The Wife

by Meg Wolitzer

THE WIFE is the story of the long and stormy marriage between a world-famous novelist, Joe Castleman, and his wife Joan and the secret they've kept for decades. The novel opens just as Joe is about to receive a prestigious international award, The Helsinki Prize, to honour his career as one of America's preeminent novelists of the Mailer-Bellow-Updike school. But this isn't a book for writers; it's a book for readers, for people who are interested in questions such as: Is there a 'male' voice and a 'female' voice? Do men and women see the world differently, and how? THE WIFE takes on these issues, which are relevant not only in a writer's marriage, but in any marriage, where issues of gender and power are sure to arise.

• ISBN10: 0743456661
• ISBN13: 9780743456661
• Publish Date: 21 June 2004 (first published 1 August 2003)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 5 October 2004
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Simon & Schuster Ltd
• Format: Paperback (UK Trade)
• Pages: 224
• Language: English

Reviews

[clementine]

3.5 stars

There is something quite enjoyable about this incisive, unflinching novel despite its flaws. The chief problem is that I figured out the much-hyped twist within the first quarter of the book. While Wolitzer's writing is generally strong, there were some sections that felt awkward and forced, and I never quite shed the consciousness that I was Reading the Work of a Serious Writer. In terms of the theme of gender dynamics within heterosexual relationships and women compromising their desires and creative and intellectual powers because of patriarchy, it's been done before and done better. (The third book in Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan series is like... the absolute best for this. The series as a whole does this brilliantly, but the third shines particularly.) But the sheer force and anger of Joan's narration, the clarity with which she discussed these themes, was compelling, and ultimately this is a quick, enjoyable, well-crafted read. The ending was equal parts frustrating and satisfying, and pitch-perfect, I thought.

[lovelybookshelf]

The Wife is one of those reads that I can’t say I fully enjoyed while I was reading it, but I absolutely cannot brush it aside because I’ve been mulling over it ever since I finished. It touches on deep issues concerning how (and for whom) we live our lives, how we find fulfillment, and how we balance our choices with our responsibilities. All packaged in Wolitzer’s ravishing narrative style. More of my thoughts on this title can be found on my blog at A Lovely Bookshelf on the Wall.