The Story of A Marriage, by Andrew Sean Greer
Pearlie and Holland are childhood sweethearts from Kentucky who have found each other again after being separated when Holland went off to war. Holland is a troubled man when he returns and though his elderly spinster aunts try to warn Pearlie that she should not marry Holland on account of his being “ill”, they only drop cryptic hints as to what that illness might be. Pearlie does what any young woman in love would do- she ignores them, nurses and watches carefully over Holland’s health, and then marries him anyway.
Pearlie and Holland start making a life for themselves when they move to the community of Sunset at the furthest edge of San Francisco. Curiously, and for reasons not immediately clear, they remain outsiders in their neighborhood; but even still, they have a child together and plan on raising him where they have settled. They do well for a time, but the precarious balance of their lives is upset when Holland’s past in the form of Charles Drumer comes knocking at their door, relentlessly drawing Pearlie into the midst of an intrigue where she is hopelessly out of her depth.
Last year I read The Confessions of Max Tivoli by the same author, Andrew Sean Greer, and while I was taken with the premise he wanted to explore (a man who aged and lived backwards), I was very disappointed with the execution of the novel. It was beautifully written but I didn’t feel that the story addressed some of the obvious questions raised in the story. I picked up The Story of A Marriage wanting to see what else this talented writer had to offer. Of course, the book languished a bit on my shelves until Trish mentioned it as a possibility for our That’s How I Blog! Twenty Minute Book Club. I jumped at the opportunity to give Greer another try and fast tracked the book on my TBR pile. This time I wasn’t disappointed.
I was interested right away in Pearlie- the life that she was leading, her odd jobs, personality traits, peculiar background- and that which made her prone to the choices she made. Though her life is framed by the needs of others and by the standards of her time, this story is thoroughly hers, and her husband Holland remains a shadowy figure seen and known only through Pearlie’s hazy reflections, which she uses to protectively distance herself from painful experiences in her past. I always wondered what was going on with her and whether I could trust her- whether I could truly rely on her for an accurate portrayal of events.
The truth is slow to reveal itself, filtered as it is through Pearlie’s uncertain psyche, but I was often stunned by the nuggets of additional information that triumphantly reveal themselves over the course of this strange narrative. Holland doesn’t remember Pearlie when they first rediscover each other in California, and I often caught myself wondering what would prompt a woman to give herself so eagerly to a first love who didn’t even remember her. I was intrigued by the way the story unfolded and each piece of the puzzle skillfully raised more questions than the last.
Charles Drummer easily becomes a fixture in the Cook household and he exerts a powerful influence on the vulnerable Pearlie, who lacks the self-esteem and confidence to challenge the sacrifice that Drumer requires her to make. There are hints from the first pages that Pearlie’s young marriage has taken turns that are unexpected and unwelcome by the new wife. I was eager to see it unfold and know what had brought them to such an unsatisfactory conclusion. The carefully exposed journey to the end result was a fraught and complicated stew of themes exploring guilt, responsibility, male authority and privilege and a few surprises that it would spoil the book to name. It was also beautifully written and gorgeous in both language and imagery.
Thankfully I was able to explore the themes and nuances of the story in more detail with Jen and Trish on Trish’s episode of That’s How I Blog! If you’re interested in hearing more about this fascinating book (spoilers included!), then the conversation starts at the 72:55 minute mark.
This video is a bit spoilery for the novel, but it’s so interesting! Definitely check it out if you’ve read this book or have no intention of reading this book (lol).
Read More Reviews At:
- Literary License
- Devourer of Books
- Books on the Brain
- Literate Housewife
- 1morechapter.com
- Shelf Love
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I’ll have to read this and then listen to your and Trish’s discussion of it!
S. Krishna´s last blog ..Hummingbirds – Joshua Gaylord
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Nicole Reply:
November 12th, 2009 at 8:30 AM
It’s always so much fun to discuss because everyone has such different insights and notice different things. Trish and Jen provided additional perspective for me.
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Excellent review.. you nailed it. I’m off to check out That’s How I Blog!
Lisamm´s last blog ..Twelve
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Nicole Reply:
November 12th, 2009 at 8:31 AM
Thanks Lisa! I loved yours as well. I thought Greer made a lot of clever statements and examinations with this one.
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You’ve made me want to read this one. Oh, if only I had more time for more books! LOL Thanks for the review.
Anna´s last blog ..And the Winners Are…
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Nicole Reply:
November 12th, 2009 at 8:32 AM
I know! That pesky time is always an issue. We do what we can!
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You tempted me with this one too! I didn’t love Max Tivoli either so I wasn’t anxious to pick this one up.
