Wife 22 Novel Melanie Gideon
6 Stars! And a new FAVORITE!
My Thoughts: WOW, I could relate to this book! You see I am 44 and have just celebrated my 20th wedding anniversary. I only have one child, a son, who is slightly older than Alice's son. My husband and I have recently hit some potholes in our marriage. I felt like Melanie Gideon was spying on my circumstances!
I loved how the author used the internet, google, facebook, etc to emphasize where Alice was coming from. I could relate so totally to Alice on just about every level...and I suspect I am not alone. Technology is an amazing thing and it can bring people together but this story reiterates that it can also have an opposite effect. Alice and her husband William have drifted apart and the technology initially used to communicate has become a shield to hide behind. Something I find myself doing as well. And their marriage is suffering from a breakdown in communication.
William is mostly, only seen through Alice's eyes, which isn't great to start out with. But through the survey questions (in the kindle version, I didn't realize the questions were listed at the very end of the book, just before the acknowledgements), we see how the relationship started, grew, and changed...all through Alice's memories. I only read the answers to the questions, which was part of the fun...trying to figure out what the questions were Alice was answering. Some were obvious, others not so obvious. I'm going to have to reread her answers with the questions in front of me.
This book was a wake-up call for me, in that I saw a lot of myself in Melanie. Gave me a lot to think about in terms of my relationships with those around me.
Just loved "Wife 22", Gideon has an engaging and imaginative story telling style that completely captured me. The writing was laugh out loud funny, without being mean or snarky. She can turn a witty phrase I tell ya! I am so looking forward to more from Melanie Gideon.
Reading Wife 22 made me nervous. From the very first chapter, as Alice Buckle so thoughtfully considers her droopy eyelid and her twelve year old son's body odor, I was left to wonder just how this author had gotten so firmly in my head. Alice Buckle spoke to me like few characters have, and I was quickly taken in by her strong, authentic narrative voice. I was sorry to reach the end of Wife 22, because I so enjoyed listening to Alice Buckle. I laughed at her wit, cringed at her mistakes and marveled at her triumphs. I was inspired by her resiliency, and enjoyed the reminder that change can be a good thing even when you are mid 40ish.
BalasHapusThere is no way I should have liked this novel as much as I did. I can't stand novels told in diary format, e-mail format, or any of those other gimmicky formats that have become so popular of late. I like stories, old fashioned stories that have beginnings, middles and ends and don't spend an inordinate amount of time on who wrote what to whom. Wife 22 relies on e-mails and Facebook posts to tell quite a bit of its fanciful tale, and initially I was all prepared to do a lot of skipping ahead. I was intrigued when I realized I was reading Alice's answers to her "marriage survey" questions, but not the questions themselves. It turns out that the questions weren't needed, and when I discovered the original questions at the back of the book, I found that I had little interest in knowing what they were. Alice had told her story quite eloquently, and I found the e-mail answer format not as much of a distraction as I had anticipated.
Wife 22 is very readable, well-paced, and incredibly entertaining. I knew where this one was going, but I found myself glued to the page till the very end just so I could see it play out. See, I had come to really care for Alice Buckle, and you always like to look out for the people you care about. An enthusiastic recommend for any fan of literary or women's fiction.
Even as I anticipated the ending, I wanted it to go on and on.
BalasHapusIt was funny, real and unique in style.
Alice Buckle is at a crossroad in her life. Approaching the age that her mother had died, she examines her life and thus begins an internet search to find answers. Netherfield Center's online study, `Marriage in the 21 Century' shows up in Alice's inbox. What ensues is a wonderful series of questions and answers between `Wife 22' and `Researcher 101.'
Meanwhile, her husband, William, is at his own crossroad but Alice's behavior initially is subtle in its cry for attention.
The Buckle children, family, friends, dog, careers and expectations are told with great humor, insight and examination. Wisdom, laugh out loud scenarios and poignant moments are part and parcel of the novel.
I loved each and every character. They all became well defined and integrated into the story beautifully.
Alice Buckle has come to a turning point in her life. Her husband William is engrossed in his job and they have drifted apart. Her two teenage children - Zoe and Peter - have lives of their own and her own part time job as a drama teacher seems less fulfilling than it used to. To cap it all she is the same age as her mother was when she died and this she feels is significant. When an online survey into attitudes to and experiences of marriage drops into her inbox she decides to take part. It all seems quite respectable as it's connected with a university and everything is kept anonymous - she is Wife 22 and the researcher she communicates with is Researcher 101.
