Member Profile
| Name : | Elaine R. |
My Reviews
I enjoyed this book. I listened to it on audible which made the characters come alive. Julia Whelan, the narrator, did an excellent job with accents and portraying each character’s feelings. I know some readers felt that the dust storm chapters were long and unnecessary, and skipped through much of those chapters, but hearing the fear, the stress, the worry for the children, the “hurry up and get inside” tone from Whelan’s narration made those parts add to the desperation, the concern for their lives, and the need for action as far as leaving the farm. If you can listen to the book, you should. There are some parts at the start of the book concerning Elsa’s virginity at 25 and then not being a virgin soon after because of slightly unrealistic decisions made by Elsa but I thought about it that part of the book as I was listening and it became less unrealistic the more I learned who Elsa truly was: how desperate she was for a companion, how desperate she was for affection, how desperate for love she really was. Elsa is an amazing character who grows throughout the book even while remaining at the farm. She was a committed and loyal daughter-in-law who worked just as hard to keep the farm going as any of the Martinelli’s. The other characters including Rose, Tony, and Loreda were fleshed out and it was easy to understand why they were the way they were. Rafe, Elsa’s husband was more of a mystery and I think we are supposed to feel that way. I think we’re supposed to think about the fact that we don’t truly know ever thought, especially dark thoughts, that a person has. The lack of completely fleshing out his character is purposeful and adds one of either two things depending on how his character is interpreted by the reader: you’re either angry at him and hate him for doing what he did because it showed he was selfish and thoughtless, or you’re angry but still have a smidge of understanding because of why and how he got yo where he was when he finally couldn’t take it anymore. I think it’s a combination of both but mostly I’m angry he did what he did. However, the author has to show how things really were during the depression -men left whole families for dreams, out of frustration, out of resentment, out of shame that they couldn’t provide for their families, but mostly out of weakness of character, of person. I think had Rafe been a central character, the reader would have focused too much on his betrayal of his wife and family and possibly missed out on how mature, how determined, and how heroic Elsa’s character is. Rafe is a means to an end for Elsa to take over the role of being the head of her family, the provider, the nurturer, the worrier, and to show her true “grit” in the face of hopelessness, fear, and the extreme worry that came with trying to feed and house your children. She comes out looking exactly as she should: a mother who loved her children more than anything else, a mother who would do anything to provide food and shelter for her children, and a woman who grows and learns a few things about herself that other people (I.e. her family who told her she was unworthy and that she was ugly, and a husband who never told her she was pretty, and was never affectionate with her) didn’t want her to know or feel. She is one of my favorite characters and I would recommend this book to others, but do yourself a favor, and get a feeling fir tree times and characters by listening to this book.
The book made me angry, especially because of the main character and her selfish actions. But still worth reading.
Loved this book. Such an interesting story. Several different genres: mystery, coming of age, romantic (in places), drama/thriller.
Dark but also leaves you with a sense that things turned out ok for those deserving of a better life and those that didn’t, got what they deserved.
Trigger: main character cannot have children and the IVF treatments not working have been very traumatic.
Discussion questions (plus the author has also included discussion questions in the tab “questions”).
1. In "The Wedding People," Lila's choice to go through with a million-dollar wedding she secretly dreads highlights societal expectations’ weight in marital decisions. Should people be faulted for succumbing to tradition, or do these societal pressures absolve them of personal accountability for their choices?
2. Phoebe and Lila both grapple with infidelity and emotional betrayal, affecting their intimate relationships. Are betrayals in relationships inevitable byproducts of unmet personal needs and desires, or should commitment to another inherently override personal happiness in traditional societal contexts?
3. Phoebe's and Lila's journeys involve abandoning conventional societal norms to seek fulfillment. Is their rejection of tradition a form of liberation and self-discovery, or does it reflect an inability to conform productively to societal standards that might offer stability and coherence?
4. Motherhood is depicted as entailing profound personal sacrifices in the novel. Considering how Phoebe's and Patricia’s experiences shape their lives, is the expectation of sacrifice in motherhood an outdated notion, or does it still hold relevance as a cornerstone of nurturing and familial duty?
5. Despite her struggles, Phoebe finds joy and purpose through unexpected connections in Newport. Does this imply that fulfillment requires abandoning preconceived notions and embracing spontaneity, or does it underscore a deeper need for planned stability in our lives despite unpredictable challenges?
6. In "The Wedding People," Phoebe's journey is heavily influenced by her struggles with motherhood and societal expectations. Can the sacrifices expected of mothers truly be justified, or do they perpetuate an unrealistic ideal that leads to personal dissatisfaction?
7. Lila and Phoebe initially seem worlds apart, yet their overlapping struggles reveal deeper connections. Do you think society pressures women into projecting an image of all-togetherness, and at what point does the façade become more harmful than helpful in maintaining relationships?
8. Gary seems to drift through life, impacting those around him without making significant changes for himself. Is his passivity a reflection of a broader commentary on how men are conditioned to maintain peace rather than confront personal desires, and what are the potential consequences?
9. Both Phoebe and Gary explore connections in unexpected ways. In contemporary relationships, is it more important to find fulfillment through unexpected connections, or should individuals prioritize the conventional paths society outlines for happiness and love?
10. Jim's indecisiveness ultimately allowed his feelings for Lila to remain unacted upon until the end. Does this narrative suggest that fear of commitment is an inherent human flaw, or is it merely a societal myth that individuals use to justify inaction in romantic pursuits?
11. In "The Wedding People," Phoebe's initial longing for the Cornwall Inn as a utopian escape parallels her life aspirations. Do you think her disillusionment with the Inn and her subsequent rediscovery of purpose offer a universal commentary on the discrepancy between expectations and reality, or is it a uniquely personal narrative?
12. The motif of classical literature in the book serves as both a comfort and a source of disillusionment for Phoebe. Should classic literature be seen primarily as a tool for idealized escapism, or is its value rooted in fostering critical thinking about our own realities? How does Phoebe’s changing relationship with these texts reflect this dual function?
13. Phoebe’s perceptions based on physical appearances often lead to surprising revelations. In your opinion, does the novel suggest that our reliance on first impressions is fundamentally flawed, or is it a necessary part of understanding human complexity? How do Phoebe’s interactions with characters like Lila and Juice drive this debate?
14. The Roaring Twenties-themed room acts as a stage for Phoebe's emotional transformation. How can the historical context of the Roaring Twenties itself be analogous to Phoebe's internal journey? Does the setting of the room reinforce or undermine the themes of fleeting glamour versus authentic growth?
15. Phoebe's narrative is interwoven with her fascination and later skepticism of Victorian-era novels and their promises of idyllic happiness. Can the evolution of Phoebe’s perspective on these texts be seen as a microcosm for the larger shifts in societal views on romantic ideals? What does this reveal about the influence of literature on personal and cultural evolution?
Life isn’t fair and that’s sucks.
Not my favorite kind of story but the dynamic between the three main characters kept me reading.
Love, love, love this book. My favorite book of 2023.
Really enjoyed this book. Very interesting art theft case.
It was a quick and easy read between heavier books like The Divorce and All the Colors of the Dark.
Cute story, easy reading between heavier themed books.
I love how Whitaker slowly takes you through the mystery character by character until it’s revealed. You really get to know the characters and some of their motivations.
Wow, this is a warning from Margaret Atwood that the future for women is bleak, that we are regressing, that we will be stripped of our rights, that we are only good as a receptacle for a fetus.
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