Literary Wives is an on-line book group that examines the meaning and role of wife in different books. Four times a year, we post and discuss a book with this question in mind:
What does this book say about wives or about the experience of being a wife?
Don’t forget to check out the other members of Literary Wives to see what they have to say about the book!
- Kay at What Me Read
- Rebecca at Bookish Beck
- Kate at Books Are My Favourite and Best (Kate will join us starting with our next book, but I encourage you to go check out her blog now!)
Goodreads Synopsis: George March’s latest novel is a smash. No one is prouder than Mrs. March, his doting wife. But one morning, the shopkeeper of her favorite patisserie suggests that his protagonist is based on Mrs. March herself: “But . . . ―isn’t she . . .’ Mrs. March leaned in and in almost a whisper said, ‘a whore?” Clutching her ostrich-leather pocketbook, she flees, that one casual remark destroying her belief that she knew everything about her husband―as well as herself. Suddenly, Mrs. March is hurled into a harrowing journey that builds to near psychosis, one that begins merely within the pages of a book but may uncover both a killer and the long-buried secrets of her past.
Warning: Spoilers Ahead!
I like reading books about people losing their grip on reality, so Mrs. March was a fun read for me. At the same time, it was sometimes hard to read about Mrs. March’s breakdown – I didn’t know whether I wanted to shake her or hug her, and I worried about her son Jonathan. Their family vibe felt strange and distant from the beginning, so I wonder how the poor little guy is going to turn out. But, most of all, I want to know the truth. Did her husband base Johanna on Mrs. March, and, if so, was it done innocently or as an insult? (I realize this is not the point of the book, but I still want to know!)
I was disappointed in Mr. March’s infidelity. It didn’t surprise me, but it’s so common and I don’t feel as though it adds a lot to the story. It just gives him an easy excuse for not noticing his wife’s ever-worsening odd behaviour.
What does this book say about wives or about the experience of being a wife?
By the time we meet the Marches, they have an 8-year-old son and a dried-up marriage. On the surface you might not notice, as they are still very polite to each other and use terms of endearment when they speak. But the atmosphere between them feels strained and distant.
It sounds as though Mrs. March had a lonely childhood, and was brought up to believe that “a healthy marriage is built from the outside in, not the other way around. A husband, upon returning home from work, should always be received by a wife looking her best, and by a house so thoroughly kempt as to maintain his pride in it. Everything else would spring from that.”
Mrs. March is insecure and so concerned with appearances that even when she is doing something she enjoys–like viewing art at a museum–she can’t just let herself enjoy it: she has to imagine other people watching her enjoying it. (“She tingled with the possibility as she prowled the cold, quiet halls that someone she knew might find her there, appreciating it all.”)
Given Mrs. March’s insecurity, concern over appearances, and beliefs about marriage, it’s not surprising that she is unhappy. To make matters worse, when the shopkeeper at her favourite bakery implies that she believes Mr. March’s latest protagonist–who is a “prostitute”–is based on Mrs. March, Mrs. March feels humiliated and betrayed by George. This humiliation grabs hold of her and becomes too much. She begins to imagine that everyone is gossiping about her and laughing at her behind her back, including her husband.
Mrs. March begins to unravel. She’s paranoid about what people think and say about her, but tries to appear perfectly poised in public (when she dares to go out). Her housekeeper resigns because of her odd behaviour, but her husband doesn’t seem to notice. You can’t help feeling sorry for Mrs. March as she alienates herself from other people and has a husband who’s not paying any attention to her.
Mrs. March does not seem to have a close relationship to anyone else, so she has no one she can talk to (or anyone who can talk her down). She’s allowed her identity to become so entangled with her husband’s that she doesn’t know what to do (or who to turn to) when she feels betrayed by him.
What could have prevented the unraveling of Mrs. March? Anything? A better husband? A good friend? A psychiatrist? Or does it go all the way back to childhood trauma and the advice her mother gave her?
Join us in June for a discussion of Recipe For A Perfect Wife by Karma Brown!
Consumed by Ink 
I wonder if she’s ever able to confront her husband, it doesn’t sound like it; how very lonely. I haven’t read this but it sounds interesting, thanks!
She does ask him at one point in the book, but the answer he gives doesn’t convince her. He tells her Johanna is likely a mixture of women he has known. She asks what parts are her, and he tells her she’s tired and they can talk about it in the morning. Which never happens, of course.
I loved this one which felt like a slice on modern gothic to me, prompted by the UK cover which is rather different from yours. George does seem oblivious of his wife’s increasing deranged behaviour.
It was a fun read!
I do wish George could have been more involved somehow, but I guess part of the point is that Mrs. March’s aloneness contributes to her paranoia.
The covers are very different!
You’re right that she’s alone, but she has kind of cut herself off from others, hasn’t she, by always being so worried about what they think of her and by judging them herself.
She has, for sure!
So…this has nothing to do with Little Women?
Ha! I did appreciate that “Mrs. March” was our March poster girl.
I hope not! Lol
The flashbacks to childhood made me think that it’s primarily to blame for Mrs. March’s mental state now. For sure she could have done with some therapy, and a few people in her life who really understood her. It’s a very extreme picture of someone who’s isolated and losing touch with reality.
I agree. It was a perfect storm of things that began accumulating decades ago!
I don’t like reading about people losing their grip on reality (says he having just read The Yellow Wall-Paper for the first time). And I’d have difficulty liking a protagonist whose only ambition was to be a perfect wifey. But I think I’d despise March for making fun of his wife (whether by cheating or by making her a figure of fun) instead of just saying to her – Hey, this is not working.
True, underneath his good manners and words of endearment, George is pretty despicable.
At least The Yellow Wallpaper is short!
I loved this. I thought it was really unique and incredibly well paced and plotted
I thought so, too!
It sounds rather sad to me that she’s so isolated and lonely!
It is! I wished so badly that she had a friend.