BalasHapusWhat follows is a story which kept me reading for several hours without a break because I had to know what happened. The story contains Alice's answers to the questionnaire which gradually reveal her life with William and her relationships with her parents and friends. The questionnaire itself is reproduced at the end of the book. There are e-mails, Facebook posts and extracts from Twitter and some of the chapters are written like a timeline or a play. I really felt I got to know these characters and when Alice felt she was getting too close to the researcher I could empathise with her. The fact that the book isn't just straightforward narration and dialogue kept me intrigued as it gave a sense of immediacy to the story - as though the reader has taken the lid off the characters' lives.
The characters are well drawn and believable and the whole concept is very twenty first century with its emphasis on modern means of communication. It does raise some serious points about technology putting walls between people and distancing them from their lives but it also shows that a mid life crisis needs careful handling if people are not to throw the baby out with the bathwater by radically changing their lives just to relieve the tension. I thought the teenage children were especially well done with their angst and their misunderstandings - and their parents' misunderstanding of them.
This book may seem to fall into the chick lit category but while it is an entertaining read it looks at many thought provoking issues which affect many people struggling with modern life. It was good to read a book with an older and imperfect heroine who is struggling to make sense of her life and her forgotten dreams.
6 Stars! And a new FAVORITE!
BalasHapusMy Thoughts: WOW, I could relate to this book! You see I am 44 and have just celebrated my 20th wedding anniversary. I only have one child, a son, who is slightly older than Alice's son. My husband and I have recently hit some potholes in our marriage. I felt like Melanie Gideon was spying on my circumstances!
I loved how the author used the internet, google, facebook, etc to emphasize where Alice was coming from. I could relate so totally to Alice on just about every level...and I suspect I am not alone. Technology is an amazing thing and it can bring people together but this story reiterates that it can also have an opposite effect. Alice and her husband William have drifted apart and the technology initially used to communicate has become a shield to hide behind. Something I find myself doing as well. And their marriage is suffering from a breakdown in communication.
William is mostly, only seen through Alice's eyes, which isn't great to start out with. But through the survey questions (in the kindle version, I didn't realize the questions were listed at the very end of the book, just before the acknowledgements), we see how the relationship started, grew, and changed...all through Alice's memories. I only read the answers to the questions, which was part of the fun...trying to figure out what the questions were Alice was answering. Some were obvious, others not so obvious. I'm going to have to reread her answers with the questions in front of me.
This book was a wake-up call for me, in that I saw a lot of myself in Melanie. Gave me a lot to think about in terms of my relationships with those around me.
Just loved "Wife 22", Gideon has an engaging and imaginative story telling style that completely captured me. The writing was laugh out loud funny, without being mean or snarky. She can turn a witty phrase I tell ya! I am so looking forward to more from Melanie Gideon.
I enjoyed this book. The writing style was original, funny and very readable. I recommend this book to everyone. Enjoy!
BalasHapusAlice Buckle from the very beginning is a spunky, enjoyable main character. She teaches theater at a local elementary school, part time. William and Alice have 2 children, one boy and one girl. William and Alice have been together forever. So maybe the newness has worn off. Alice received an email asking if she would participate in a marriage survey. For $1000, why not!
BalasHapusHowever, Alice thinks she is falling for Researcher 101 --- Wife 22 to be exact as she is known. In cute little conversations and snippets they converse back and forth through emails and eventually start talking on facebook as well.
Lots will be revealed when you read it, as Alice and William as well search themselves and what they are really looking for. It might just be right in front of them!
Good writing, loved the modern day email and facebook talk! Perfect for these days. Alice was such an endearing character to me, I fell in love instantly.
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book, in exchange for my honest review.
this was a great book club pick. everyone enjoyed reading it. I liked the question and answer style. Different but good
BalasHapusI loved this book from start to finish...mostly finish because the ending was so satisfying. Written in an unusual style, via Facebook posts and Twitter tweets, etc. this is a book for the ages. I will not go into the plot because other reviewers have done so already, but I will say that this is a book that will satisfy a wide group of readers. It is timely and speaks of many truths that married couples face today.
BalasHapusWhile this is probably a book geared more toward women readers, as a single male I was just as interested as the intended audience. I learned a lot about myself and mistakes I have made in prior relationships through the questionaire that Wife 22 fills out. She goes deep into herself and her past, to try to improve her future. I saw myself in some of her ramblings.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed WIFE 22. It was current, fresh and most importantly...interesting. I would recommend this book to almost any age group (over 16), as there is a little something for everyone. It was a fun summer read and I'm looking forward to Melanie Gideon's next book. This is sure to be made into a movie and I have already cast it in my head...will be interested to see how Hollywood perceives it. 5 solid stars!
BalasHapusSuch a great book for woman in their 40s with kids and a 15+-plus-year marriage. The camping trip part was a hoot. Great writing!
BalasHapus