"Phenomenal" (Garrison Keillor) storyteller Ann Bauer brings to life the tale of one faithless widow. Carmen wishes Jobe, the husband she never loved, dead --only to fall in love with him after he is gone. As she helps her three children grieve, she discovers, after a tryst with her most recent lover, that her own life may be in danger. Heremotions reeling, Carmen reflects on the fateful days of her youth that made her the person she has become: privileged suburban wife, unfaithful widow, mother of a child with Down syndrome, fierce friend. The Forever Marriage is at its heart a mystery, and the mystery is what, exactly, the nature of Carmen and Jobe's marriage might have been. Page-turning and irreverent, The Forever Marriage is a compelling examination of a relationship and of a woman facing up to her imperfect past. It meritscomparison to the best work of Anne Tyler, Elizabeth Berg, and Alice Sebold.
The Forever Marriage
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle. Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
Review
"Told with delicacy and humor."
(--Garrison Keillor )
"A triumph of good writing."
(--The Washington Post )"Bauer expertly maps the ferocity and anguish of a parent's love . . . Exceptional storytelling."
(--Entertainment Weekly )"With quiet power, Bauer explores the isolation, betrayal, duty, and, finally, compassion that constitute an unhappy marriage . . . With lovely prose and fine pacing, Bauer (A Wild Ride Up the Cupboards) offers a sensitive portrait of a flawed woman coming to terms with a lifetime of regrets."
(--Publishers Weekly, starred review )"Bauer deftly draws all the characters. Love or hate Carmen, readers won't soon forget the hot-blooded woman, and fans of Elizabeth Berg will want to meet her."
(--Library Journal )"Written in a contemporary style that evokes the work of Anne Tyler, this is not only a well-nuanced story of youthful mistakes and adult consequences but also an unflinching look at one woman's fight against breast cancer."
(--Booklist )"Bauer's second novel (A Wild Ride Up the Cupboards, 2005) offers an introspective study of a woman as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery . . . At times dispassionate and self-absorbed and at other times emotional and selfless, Carmen follows a path of self-discovery that is often painful, poignant and undeniably real. Bauer crafts an insightful story . . . It's a journey well worth taking."
(--Kirkus)
"Summarizing the plot of this richly layered and nuanced story could leave an impression that it's grim. It isn't. The novel is infused with a sense of grace and redemption for characters Bauer makes us care about."
(--St. Paul Pioneer Press )"Compelling . . . Bauer and The Forever Marriage poignantly and powerfully illustrate the great and often tragic ironies of life . . . a perfect read."
(--Minneapolis Star Tribune )"Funny, surprising and gratifyingly honest, this novel poses unsparing questions about love and betrayal and the reasons we make the choices we do."
(--More Magazine )"While in many ways a quiet story with a subtle arc, it is also an emotionally powerful page-turner—memorable and exquisitely written."
(BookReporter.com )
About the Author
Ann Bauer is author of a novel, A Wild Ride up the Cupboards, and co-author of a culinary memoir, Damn Good Food. Her essays have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Elle, Redbook, and The Sun. From 2006 to 2010, she was a regular contributor to Salon. She lives in Minneapolis. Visit annBauer.com.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By Lauren
Format:Hardcover
The Forever Marriage blew me away with its intelligence and unflinching honesty. Carmen is a deeply flawed, deeply relatable character, and Bauer analyzes her far-reaching, sometimes kind-hearted and sometimes just plain wrong-headed choices with a clear gaze and a lovely, surprising style. This is a book about a complex woman and a troubled marriage, and Bauer depicts both with compassion and clarity. When I put the book down I felt something I don't always feel, as a reader: that my own intelligence was respected and challenged as I was granted access to Carmen's thoughts and emotions. I can't recommend this highly enough!
14 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By Steven Reads
Format:Hardcover
After reading the stellar (all 5 star) reviews for "The Forever Marriage," I decided to buy and read it. Knowing this was a novel with "a feminine slant" to it, nonetheless I am an adventuous reader, especially when the reviews warrant me to be.
