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A Reliable Wifeby Robert Goolrick |
Judy Stanton: I'd heard mixed reviews on this one,
but I found it to be a quick, captivating read, with unexpected twists and turns that
keep me engaged, wanting to know how it all shoook out. I found it interesting to learn,
at the end, about the impact of the book "Wisconsin Death Trip" on the author, leading
him to set his book in the same time frame and location. I enjoyed the more complex
characters, looking at the influences in their lives, and how they could be different
people at different times and places in their lives. A good read; I would definitely
recommend it.
Rating: ****
Debbie Weiss: In 1907, Ralph Truitt placed a classified ad for a "reliable wife" and the
respondent he selected stated that she was "a simple, honest woman." Of course, this was very far from the truth and
a story emerges where nothing is at it appears. When Catherine Land descends from the train, Ralph sees that she
is not the person whose picture he had received in the mail. That should have been the first clue of what was to
come. The story involves Ralph, Catherine and Ralph's adult son Antonio and the plot twists and turns. The story is written
well. Though it was a different kind of story, I did enjoy it and would recommend the book to other readers.
Rating: ****
Donna Newman: On a recent broadcast
of the Today Show, the book editor of a women's magazine
listed his top ten list of books for the summer. Number
One was A Reliable Wife, the story of Ralph Truitt,
the wealthiest man in Truitt, Wisconsin, in 1907 who
desires a wife to help him combat the loneliness he has
experienced for 20 years. The novel begins as Truitt waits
in the cold at the train station for the woman who answered
his classified ad. (How different is this from Starbucks
following a J-Date internet chat?) The reader quickly learns
that no one is truly as he or she appears. The writing is sparse;
the characters are unlikable; the story takes many unexpected
turns. However, I was intrigued from the first page, and I
thoroughly recommend the book. Beware the many sexual scenes.
One of the reviewers called it "a gothic tale of such
smoldering desire it should be read in a cold shower."
(Washington Post) Enjoy!
Rating: *****
