A review by jaclynday
Split: A Memoir of Divorce by Suzanne Finnamore
3.0
It takes a little while to get used to Finnamore’s unique writing style, but it’s clear that she has a compelling way of bringing the story of her divorce and its aftermath to readers. I won’t deny that I found this book a “page-turner” because my parents are going through a similar situation, and I also can’t pretend that I didn’t see them on every page of Finnamore’s story. Divorce or separation is kind of like giving birth in that way: you see similarities where there may not even be any simply because it’s a life experience that tethers you to someone else, even in the smallest, most minute way. I’ve been there, you’ve been there, we know what it’s like. That’s what you tell yourself.
Anyway, Split is painful to read and Finnamore’s reaction to her husband’s abandonment and betrayal feels all too real. The love and pain she feels for her son is apparent too, and comes up over and over again. Luckily, her mother, affectionately referred to as “Bunny,” pops in and out of the story to mix strong cocktails and provide sage advice and humor. It’s an intensely readable book, the kind you don’t really want to put down until you’ve reached the last page.
But, for all the good things in this book, the best is when Finnamore starts recovering—seeing a new life in front of her, a way out of the grief and sadness she feels. Maybe the best part of this memoir is the hope that she leaves you with at the end.
Anyway, Split is painful to read and Finnamore’s reaction to her husband’s abandonment and betrayal feels all too real. The love and pain she feels for her son is apparent too, and comes up over and over again. Luckily, her mother, affectionately referred to as “Bunny,” pops in and out of the story to mix strong cocktails and provide sage advice and humor. It’s an intensely readable book, the kind you don’t really want to put down until you’ve reached the last page.
But, for all the good things in this book, the best is when Finnamore starts recovering—seeing a new life in front of her, a way out of the grief and sadness she feels. Maybe the best part of this memoir is the hope that she leaves you with at the end.