Good writing? yes. Characters described in detail? Yes. Contemporary, true-to-life story? Could be. But other than a true-to-life topic, this novel had a convenient, sort of predictable and less than fulfilling ending which (finally) came. There was a lot of plodding, redundant and (overly) depressing subject matter and dialogue in which the author seemed to allow herself to go repeatedly without much anecdotal uplifting writing - not necessarily humorous, given the subject matter - but a chuckle here and there could have improved the story.
It was a challenge for me to finish this book and when I finally did I was less than satisfied then previous reviewers.
Good writing? yes. Characters described in detail? Yes. Contemporary, true-to-life story? Could be. But other than a true-to-life topic, this novel had a convenient, sort of predictable and less than fulfilling ending which (finally) came. There was a lot of plodding, redundant and (overly) depressing subject matter and dialogue in which the author seemed to allow herself to go repeatedly without much anecdotal uplifting writing - not necessarily humorous, given the subject matter - but a chuckle here and there could have improved the story.
It was a challenge for me to finish this book and when I finally did I was less than satisfied then previous reviewers.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By Merle Minda
Format:Hardcover
This novel is about imperfect characters, an imperfect marriage and the strains and rewards of going on with life -- in this case -- also in the face of huge physical obstacles. These characters touched and spoke to me because of their imperfections -- and I could relate. Carmen, the main character -- stuck in her imperfect life -- reaches out and grabs tightly onto your heart, remaining there for the duration and long afterwards. Her life with her unloved husband, her children, her lover, her adored mother-in-law, and friends faces unbelievable obstacles -- her husband's death, her own terrible breast cancer diagnosis and fight to stay alive, her children's problems. It never ends but then, it doesn't for any of us, does it? The mathmetician husband's thinking and theme grounds the whole novel somehow in improbability and how expected the totally unexpected can be. The riveting story, and the incredible and luminous writing, touched me with every word.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Loved it!
This book just flowed for me. The characters were all really well developed. I agonized for the main character. But could sympathize with her husband too. Excellent read. Read more
Published 16 days ago by Shellbell
5.0 out of 5 stars
A surprise
The Forever Marriage was not what I was expecting. It was better. The story was written in such a way that kept you turning the pages.
Published 2 months ago by paula a caliendo
5.0 out of 5 stars
Loved it
I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book after I'd read the first quarter. However, as I kept reading, I began to realize how many gems of wisdom were being offered. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Kathryn C. Hogan
4.0 out of 5 stars
An unsentimental look at marriage
A widow examines her long marriage to a man whom she never loved but whom she has difficulty letting go of. A painful assessment of the realities of modern marriage.
Published 3 months ago by Jeanne Y. Geiman
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Forever Marriage, by clever and entertaining author Ann Bauer
Ann Bauer has an outstanding writing style that paints pictures in my head. This book will leave the reader thinking about many things, just as her prior book "A Wild Ride Up... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Donna A. Gateley
5.0 out of 5 stars
Emotionally Accurate
I had not expected to enjoy this book as much as I did...I found the authors perspective on marriage to be honest,and almost painful, but pleasingly accurate in many respects. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mary E. Hill
3.0 out of 5 stars
The Forever Marriage by Ann Bauer
Thought I was enjoying it----then re-thought that! If I can't wait for a" window "to stop and take a reading/break, then I know I am not really enjoying it as I perceived I... Read more
Published 4 months ago by blaine
5.0 out of 5 stars
right on
The whole description of a marriage that was interrupted by the death of one partner before they realy had a chance to reach mature love is well done. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Jeanne Smucker
2.0 out of 5 stars
Unlikeable protagonist
There was nothing about Carmen to like, so I quickly lost interest in her. I skimmed through the pages, gathering the gist of the story, but I never cared about her and her... Read more
Published 5 months ago by M.D.C
1.0 out of 5 stars
sasha23
This has been one of the first books as of late that I have not been able to read. I simply do not like the characters or the way it is written. Read more
Published 5 months ago by sasha23