Julie P.´s last blog ..Review: Baby-sitters on Board!
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Nicole Reply:
November 12th, 2009 at 8:33 AM
Yes, Max Tivoli almost ruined him for me, but his writing is something else. Knew I would give him another try eventually
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What an interesting video! I like this guy, and of course now I have a better of what the stranger at the door wanted! Still I would love to read this book. Nicole, really excellent review! You have done it justice!
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Nicole Reply:
November 12th, 2009 at 8:34 AM
Yes! That is a crazy story isn’t it? He really took it and made it his own. Lots of little twists on an already strange request/story.
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The book sounds interesting, but I’m not sure I agree with what the author has to say about the South.
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Nicole Reply:
November 12th, 2009 at 8:35 AM
I think all of places have good and bad. It sounds like he hasn’t had the best experiences in the South for sure.
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This sounds interesting – I’ll add it to my list.
charley´s last blog ..The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie
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Nicole Reply:
November 12th, 2009 at 8:41 AM
I’ll be curious to compare notes if you do. It seems to be a polarizing books from other reviews I have read.
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This sounds like an interesting read and it is set in an area I am fairly familiar with since I live in the SF Bay Area. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Based on what you’ve written I do thinkI would enjoy it.
Kathleen´s last blog ..A Question about Reading Habits
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Nicole Reply:
November 12th, 2009 at 8:42 AM
I would love to know what you think if you read it. I have read some other reviews and it seems as if folks were pretty split on it.
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Sounds like an interesting read. I haven’t heard of this author before so thank you for introducing me to him!
Leah´s last blog ..Cute Bookmarks!
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Nicole Reply:
November 12th, 2009 at 8:45 AM
I got introduced to him through my book club because before that I had never heard of him either. Based on this book I definitely want to read his next one.
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I really enjoyed your review. I see that I can access your radio show on your blog..GREAT!! I’ll have to do this at the end of my workday!!
Staci´s last blog ..Library Loot- November 11
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Nicole Reply:
November 12th, 2009 at 8:47 AM
I hope that you have been enjoying the show. I saw your e-mail, I just haven’t had the chance to get to it yet. A little swamped this week.
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I love books about complicated marriages. Thanks for the recommendation.
Stacy´s last blog ..The Mist, by Carla Neggers
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Nicole Reply:
November 12th, 2009 at 9:18 AM
Well if you like complicated marriages, you will love this story. I t was so interesting. I am so glad I had the opportunity to actually discuss it in more detail with the girls.
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Wow, I would really not pick another book by an author who promised but was disappointing. But I think you found a really good book here! I really liked your review and keep an eye out for this one/
Veens´s last blog ..The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
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Nicole Reply:
November 12th, 2009 at 9:19 AM
Veens his writing was so good that even though I didn’t enjoy that story, I had a feeling that I might like something else by him.
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Excellent review. I am definitely going to read this one.This is the second great review about the book and now this book is calling me towards it
Shona´s last blog ..Letters To A Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke
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Nicole Reply:
November 12th, 2009 at 9:20 AM
I’m glad you saw other good reviews. I saw some good ones, but quite a few were mixed or didn’t like it. I thought it dod some really fascinating things.
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Books about relationships are just so interesting aren’t they – feed the voyeur a lil bit and also let people really pick apart what makes a realtionship work and how they can fall apart. Sometimes I wonder if readers of certain kinds of books produce these great, healthy realtionships…
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I heard this author speak at the LA Times Festival of Books and I purchased his book based on his personality alone! And…the book is still sitting on my bookshelf, untouched! I really need to get to it soon.
Ti´s last blog ..Review: New Moon
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Hummm interesting. I’m really not sure yet if I’ll read this one.
Beth F´s last blog ..Thankfully Reading Weekend: Event
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I’ve been waiting to read a blog review of this! I’ve read about it in Amazon and was intrigued but was hoping to read a more in-depth review from a book blogger. It does sound interesting. I’ll look for a copy.
It’s my first time visiting your blog. I’ll be dropping by more often.
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This sounds really good! I have heard of the book but really had not read anything on it until now. I am very interested in this – thanks!
Sheila DeChantal´s last blog ..Morning Meanderings
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I really need to pull this off the shelf and read it…sooner rather than later. I have all these great books waiting for me…aaaahhhh!!!!
softdrink´s last blog ..The Haunting of Hill House
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This has caught my eye before, but I haven’t yet picked it up. I stopped “That’s How I Blog” when you got to the book discussion
Dawn – She is Too Fond of Books´s last blog ..Book Review: *The Elegance of the Hedgehog* by Muriel Barbery
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