Customer Reviews

The Wife: A Novel

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is an excellent novel, well-paced, sharply observed, witty, bitter, sad-- and also forgiving.

It's true as other readers have noted that the subject is not 100% original. But in my view it's the best execution of a story about a literary wife-- and isn't it the execution that matters? This book is a joy to read; the prose is elegant and economic. Yes it is a portrait of the changing times, but there is a central "story question"-- what is the final thing prompting Joan to divorce her famous husband, Joe Castleman, after a lifetime of marriage? Is it just bitterness that she never pursued her own talent, anger over his cheating and taking her for granted, self-actualization?

There is a twist in the book-- I didn't see it coming at all, but when it did, like the movie Sixth Sense, everything else fell into place. This is a must-read for anyone with literary aspirations or for anyone in a long-term relationship. I only knew Wolitzer as a comic writer before, and there are some comic scenes, but in this book she equals Gail Godwin and Philip Roth (who had to have been part of the inspiration for charismatic, crude Joe). This is as palatable as any beach novel but is so much more substantial!

The WIFE surely contains some of the most delectable prose to be seen in print in recent years; but it is not because of the wonderful writing that this novel demands a second reading. No, it is that the surprise ending of the book needs to spend its awesome power in order to set us free to thoroughly enjoy the subtext and underlying structures of the book; for these can only be seen and felt once we know how the novel ends. A second reading is just as delightful, and perhaps more rewarding, than the first one.

The book's layering of thought and emotion is so deftly rendered that on its surface it appears to be another in the genre that deals with the tensions between an older, prestigious, male and the younger pretty female dilettante, who in time becomes an acolyte to the man's talent; but all along we sense that under the surface there is much more than that, as, indeed, there certainly is. The author is an irrepressible humorist of the type that is funny especially when she is trying not to be. It is a book about the sweet and deadly revenge of the weak against an oppressor; it is a sociology about how a human relationship can evolve from symbiosis to parasitic exploitation, from sharing to taking to grabbing; and if Meg Wolitzer borrows some of the techniques of police novels, she rewards the reader by serving up the Holy Grail of detective books: a truly perfect crime. An extraordinary book that is likely to become a minor classic.

Once I started The Wife, I could not put it down thanks to Meg Wolitzer's ability to draw me into the world of spineless Joan Castleman and her husband Joe Castleman, a major cad. They have a marriage that I won't soon forget: he is a misery you would not want to know however many successful novels he publishes and prizes he wins, and she is a female nonentity willing to compromise herself shamelessly as she puts up with this misfit of a husband and father of her children. While they appear on the surface to be upright, educated, hardworking, and successful; they are, in fact, a mess. The saddest proof of their failures is their son, David, who is on the brink of either joining the homeless or folks stuck in some institution.

The ending of the book is a bit of a surprise, but remains (to me) unsatisfying. It seems to be an easy, somewhat contrived way out of the complexity of the end of the book.

What is most noteworthy and memorable, is Wolitzer's daring to protray the cunning, deceptive traits and characteristics of an egocentric male who, despite his pronouncements and credentials, cares about nothing but himself. I wonder why he had to be Jewish. I also wonder whether there are still women around today who fall for a con artist such as a Joe Castleman.

It must be devastating to want to be a writer, to work at it, devote much effort to writing exercises, adopt the proper mannerisms and culture, meet all the right people and yet have minimal talent for the craft. Depending upon what point that poignant fact is finally learned, the writer has choices, but with psychological costs: simply slipping away is an option, or perhaps the more risky path of concealing one's limitations is taken. On the other hand, it is also sad when a person with talent is not in a position to express it, whether due to personal reasons or external pressures. "The Wife" is a very keen look at the world of writing and authorship and the impacts on those with and without talent. In addition the politics of getting published and accepted, especially in regard to gender, is explored, as well as the subtleties and demands operating within marriages of authors.

The marriage of Joe Castleman, a creative writing professor, and Joan, a totally smitten student, examined over forty-plus years, serves as the vehicle for exploring all of these themes. What could be more joyous: Joe, at the pinnacle of a highly acclaimed and rewarded career, is finally receiving the prestigious Helsinki Prize for fiction. But the beaming Finnish hosts have not a clue at the high costs that have been exacted on the long journey from the grungy Greenwich Village apartment that Joe and Joan shared. Compromises have been made with rippling consequences.

The book is sharply written, with great insight and even a touch of subtle humor. One might have wished for a slightly deeper plumbing of Joan's thoughts along the way. Is there a surprise ending? Yes and no. Regardless, the story grabs the reader and won't let go.

The Wife is the best novel I have read in years. Witty, dry, searing, wise, the writing so fresh that a friend I recommended it to called me from the beach in Florida to read me a favorite line. I have read the book twice now, recommended it to countless friends and will be discussing it with my book group next week and can't wait. What I found so refreshing is Wolitzer's unflinching skewering of the literary world, those "men who own the world," the charming, voracious egos that devour women, soft cheese and single malt scotches in equal gulps. Though set mostly in an earlier day (the time in the book ranges from the 1950s to the present), I feel so much of the posturing and puffery is still true now. And the toll the marriage takes on the narrator's children rings painfully true -- never maudlin, just a matter-of-fact acknowledgement of how lies can worm their way through the most innocent hearts. As a fellow writer, reading The Wife felt a bit like a mischievous look at the writhing underbelly of a large and heavy rock -- the male literary tradition. A brave and brilliant book. And, for what it's worth, I was surprised by the ending.

