|
|
The War of the Wives - Tamar Cohen
Last post 08-14-2012 0:08 by annecater. 9 replies.
-
07-16-2012 16:16
|
Post ID: 1,007,050
|
-
littlereader
  - Joined on 03-02-2009
- In the countryside, with a book!
- Posts 3,811
|
The War of the Wives - Tamar Cohen
‘What’s the worst that can happen when the worst that can happen has already happened?’
Two women who have both been married - one for twenty-eight years with three children, the other for seventeen years with one daughter - to the same man who travels a lot, suddenly come face to face with each other for thefirst time at his funeral. There they learn of the existence of each other, and the novel follows their thoughts and behaviour as they both experience the feelings of denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance, each of which are the titles of the five parts of this story.
The two wives, Selina and Lottie, narrate the story alternately throughout. Selina and Lottie are vastly different women in terms of their lifestyles and outlooks, but inside, they have shared concerns and have both been deeply hurt. Somehow they must now learn to deal with each other.
This is a thoroughly entertaining and compelling read, at times droll and darkly humorous, at others deeply emotional and tragic. It is a very witty novel with a deliciously exciting starting point, which immediately arouses curiosity in the reader as to what will happen next. The author deftly unpicks the seams of these two seemingly contented families to expose the secrets, hurt and confusion underneath, and portrays two distinctive women who are forced to confront the same harsh reality and re-examine their pasts in a new light. The use of the two first-person viewpoints allows us to get right to the heart of everything that happens, making for a memorable and intimate story.
|
|
-
-
annecater
  - Joined on 05-04-2007
- Land of Red Arrows & Sausages
- Posts 34,973
|
Re: The War of the Wives - Tamar Cohen
I thought her first novel was fantastic and I have this one on TBR, great review Lindsay, you've really whetted my appetite. Cheers!
|
|
-
-
kaydee23
  - Joined on 12-16-2007
- Posts 9,593
|
Re: The War of the Wives - Tamar Cohen
Thanks for the review Lindsay, it sounds good. I spotted this one the other week put it straight on the wishlist
|
|
-
-
jobar
 - Joined on 05-04-2007
- In the land of pies and piers...
- Posts 17,229
|
Re: The War of the Wives - Tamar Cohen
I'm another fan of Tamar Cohen - this sounds good !
|
|
-
-
kat2011
  - Joined on 03-12-2011
- Glasgow
- Posts 1,431
|
Re: The War of the Wives - Tamar Cohen
I wasn't a fan of her first one, couldn't even finish it, but will certainly borrow this from library.
Currently reading:
|
|
-
-
alisondavina
 - Joined on 09-05-2008
- Blackpool
- Posts 4,942
|
Re: The War of the Wives - Tamar Cohen
I just bought her first novel the other week and this one sounds a cracker so I will be getting it too. Thanks for reviewing it here.
Paw prints on my heart.
|
|
-
-
Denise4891
  - Joined on 05-04-2007
- Posts 2,757
|
Re: The War of the Wives - Tamar Cohen
I also loved The Mistress's Revenge, so will be looking out for this one.
Currently Reading: Peaches for Monsieur Le Cure - Joanne Harris
|
|
-
-
lainy_79
 - Joined on 05-08-2007
- alwaysreading.net
- Posts 13,176
|
Re: The War of the Wives - Tamar Cohen
My Review
Imagine the horror of the sudden death of your husband, the grief
and shock. Now imagine being at the funeral and finding his wife and
other family that you never knew about. That is what happens to Lottie
and Selina, both oblivious of each others existence until this horrific
event. The story follows each of their lives as they struggle to cope
with the shock and realization they didn't really know their husband at
all as more skeletons come out of the closet.
This is my first
encounter with this author and can't I just say I will be getting her
other book. I really enjoyed her style of writing, the story is told in
chapters of one is Selina, then one of Lottie and it continues like
that throughout the book(the two main characters). It is told in first
person perspective and reads like their diary's filled with their
intimate thoughts and truths about everything they are experiencing (so
for nosy folk like me it is bliss!).
