How To Be a Good Wife; Emma Chapman
Picador - 2014
In this story Marta Bjornstad, is a married woman living in an unnamed Scandinavian county. She and her husband
Hector, have an adult son named Kylan who lives away from home.
Marta never leaves the house, and it's clear from the very beginning of
the novel that she suffers from some type of mental health issues, or at the very least something disturbing is going on in her life. She begins
smoking and doesn't even know where the cigarettes came from. She also
begins having visions of a young girl with blonde hair.
Hector
who is some 20 years older than Marta is always asking his wife if she
has taken her medication. She tells him she has, but in truth she has
not. When her anxiety is running high she smokes. Her mother-in-law is an annoying
piece of work, always reminding her how important keeping a fine house and pleasing her husband is. On Marta and Hector's wedding day, the MIL gave her a book called,
"How To Be a Good Wife", which Marta has long memorized, frequently
reciting the things a "good wife" is expected to do.
So
is Marta a reliable narrator? How did she and Hector meet way back
when? Are these visions Marta is having significant to something that may have happened
early on in her life?
This is a very good debut novel. The writing is edgy and
driven by Marta's thoughts, feelings and actions. It is easy to feel sympathy for Marta as well. There are very few
characters in the story and not a lot happens, at least not until a dinner party for
her son and his soon-to-be-wife. The evening throws Marta's fragile mental state
even more off kilter. This isn't a very long novel, but it's one that
will be remembered. In some ways this novel reminded me of The Night Guest by Fiona McFarlane -- not sure why, except that the protagonist in
both stories led a very isolated life, that in some ways affected her well being. I liked How To Be a Good Wife, even though felt a little disappointed by the ending. It's a quick read a page turner as
well - try it and see what you think.
4/5 stars
(sent by publisher)
The unreliable narrator piece reminds me of Tom Rob Smith's The Farm...and I did enjoy that and the process of trying to figure out what the truth was.
ReplyDeleteI know, I love that ploy in my fiction.
DeleteYou've certainly piqued my interest!
ReplyDeleteWorth a try Kathy.
DeleteI have this but the comparisons to The Yellow Wallpaper has made me not want to pick it up!
ReplyDeleteNot familiar with that title Jill?
DeleteWow I like the sound of this even though it sounds like a disturbing read in some ways. It sounds like there are a lot of questions that I'd like to hear the answers too. Thanks for sharing! I hadn't heard of this one before.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't scary, but it was a page turner.
DeleteI have had this one forever!! Now I really want to read it.
ReplyDeleteYou will like it (I'm pretty sure TI)
DeleteI don't know, this might not be a guy book.
ReplyDeleteNope, you are right.....That would be How to Be a Good Husband...LOL
DeleteI thought this book was well-constructed. The ending was especially good, with us wondering if Marta was reliable or not.
ReplyDeleteSee, I like that you enjoyed the ending, I was thinking it might have been different.
DeleteDiane, you've whetted my interest in this book, even though you found the ending a bit disappointing. Terrific review!
ReplyDeleteStill worth reading, despite the ending:)
DeleteI enjoyed this one too (and The Night Guest). There is something very appealing about stories that suggest someone is "gaslighting" or playing tricks on another. Vulnerability seems to draw me in, too.
ReplyDeleteThe title definitely caught my eye and it sounds like a really intriguing read. I think sometimes authors create such a yarn that they don't know how to wrap it up at the ending! Too bad this one lost steam but it still sounds like a good one.
ReplyDeleteUnreliable narrators have grown on me recently. The keep you on your toes!
ReplyDeleteSometimes unreliable narrators drive me batty so I can only take so many. This looks good.
ReplyDelete