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Boring,
Pointless,
Unconvincing

1 review

The Senator's Wife
by Sue Miller

Published: 2008-01-08
Hardcover : 320 pages
2 members reading this now
15 clubs reading this now
7 members have read this book

Once again Sue Miller takes us deep into the private lives of women with this mesmerizing portrait of two marriages exposed in all their shame and imperfection, and in their obdurate, unyielding love. The author of the iconic The Good Mother and the best-selling While I Was Gone brings ...

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Introduction

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Once again Sue Miller takes us deep into the private lives of women with this mesmerizing portrait of two marriages exposed in all their shame and imperfection, and in their obdurate, unyielding love. The author of the iconic The Good Mother and the best-selling While I Was Gone brings her marvelous gifts to a powerful story of two unconventional women who unexpectedly change each other’s lives.

Meri is newly married, pregnant, and standing on the cusp of her life as a wife and mother, recognizing with some terror the gap between reality and expectation. Delia Naughton—wife of the two-term liberal senator Tom Naughton—is Meri’s new neighbor in the adjacent New England town house. Delia’s husband’s chronic infidelity has been an open secret in Washington circles, but despite the complexity of their relationship, the bond between them remains strong. What keeps people together, even in the midst of profound betrayal? How can a journey imperiled by, and sometimes indistinguishable from, compromise and disappointment culminate in healing and grace? Delia and Meri find themselves leading strangely parallel lives, both reckoning with the contours and mysteries of marriage, one refined and abraded by years of complicated intimacy, the other barely begun.

Here are all the things for which Sue Miller has always been beloved—the complexity of experience precisely rendered, the richness of character and emotion, the superb economy of style—fused with an utterly engrossing story that has a great deal to say to women, and men, of all ages.

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Member Reviews

Overall rating:
 
 
  "The Senator's Wife - Not worth the effort!"by Sara B. (see profile) 03/12/10

 
  "What a mistake"by Lori C. (see profile) 03/12/10

This book was actually my recommendation to our club and I apologized to them for making such a terrible pick. Where they came up with the title I have no idea as it really had nothing to do with the... (read more)

 
  "Character driven, but unconvincing in the end."by Holly L. (see profile) 06/19/09

None of the characters seemed to grow or change as a result of the their actions and interactions, even Meri, who should have. Although Meri accepted and grew somewhat into her role as mother, she never... (read more)

 
  "The Senator's Wife"by Ann P. (see profile) 06/03/09

Two women, at different stages of their lives, are drawn together as neighbors sharing a duplex in New England. The older has a most unconventional marriage to a well-known retired senator;... (read more)

 
  "Parts of the book don't support the story so I question why they were there."by Rebecca R. (see profile) 10/02/08

 
  "Discussion worthy book"by Sherry W. (see profile) 10/02/08

Although this is not my normal style book, and did not think of it as a favorite, it did create alot of discussion that was interesting to hear.

 
  "portrait of two marriages exposed with all imperfections and two women who unexpectedly change each other's lives"by Anne R. (see profile) 09/10/08

The group gave this book 2 and a half stars. This was the first book we read and it did lend itself to a good discussionalthough the book dragged a bit.

 
  "Good character development, slow plot"by Cori H. (see profile) 09/10/08

 
  "This was an easy read book. The characters were unusual in the way they handled their lives."by Angelyn B. (see profile) 04/17/08

 
  "Story of 2 women and how their marriages impact their lives"by Jeannie W. (see profile) 04/16/08

Okay. I don't think it was Sue Miller's best book. The ending was controversial.

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