This is my first time to read Wolitzer & I must say, her talent is apparent. I really rate this 3.5 stars, only because the novel surrounds the life of writers, and frankly, they bore me. They ramble incessantly, are full of ego, and whine, whine, whine. (NOTE: Obviously I am referring to the typical, stereotype & realize that there are many writers who are exceptions to this.) Where was I? Oh- whining. Hence Joe Castleman, whom I almost immediately despised from the first few pages. He takes & takes & takes from anyone he can, including his wife, the quarterback of never-ending gifts to him. I really enjoyed Wolitzer's portrayal of their marriage & family life. She's got a knack for really humanizing these characters, rendering them touchingly fallible.
I did like the ending, too. It takes a little turn, reminding me of our real lives. It wasn't an ideal ending for me though; I wanted some healing or solace for Joan, the wife. Somehow though, the book suggests that she'll be fine on her own as she always was.
Yes, the book was enjoyable truly. I just wish there wasn't so much "blah blahs" about writers & their worlds. Then again, I suspect Wolitzer couldn't have gotten her story across. I hope to read more of her, where her characters hopefully choose different career paths. :)

Joan is a dutiful, honorable, and faithful wife. Her husband, we learn, is a pampered, ego-driven novelist who depends on his wife for support that goes beyond the call of "wifely" duty. The scene is Helsinki, where Joe is going to receive the prestigious Helsinki Prize. As always, Joan is accompanying him and through their trans-Atlantic journey, we journey through the marriage that is Joan and Joe.

Their marriage is filled with typical ups and downs, but so much is never explained. As expected, Joe is a philanderer and makes no apologies for it. Joan isn't outraged--She is hurt, but that's as much as we know. So much is missing here that sometimes the character seems too distant. Still, Wolitzer's prose is incredibly brilliant and a wonderful departure from the adolescent sounding narratives that have flooded bookstores as of late.

Of course, the "surprise" ending didn't surprise me at all. I have to admit that I was a bit angered after putting the book down. Without wanting to give too much away, my opinion of Joan was taken down a notch. I don't feel she was redeemed at all. But perhaps this is what life is really like. Whatever your opinion of the events of the plot, this is a 4 star book. Wolitzer's simple, straightforward style appeals to me. I will definitely read her next novel.

A marriage based on a secret does not bode well for longevity, but this one lasted long enough for Joan, the wife of a successful writer and her former married, creative-writing professor, to sit back in her first-class airline seat and take a good long look at just what she traded for when she married the man.
This diabolically funny and wicked book is a rant of sorts against the literary establishment, gender, status, and fame. Excellent summer read - also excellent for autumn, winter, and spring reading, as well.

This dark, sardonic novel is about a sixty-four-year-old woman's musings regarding her forty-something-year-old marriage to an accomplished novelist. Joan was a student at Smith College when she met and fell for Joe Castleman, back then her creative writing professor. She regales us with her times in college, her passion for literature and her many years supporting her husband's career. She has made up her mind that she must end the marriage during a flight to Finland, where Joe will collect a literary prize. Why has she decided to do this, you ask? During the course of the novel, you will discover the many things Joan left behind, and the many things she put up from Joe, including infidelity. What transpires is a dark, disarming novel with quite a detached, albeit palpable narrative from the sardonic anti-heroine.

This novel has a very universal theme and it is not the most original of plots, but the novel contains quite an interesting and beautiful prose. The narrative is often detached and sardonic, as if Joan were talking about some other couple she has been observing from a distance, which makes things a bit confusing. At first, I asked myself, what is the purpose of this novel other than the internal monologues and musings from this Joan character? There is indeed a purpose and the story does lead you to a rather flooring conclusion. I hadn't expected the twist and felt as though my usual alertness for this sort of thing in books had flown the coop. The Wife is a very enthralling psychological thriller that will make you want to reread it just to see what clues the author had given you before she surprises you with such an original ending. I applaud Meg Wolitzer for creating such an insightful and creative twist to the universal topic of marriage. This book sort of reminds me of The Dangerous Husband by Jane Shapiro. The plots are different, but the darkness of the respective books and the marriage theme make them similar in my eyes. Anyway, I recommend The Wife book most highly.

Written in the voice of a famous novelist's wife, this recounts the life of a woman who buries her talents under mounds of housewifely duties. Finally, unable to bear the brunt of a secret (revealed at the end of the book), she decided to leave her husband at the apex of his recognition.

Her flat narrative tinged with a bitter wit, bespeaks a sharp and observant mind. She recalls the struggle in the early women's lib days, of bright women to be heard and taken seriously. She also brings across the exhaustion of raising and tending to a family, and the toll it takes on one's creative spirit.

The end came too abruptly for me. I felt that the narrative could have been fleshed out a bit more. Or was the author trying to convey the "last straw" mindset of her protagonist?