -despite the apparent equality of the sexes it is generally the woman who gets to look after the baby, do the housework, shopping & cleaning etc as well as hold down a full-time job. Tiredness leads to turmoil leads to rows.

Far from being a dig at men's selfishness or inability to see where they are failing (and woman's failing to point out in easy language that she needs his help instead of nagging or 'hinting'), the author shows us how we can maintain and improve a relationship after the arrival of baby, rather than go down the messy road to divorce.

The idea of a husband attending 'A School for Husbands' (how nice, in these politically correct times, to be able to use such a phrase!) is one that many women would find attractive. Perhaps this book should be made compulsory reading by all males? If only for them to realise that it's the little things that niggle (toothpaste tubes, toilet seats, pulled out drawers etc) which, when added up cause their partner to finally flip. But conversely, it should be read by all women as well, and they would learn that generally the man in their life does not mean to be unhelpful or useless, he just doesn't know exactly where he fits into this new domestic routine where his wife/partner seems to do everything so much better.

Perhaps divorce is the outcome of assumptions made by partners that their other half knows what they're thinking.

Laughter heals most things and all partnerships should have plenty of laughter within them.

Make a start with this book.

I've been a fan of Wendy Holden for several years. Her books are always entertaining and in School for Husbads, the author doesn't dissapoint. This book has more depth than some of the other chick lit books out there. Even though it's fiction; Wendy touches on subjects many women can relate to- pressure from their mothers, distance in their marriages, miscommunication and the the stress a baby adds to the equation. You will love reading this novel and find yourself rooting for the main character and her husband.

I didn't mind this book but I can't say that it had me hooked or riveted. It's the kind of book that you can read on the plane or bus and not pick up again until the next time you take public transport.

I liked the idea of the book and some of the author's observations are really funny. That's why I gave it three stars.

Where I feel it failed was that there were four points of view throughout the book. It was fun to read how everyone had their own motives and how they were misunderstood by other characters in the book but by knowing exactly what everyone else was thinking, it meant that there was little suspense in the book (hence the ability to put the book down for long periods without really caring about getting back to it).

I also found it annoying to be reading about one of the characters and to be really absorbed in what they were doing, only to have the book suddenly jump to another character's point of view and then someone else and then back to the original character and then to yet another character. Too many points of view!

I usually like Wendy Holden. I thought Bad Heir Day, Gossip Hound and Wives of Bath were really good reads. Not classic literature, by any stretch, but very enjoyable books, none the less.

This book, I thought, was truly just bad. I like Mark, so the author did hit the mark there (no pun intended), but after a while I thought Sophie, whom I assumed was supposed to be Shirley and Simon's victim, was just plain dense and a little pathetic.

I will give Wendy Holden another chance, but its the last one, for sure.

I so wanted to like this book. The premise sounded cute!

I found the main characters, Sophie and Mark to be very dull. Everyone, it seemed, was a bit one dimensional. Sophie, the overworked mother who gets no help from her clueless, overworked husband. The meddling mother-in-law, the head in the sand father-in-law, the evil, single bitter female boss, the cold-hearted banker.

Also, the title of the book is "the school for husbands." So why did it take so long to get to the actual school? Very little time is spent on Mark's husband courses. All in all, the title and summary on the back of the book promised more than it delivered.

Sophie and Mark are the perfect couple obviously in love with one another though he recognizes that his mother-in-law blames him for her not having a big hat moment at her daughter's wedding as they had no reception. With the birth of her first grandson Albert, Shirley tosses the big wedding reception that she did not have for her offspring even if it is to celebrate a christening. Shirley also demands that rich and successful Simon, Sophie's former boyfriend, be invited as Albert's godfather as the kid will need good male role models. Implications aside, Mark barely survives the gala.

Simon agreed not because he loved Sophie, but because he loves money and its associated acclaim. He needs an in into top society, which the obnoxious Shirley who loathed him when he had a summer fling with her daughter, could provide if he was Sophie's spouse. The only obstacle is Mark. Meanwhile Mark gets a promotion that keeps him away from his wife and child. Sophie already feels abandoned so he hurts her even more so with accusations involving other men like his business partner and Simon. Outraged, she leaves him taking Albert with her. Knowing he made a monstrous error, a desperate Mark enrolls in the SCHOOL FOR HUSBANDS to learn how to treat his wife with love, dignity and respect before he loses her to Simon whose campaign is abetted by Shirley.

This is a fascinating family drama starring a desperate husband whose wife has given up on him and her mother pushes a wealthy former boyfriend to the front of the line. The extended cast makes for a fine tale as each one of them except for Simon learn what really matters in life is your loved ones so Wendy Holden makes it quite lucid to honestly communicate with one another.

Harriet Klausner