The Story of a Marriage
Pearlie loves Holland. She has since they were growing up in Kentucky, before he went into service during World War II. Despite all odds, they run into each other in San Francisco after the war. Holland is hesitant to start a relationship, but eventually he gives in to Pearlie’s desire to take care of them. Very quickly they marry and ease in to San Francisco suburban life. She believes that she has found happiness and purpose in her life as wife and mother until Buzz, a man from Holland’s past, arrives and calls into question everything she knows about her life, her husband, and marriage.
This novel, which is the first I’ve read by Greer, is all about misconceptions and assumptions. The misconceptions and assumptions people have about each other, marriage, and family life, but also the assumptions and misconceptions readers bring to the stories that they read. As I eased my way into The Story of a Marriage, I discovered that I assumed certain things about Pearlie and Holland simply because I wasn’t immediately told otherwise. Coupled with that, I was quite wrong in what I guessed about thekind of trouble heading toward Pearlie and Holland’s marriage. Time and again I was shown that what I believed I knew about their story in advance was inaccurate. Like Pearlie, I kept on assuming. It’s such a human thing to do. Do we really want to know the truth about ourselves and others because we’re comfortable in reality that we imagine?
I thoroughly enjoyed The Story of a Marriage. It was as interesting as it was challenging. There is no question that I will read more of Greer’s work. I look forward to reading novels that take you places you didn’t see beforehand with characters who are as believable and as human as Pearlie Cook. Instead of using nearly unbelievable circumstances and larger than life plot twists to do this, Greer stays close to home. Close to where the real drama of life can be found. When you read The Story of a Marriage, you can put yourself in Pearlie’s place. You might not face the same circumstances in your life and marriage, but you most certainly can fill in those areas. If you’ve ever made a decision about what is best for someone other than yourself instead of talking about it with everyone involved, you are Pearlie Cook and you should read this novel.
Behind The Review
I got the opportunity to read this novel when I was selected to participate in Picador‘s third Twitter book club. The book arrived the Tuesday before the book club, so I’m glad that it was a quick read. I really enjoyed my experience in using Twitter as a book club. Andrew Sean Greer participated as well and we got a lot of insight into his characters and his writing process. It was a really great experience and I enjoy following my fellow participants today. I wish I had written down all of their user names so that I can share them with you. I wasn’t the only book blogger in the group. Jen from Devourer of Books spent the day with me talking about The Story of a Marriage, too. It was a lot of fun for me to talk about the book with one of my book blogging buddies. If you’re not following her, look her up – @devourerofbooks.
Thank you very much to Picador for this opportunity. I enjoyed every minute of it.
Have you ever participated in a Twitter book club? I’d love to do this again at some point.
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This book was also read as part of my War Through The Generations 2009 Challenge.
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To buy this novel, click here
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A Twitter book club sounds like a great idea and so does this book. I like the title. lad you enjoyed it.
Great review – I was following your comments all day on Picador also and it sounded like the book had wonderfully complex characterizations.
I think I would love a book that challenges our preconceptions, and challenges me to think outside the box! Sometimes it is nice to read a book when I’m feeling a bit brain dead, but I prefer more of a workout. I’m going to look into this one!
Sandy’s last blog post..39 Clues: Maze of Bones – Rick Riorden
This sounds like a book that would make me think. It sounds like it would be a great book club read. I love the cover, too.
Kathy’s last blog post..Review: Secret Daughter
i find it so interesting to read a story about marriage and relationships written by a man. i guess i’m so used to women authors dominating the genre. the premise sounds good and i am guilty of sometimes assuming or seeing things from my perspective only. thanks for the review!
nat @ book, line, and sinker’s last blog post..Review: Reunion by Therese Fowler
I picked this book up after seeing Andrew Sean Greer at the Festival of Books but I haven’t had a chance to read it yet. I missed the Twitter club! How did I miss that?? I look forward to reading it.
Ti’s last blog post..Friday Finds: Castle
I haven’t had the chance to participate in a twitter book club. I think I’d be worried about hurting the author’s feelings.
Sometimes I’m not the most tactful, especially off the cuff.
Great review! This is the first that I am hearing of this book.
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I remember seeing the Twitter book club for this, but didn’t participate. A week or two afterwards, though, I heard Andrew Sean Greer speak on a panel at the LA Times Festival of Books (I was there with Ti), and bought a copy right after leaving the lecture hall. I’m looking forward to reading it and glad you liked it!
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This sounds like a great read. I had no idea there were book clubs on Twitter. Then again, I’m not on Twitter. I honestly have a hard enough time keeping up with blogging and blog reading–I don’t know how I could add Twitter to the mix, too.
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Those of you who picked up the book after hearing Greer at the FOB made a great choice. I agree with nat about finding novels about relationships and marriage written men interesting. What makes this one even that much better is that it is written by a man from the wife’s perspective.
A Twitter book club is easy. Really you just need to pick a unique hashtag and pick a time. Anna, I completely understand about finding time for everything. What’s great about Twitter is that you can put as little or as much time as you want into it. For example, you could sign up for an account and only use it to participate in book clubs.
I’ll think about setting one up. I’ve got some interesting novels coming up…
Literate Housewife’s last blog post..#163 ~ The Story of a Marriage
When this book first came out it was all over the blogisphere, so I didn’t want to read it. Now with your review I really want to. Thanks for the great review.
A twitter book club sounds like a great idea.
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I’m adding this one to my wish list, I love books that totally surprise you. It doesn’t happen that often! Great review!
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Fantastic review!
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I read The Confessions of Max Tivoli by the same author, and while I didn’t love it, it intrigued me enough to keep an eye out for the rest of Greer’s work. You’ve made this one sound irresistible – I might have to get it from the library sooner rather than later!
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I loved the Picador Twitter book club I participated in (it was for The Housekeeper and the Professor). I’d do it every week if I had time to read the books!
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I love the idea of the Twitter/Picador book club, and participated in WOLF AT THE TABLE. I just wish the book had come a bit sooner, so I didn’t have to drop everything to read it (it was a quick read, but I had to take a break from the other books I was juggling, to squeeze it in).
A fun challenge to discuss it in 140-character bursts!
Dawn – She is Too Fond of Books’s last blog post..Children’s Book Review: *Slob* by Ellen Potter
We posted your review on War Through the Generations.
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