Going so well on my 2014 New Year’s Resolution to read seven books off The Guardian’s Best Books of 2013 list, I’ve finished my second book. It’s called The Silent Wife, by A. S. A. Harrison, who sadly died before the book’s world-wide release and great success. John Lanchester called it funny and sharp, someone else said it was better than Gone Girl.
It is sharp, however I did not find it in the least funny and I did not find it better than Gone Girl. I did read it in three days so it must have had something going for it. As I was reading it I kept thinking “this isn’t very good”, but then I couldn’t wait to get back to it.
One thing it does share with Gone Girl is the unlikeable nature of the two main characters, but I did want to know what happened to them. And the dog. Although the dog slipped from view somewhat towards the end.
It’s a hard book to talk about without giving all-important plot points away, but I think I’d recommend it. The style is pleasingly spare although depth of character is not a strong point. I did become intrigued with Adlerian psychoanalytic theory – to be added to the For Later list.
Add a comment to: New Year’s Resolution (3)