Reviews

Wifedom: Mrs Orwell's Invisible Life by Anna Funder

bad_at_person's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

kfish's review against another edition

challenging dark informative reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

pemoinop's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

I loved this very real insight into the lives of wives and women all over, told through the experiences of poor Eileen. How much she devalued herself was so devastating, how much Orwell took her for granted. I loved the authorial choices in this book, bringing her days to life through close examination, and highlighting all of the parts that have been omitted by many. It gave justice for Eileen, the many who have come before her, and the many who have and will continue to come after her.

clemireads's review against another edition

informative slow-paced

4.25

jaclyncrupi's review against another edition

4.0

Who knew Orwell was such an asshole?!?! His wife Eileen certainly did! Funder reinserts Eileen into the story of Orwell’s life and writing after discovering some wonderful letters Eileen wrote to her best friend. She also reconsiders her own life as a wife and writer. She inserts herself into the narrative almost the exact right amount (less is more with this). An enraging and wonderful read. I did this half on audio and it’s an excellent audiobook.

bethanlcollins's review against another edition

Interested in Orwell’s wife’s story, less interested in what I feel is the more speculative and self indulgent side where the author inserts herself and her relationship. 

This a rather harsh stance, and it’s not a bad book - but not what I thought I was getting into so DNF for now 

spikeabell's review against another edition

challenging funny sad medium-paced

4.0

lottierandall's review against another edition

informative reflective sad medium-paced

3.5

although the author certainly takes some creative liberties, this was really interesting and thought provoking. feel privelidged to have read about eileen’s story, and have developed a strong disliking for orwell’s male biographers who attempted to write her out of history. however this book provided slightly too much detail for my level of interested

candournat's review against another edition

informative sad slow-paced

3.25

caitlin_bookchats's review against another edition

adventurous challenging reflective medium-paced

5.0

Inventive, challenging, creative. What an interesting portrait of a person largely erased from her role in her husband's success and a challenge to our idea of the lone genius.