Welcome to Litsy!

I couldn‘t put this one down and read it in an evening, which never happens. I was expecting more of a “thriller” than what this is: a critique of the patriarchy. I‘m not saying all men are as horrible as the husband in this, but Manguso got so many things right—it‘s horrible but comical, a train wreck. I loved the relationship and inner thoughts Jane (wife) had with and about her son. This portrait of a marriage is one of my new favorites.

I read this during the warmest November I can remember. This book mentions the unseasonably warm November of 1957. So, wife and mother, Kathleen, decides to get in the pool at her family‘s apartment complex. Problem is, she won‘t get out! Luckily for readers, we get to take a walk down memory lane with her. How did she meet her husband, the handsome and charmed Virgil? Their marriage isn‘t exactly the perfect 1950s ideal. Loved it!

After seeing so many mixed reviews, I was hesitant to read The Husbands, but I ended up enjoying this a lot. I do wish we got to spend more time with some of the husbands, but I also thought that the frequency and reasons why Lauren changed them so often made sense. I found this both humorous and a little bit thought-provoking.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#botm

The main character discovers that she had a magical attic that generates new husbands and new lives. She has to decide if she will always be looking for the perfect one, or if she will ever pick one and commit to that husband and that life. It was an interesting premise and well written! A good read.

Loved this National Book Award Longlist novel set in the early sixties. A marriage on the verge of a breakdown, all while a wife remains in the pool all day. Flashbacks when they met and how we got to that pool. So much in this short novel. Vibes of Revolutionary Road, Cheever‘s The Swimmer and even The Awakening. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I'm between a pick and a so-so, but I'll give it the higher rating because it may not be the book's fault.

Upon the sudden death of her husband, Waite discovers his affair(s), porn addiction, and time spent with escorts. This leads her on a complicated journey through her grief, which she recounts here with opened and candor.

I appreciated the raw nature of her story, and the ups and downs of her healing journey, but.... cont'd

#SnowedIn is back for December! Rules will be in the comments below

Make a list then someone will pick you 5 or 10 books to read from that list

Sign ups will remain open until Saturday November 16th.

You can sign up here: https://forms.gle/aPcBdjEJgutxdC6M8

Set in Ireland in 1994, The Coast Road follows two women coping with their unhappy marriages at a time when divorce is still illegal. Collette left her husband, but returned, and now her husband won‘t allow her access to her children and she lives in poverty. Izzy is frustrated and miserable, struggling to find autonomy within the confines of a marriage she cannot escape. Both are considering the high cost of personal freedom. An excellent debut.

Dear Audiobook Narrators,

Thank you for all you do, love your work. HOWEVER, if you are going to be narrating a book written by a Canadian, please please PLEASE learn how to pronounce common Canadian words, like TOQUE. It is not "toke" (as used in the tagged), nor is it "toe-kway" (as used in Eight Bears).

Signed,
A frustrated Canadian listener

My next listen. How can you not want to pick it up with a title like that?