The Unfaithful Widow: Fragmented Memoirs Of My First Year Alone [Paperback]

Barbara Barth (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 12, 2010

Why The Unfaithful Widow Will Grab Your Heart:

The Unfaithful Widow will take you on the ride of your life. Not your traditional widow, but a gal who is determined to become Super Widow with a little help from her friends, a vintage corvette, the online dating services, advice from the spiritual world, a pack of dogs and a few Margaritas.

About The Book:

The Unfaithful Widow is a collection of candid essays on finding joy again after the loss of a mate. With warmth and laughter no subject is taboo. From dealing with the funeral home (Can I show you our upgraded cremation package? I looked at Miss Death, was I booking a vacation?) to dating again (He ran in the door, looked at me and said "I've left something in my car". He never returned). Sprinkle in a bevy of rescue dogs (Finally a good nights sleep with someone new in my bed.) and those questions you hate to ask (Condoms anyone?). The Unfaithful Widow will steal a piece of your heart, tickle your ribs and make you feel good to be alive.

Book Excerpt:

Two hours later I left the attorney's office too depressed to go home. So I headed to the antique shop where I have my booth. It seemed the closest and friendliest place I could think of.

"We've never seen you in a skirt," the gal behind the counter remarked and actually clasped her hands in glee. Now there was someone who could perk you up.

"Just back from dealing with the will," I replied and made a sad face. Then I did a full curtsey, dipping and holding out my long skirt. "My widow's outfit."

I started to relax with the familiarity of the shop and smiled at her.

"Black since I'm a widow and turquoise jewelry 'cause I'm hip." I liked the sound of that.

She was looking strangely at me.

"I am hip, aren't I?" I looked straight at her. She'd better answer that one right.

"The hippest." She grinned at me with that remark. She was forty-five, skinny and lived on the edge. I was the sixty-year-old widow.

Good answer.

Product Details

• Paperback: 246 pages
• Publisher: Outskirts Press (April 12, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1432750755
• ISBN-13: 978-1432750756
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #379,363 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Writer With Dogs. That is how most know me. I write about dogs and live with a six-pack. There is my old German Shepherd, Foxy and five rescue dogs that came to live here within a nine month period.

My first book, The Unfaithful Widow, is about the year following the death of my husband. Dogs have always played a huge role in my life story and they helped rescue me during my first year alone.

My new book on dog stories should be released February 2011 and on December lst I am launching an online dog magazine.

I work with Animal Action Rescue in Decatur, Georgia, to help raise money for my favorite dog rescue.

Life is a riot at my house. You are advised not to wear black if you visit.

Visit my webs to see how a widow and dogs live!
www.barbarabarth.net and www.writerwithdogs.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unfaithful Widow, April 27, 2010

By 

Audrey Frank (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Unfaithful Widow: Fragmented Memoirs Of My First Year Alone (Paperback)

This is a charming story of how one woman fought her way back from the grief of losing her husband to a new future filled with faith and happiness. As you go along on her year's journey, you will cry a little, laugh a lot as she experiences trying to date on line, and the joy that came from adopting neglected dogs to fill her life with love.
This is not just a book for widows. This is a book for anyone who has a void to fill in her life.
Be prepared for surprises with every chapter that will delight you.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Grief defeated by laughter, June 4, 2010

By 

Stephanie Smith (Wolfe City, Texas United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Unfaithful Widow: Fragmented Memoirs Of My First Year Alone (Paperback)

I did enjoy this book. I was not sure I would, afraid it would be a maudlin collection of pity parties. Instead, I found a delightful collection of essays displaying the author's slightly twisted and very Southern take on the world after her husband died. Situations that had been routine while married were a whole different story as a widow. Fortunately, the author has good friends and better dogs to help her get through the difficult first year with her humor intact. This book earns an A from me.

Parental warning: R rated, so do not leave it laying around the house if you do not want it read.

FCC Disclosure: I was given a copy of the book to review. No other compensation was provided and the opinions expressed are my own.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chick-Lit even a man will enjoy, May 28, 2010

By 

Michael N. Marcus (Milford, CT, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Unfaithful Widow: Fragmented Memoirs Of My First Year Alone (Paperback)

In her review, Audrey Frank said, "This is a book for anyone who has a void to fill in her life."

That's much too limiting.

No void is necesssary, and the book is not just for females. It's a book for anyone seeking entertainment and anyone who might benefit from inspiration to keep going. It's also for everyone who likes dogs and soft-core dirty talk.

Barbara Barth is a master (mistress?) storyteller, with an uncanny ability to recall or recreate dialog. She is able to pluck humor from sadness. She shows proper respect for the past without being a prisoner of the past. Barbara demonstrates impressive resilience, strength and the ability to keep looking ahead despite widowhood, bad dates, and the death of a dog. Her unwillingness to accept cliche roles dictated by age, custom or gender are important lessons for everyone.

I don't want to concentrate only on the insprational aspects of the book, because it is a LOT OF FUN. I read the Kindle version on a bumpy train ride. I was tired and woozy. A lesser book would have made me turn off my iPad. With Barbara's book, I kept tapping to turn the electronic pages to see what happens next. The woman sitting next to me wondered what was making me laugh and she started reading along with me. I read faster than she did, and let her catch up before I turned the pages.

Although I didn't "get" the cover illustration (it's apparently a chick thing) and at times I thought I was overhearing a conversation that was meant just for women (number of bras owned, evaluating a man's butt), at other times I thought Barbara was talking directly to me.

Buy the book and hear what Barbara has to say to you. You won't be disappointed.

Michael N. Marcus
author of Stories I'd Tell My Children (but maybe not until they're adults)
author of Become a Real Self-Publisher: Don't be a Victim of a Vanity Press. Learn All About Self-Publishing. Publish a Better Book, Publish it Faster, Make More Money, Have More Fun