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#163 ~ The Story of a Marriage

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The Story of a Marriage by Andrew Sean Greer

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.