American Wife

[BelligerentGhoul]

Okay, I have finally finished the book about Mongolian shepherds (v good but it took forever because life got in the way) and have given up on The Secret Scripture for being pants.

I have started The American Wife but am not really 'feeling' it at the moment - should I carry on, or should I read American Pastoral or something else instead?

I really liked the first part of American Wife and found myself getting less interested in it as it went along (especially the third part). So, if you're already bored, I think you are going to struggle . American Pastoral is a very different book but, imo, far superior.

Thank you. I'm not bored by it, as such, just a bit irritated. I saw the Andrew thing coming (and thought it was clumsy) and then was annoyed by the Pete thing.

Dp raves about American Pastoral.

Yes, I was irritated by much of it although some of that was largely in retrospect: I didn't realise that it had been so directly lifted from Laura Bush's life and it seemed extraordinarily unfair to reimagine her life for her. Whatever issues I had with her husband, she had always remained very private and I saw the book as a bit of a violation. I also thought the author was a man and was very impressed at how he had caught the female voice so felt let down when I found out that Curtis Sittenfeld was a woman.

But, even setting that aside, some of it was just plain dull.

Oh I thought it was a man too!

Will give it the length of tonight's bath to see if it grips me - if not, I'll give in. Thanks.

There's a nice interview with Curtis Sittenfeld in today's Guardian.

Thanks Bue.

Am still plodding on with it but am soooooo bored of the sex scenes.

Overall I really liked it but it the final part did drag a touch

Thought the characterisation was good

Stcik with it I think ....

Do they stop having sex soon?

Sex scenes?? I don't even remember those! Must have been very early on when they, you know, actually liked each other.

I must admit that I enjoyed reading this - apart from the sex scenes (images of George and Laura Bush in bed ) - like lalalonglegs though I am amazed that it is 'legal' to write a book like this about a living person.

Well, they're still at it - except now he's drinking a lot of whisky as well. It is very, very boring. I may lose the will to live soon but I have nothing else to read at the moment.

Nick dh's copy of American Pastoral . Didn't Hadley Freeman give her an easy ride in the Guardian yesterday? "Easily one of the best books of this century" .

'One of the best books this century?' Blimey - I've read better written on toilet walls!

Still plodding on with it. Still bored.

Will deffo try American Pastoral but I think I need my head to be in a slightly stronger place first. Am very tired and at least American Tripe Wife doesn't take any thinking.