You are pulled in from the
first few chapters (well I was) as you can't help but thinking Oh My God
and trying to imagine if this was you going through it. The story has
all kinds of twists in it and until the end where it got a little bit
weird I really enjoyed it. 4/5 for me this time and a huge thank you to
Transworld Publishers and Lynsey Dalladay for giving me an advanced
copy to read and review and introducing me to yet another new author.
www.alwaysreading.net - feel free to stop by and enjoy the giveaways
|
|
-
-
littlereader
- Joined on 03-02-2009
- In the countryside, with a book!
- Posts 3,811
|
Re: The War of the Wives - Tamar Cohen
 lainy_79:
My Review
Imagine the horror of the sudden death of your husband, the grief
and shock. Now imagine being at the funeral and finding his wife and
other family that you never knew about. That is what happens to Lottie
and Selina, both oblivious of each others existence until this horrific
event. The story follows each of their lives as they struggle to cope
with the shock and realization they didn't really know their husband at
all as more skeletons come out of the closet.
This is my first
encounter with this author and can't I just say I will be getting her
other book. I really enjoyed her style of writing, the story is told in
chapters of one is Selina, then one of Lottie and it continues like
that throughout the book(the two main characters). It is told in first
person perspective and reads like their diary's filled with their
intimate thoughts and truths about everything they are experiencing (so
for nosy folk like me it is bliss!).
You are pulled in from the
first few chapters (well I was) as you can't help but thinking Oh My God
and trying to imagine if this was you going through it. The story has
all kinds of twists in it and until the end where it got a little bit
weird I really enjoyed it. 4/5 for me this time and a huge thank you to
Transworld Publishers and Lynsey Dalladay for giving me an advanced
copy to read and review and introducing me to yet another new author.
I would agree about a bit towards the end too, something near the end that can't mention in review but made it a 4 or 4.5 instead of a 5 for me, but otherwise brilliant. I think you'll like her other book if you liked this one.
|
|
-
-
annecater
- Joined on 05-04-2007
- Land of Red Arrows & Sausages
- Posts 34,973
|
Re: The War of the Wives - Tamar Cohen
I really enjoyed this one, my thoughts from my blog:
I read Tamar Cohen's first novel The Mistress's Revenge back in April 2011 (my review here), and loved every page of it. I was delighted to receive a copy of her second book The War of the Wives to review. The War of the Wives was published in July this year, by Doubleday at Transworld.
Tamar Cohen is a very accomplished author, she writes stories that do not shy away from controversy, featuring characters who are often very easy to dislike. Her first book featured an adulterous affair, this one centres around the almost never talked about subject of bigamy.Simon Busfield is dead, dragged from the river in a part of town that he had no business visiting. His wife Selina has to cope with the shock of his sudden death, and so does his wife Lottie. Yes, two wives, totally unaware of each other. Selina and Simon have been married for the last 28 years. Lottie and Simon have been married for the last 17 years. Two very different women, one husband - the same husband.
 |
| Tamar Cohen |
The story is narrated in turn by each wife. Classy Selina; cool, calm, in control. A beautiful house, the perfect family. Ditzy Lottie; bohemian, scatterbrained mother of one. As the two women discover more and more about their shared husband and his secret life their own lives become connected. Tamar Cohen portrays Selina and Lottie's struggle to come to terms with Simon's death wonderfully well, their feelings of betrayal and their anger and despair as they realise that their life has been a lie. There is an underlying feeling of something dark and quite seedy running throughout the story, the mystery around how and why Simon died. The suspense continues right up until the end of the story and had me gripped, and although the explanation and the ending of the book is maybe a little over the top, it is extremely well written.I was very impressed with this second novel, I enjoyed it just as much as her first book. The writing is quite unique in style and kept me engaged right up until the very last page.
|
|
Page 1 of 1 (10 items)
|
|