Customer Rating:  
Summary: Heavy-handed, poor character development
Comment: Interesting story, but this is not worth the time to read, as the characters are poorly defined and the writing is pretty amateurish. I'd read "The Good Mother" years ago and loved it, but this book is a turnoff to reading anything else by her. It's hard to empathize with any of the characters, who all seem one-dimensional and amoral. She writes as though she is making epiphanies about women, marriage, etc. but they did not resonate with me.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Worthwhile Read, Hated the Ending
Comment: Sue Miller's The Senator's Wife is an interesting read. Written from the perspective of two neighbors, one who is much older toward the end of her life and one who is younger toward the beginning of her life.
While I was interested in the lives of both women and enjoyed the creative way in which their stories emerged, I felt that Meri's character's development dropped off while Delia's character development took over the story. I would have like to hear a bit more how Meri came to terms with her marriage to a man who seemed pretty self-absorbed and distant.
Further, I felt that the ending was COMPLETELY unbelievable, although from a creative standpoint it sure got me thinking. I guess any author who can do that knows her stuff. I would like the opportunity to debate the ending with the author someday.
Customer Rating:
Summary: The Senator's Wife
Comment: I loved the book, it held my interest the whole time and had a shocking twist near the end. Very Good
Customer Rating:
Summary: The Senator's Wife
Comment: This novel opens as a newlywed couple purchase their first home, a half of a duplex next to the prestigious Senator Naughton and his wife. As they struggle through their firsts--house, fights, children, etc; they probe into the life and marriage of the Senator and his wife Delia. The story is also told through Delia's perspective as she grapples with a long term marriage, the after affects of infidelity and forgiveness. Both marriages are in turmoil yet salted with moments of genuine affection. The characters endure through decades contrasting and commenting on both marriages, and make a comment on love and relationships in general.
This book dispenses some amazing and humorous moments. The relationships within the story are commendably honest. The character of Delia is spunky and adorable, and her unwavering love is admirable.
But most of the book was just too hard to read. There was a lot of sex, but it was more off putting then sexy. And sex on some level is written into almost every description in the story. This one line simile may be a contender for the worst ever written, "Her wild white hair was an aureole around her face." I almost couldn't get past that one. The book also excuses infidelity and dishonesty with minimal consequences for the main characters.
The story also suffers from structural issues. The plot structure jumps back and forth through time awkwardly. The way Miller executes this and through excessive foreshadowing; there are absolutely no surprises in the book. Finally the book culminates in such a mildly disturbing and strange way, it leaves the reader almost exhausted. Unless you're a big Sue Miller fan, you might want to skip this one.
Customer Rating:
Summary: The Price of Love
Comment: Sue Miller's latest may not be her best, but it makes the reader think, and think hard. How much does a woman have to "pay" for love? Should she HAVE to pay? Why? And why not?
All these hard questions are explored, but as in true life, never really answered. The plot is seemingly simple: Two women, one a long-time senator's wife, Delia, and newly married unsure Meri, share two halves of a twin house. And two halves of a woman's life? Perhaps...
We learn Delia's story that is all too familiar: a political wife keeping the smile on her face during her husband's serial cheating. They never divorce, although they separate, but Delia NEVER separates from Tom, not truly, and therein lies her tragedy.
Meri, the product of a horrible childhood, is young, loves her job, and is relatively happy with her life, although neither she, nor we, knows if she really loves her professor husband Nathan, equally young. An unexpected pregnancy greatly complicates things, and Meri consciously and unconsciously looks to her neighbor Delia for guidance.
But Meri, much as the author wants us to sympathize, is truly not a nice person. She does things that I would not forgive. And Delia, who seems so supportive of, and kind to, Meri, is truly on her last nerve and couldn't care less.
It makes for interesting reading, and lots of thinking.
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