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jmrkls1's review against another edition
4.0
Slow moving at first but stick with it--i grew to adore her character.
lilylanie's review against another edition
3.0
I really do think that Lori Lansens is an absolutely brilliant author. I read a rather nasty review of The Wife's Tale which called it "predictable and unoriginal", but I couldn't disagree more. I've read a lot of 'unhappy housewife' books, but this one felt incredibly real and unique all at the same time.
I think that any woman who has struggled with weight can relate to Mary Gooch and her "obeast", and while we don't find any useful diet tips in this book (a sudden and utter lack of appetite is too much for most of us to dream for) it does help illustrate what a woman can do when she has to, and perhaps encourages all of us to dig just a little bit deeper. The image of a 300-pound woman trudging up mile after mile of California hills in snowboots is enough to make me reconsider my idea of a tough workout.
My biggest beef with the book is that I turned the last page and said "Wha?" I'm all for leaving some things to the reader's imagination, and I think some of the romantic possibilities were best left a mystery, but it really felt like the last chapter was missing. There were so many unanswered questions, some of which only the author could answer, and I can't think of any valid literary reason for leaving those ends loose. It felt like some things were simply forgotten, or false impressions were given, and Lansens felt them not important enough to follow through. Sad, because another 20 pages or so and I would have all-out loved this book.
I think that any woman who has struggled with weight can relate to Mary Gooch and her "obeast", and while we don't find any useful diet tips in this book (a sudden and utter lack of appetite is too much for most of us to dream for) it does help illustrate what a woman can do when she has to, and perhaps encourages all of us to dig just a little bit deeper. The image of a 300-pound woman trudging up mile after mile of California hills in snowboots is enough to make me reconsider my idea of a tough workout.
My biggest beef with the book is that I turned the last page and said "Wha?" I'm all for leaving some things to the reader's imagination, and I think some of the romantic possibilities were best left a mystery, but it really felt like the last chapter was missing. There were so many unanswered questions, some of which only the author could answer, and I can't think of any valid literary reason for leaving those ends loose. It felt like some things were simply forgotten, or false impressions were given, and Lansens felt them not important enough to follow through. Sad, because another 20 pages or so and I would have all-out loved this book.
ileanav's review against another edition
3.0
I really hate it when authors decide everyone in a fat body actually is experiencing all these metaphors and when they heal they’ll lose weight. That said I also really love the tropes of unexpected adventures and found family and this book had both in abundance. And in many ways I grew to love the protagonist. But let’s stop with the weight loss as a metaphor for beautiful transformation- it’s ick and untrue
elisabeth7291's review against another edition
4.0
Once again, Lori Lansens proves her ability to combine depth, humor and dark in her latest novel The Wife’s Tale. The narrator is Mary Gooch, who chronicles her life in numbers; that is, how many pounds she gained when particular milestones passed – two miscarriages, a hysterectomy, the death of her cat, the death of her father. Self-deprecating in her admission of obsession over food, Mary is forced to take inventory of her 43 years when her husband fails to come home on the eve of their 25th wedding anniversary.
My complete review is here:http://www.literatureandleisure.com/2010/01/book-review-the-wifes-tale/
My complete review is here:http://www.literatureandleisure.com/2010/01/book-review-the-wifes-tale/
kirstenrose22's review against another edition
3.0
I have very mixed feelings about this book. I kept on thinking that the whole thing would devolve into a fat-shaming, weight-loss-glorification kind of thing, but it surprised me and didn't. The writing was really good, but sometimes the thoughts expressed did not fit the character at all. There were lots of weird inconsistencies too, and I found it hard to believe that someone as sheltered and introverted as Mary would suddenly *blossom* and be able to make friends with *everybody*! (Is that the magical California effect?) But it was very readable and somewhat surprising in its unconventional choices, and that kept me going.
janel1994's review against another edition
4.0
This is the tale of a 302 pound 40 something woman who has been married to her highschool boyfriend for 25 years and she's suddenly alone when he leaves her. She takes off to look for him. I enjoyed the book yet I didn't really like Mary Gooch. She's sad and filled with self hatred. I wanted to shake her thoughout the book because she didn't know how good she had it because she was blinded by her own issues. I guess that is the point. The book was extremely well written so I became absorbed in the story despite being frustrated by Mary. This is probably the reaction I was supposed to have. I have to say that I didn't particularly like the ending. Not sure how I wanted it to end but the ending didn't really do it for me.
headingnorth's review against another edition
3.0
Review: http://blog.threegoodrats.com/2010/02/wifes-tale-review.html
iceangel32's review against another edition
3.0
I will go with I will possibly read this again... probably not but since it is a maybe i will give this book a 3. I would have given it a 2 1/2 again if there was half stars.
During the first hundred pages or so of this book I just wanted to put it down, however I endured. Mary just took forever to figure out what the reader already knew in the first few chapters. The book was not a page turner and when I put it down I had no impulse to pick it up right away.
Once Mary got to California and met the array of people there, I feel the story improved. The cam the end....I have to say that the end left me both fulfilled and yet empty. I liked it but hated it at the same time. Mary gave away all her money, was living with her mother-in-law, working for free and not saying anything about the home she left in Canada or Gooch taking out money (was it him?? she did lose her card. She was living at his mother house too, wasn't she eventually bound to see him. But I did like the way that Mary accepted herself and fought her demons.
During the first hundred pages or so of this book I just wanted to put it down, however I endured. Mary just took forever to figure out what the reader already knew in the first few chapters. The book was not a page turner and when I put it down I had no impulse to pick it up right away.
Once Mary got to California and met the array of people there, I feel the story improved. The cam the end....I have to say that the end left me both fulfilled and yet empty. I liked it but hated it at the same time. Mary gave away all her money, was living with her mother-in-law, working for free and not saying anything about the home she left in Canada or Gooch taking out money (was it him?? she did lose her card. She was living at his mother house too, wasn't she eventually bound to see him. But I did like the way that Mary accepted herself and fought her demons.
pickyreader23's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
rmarcin's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this tale, but felt it was left unfinished - I had questions about so many things at the end.