Book review
The Wedding People by Alison Espach
July 30, 2024; Henry Holt & Co.
Genre: literary fiction, adult fiction, contemporary
I totally loved this book, which I thought of as excellent literary fiction. It's the story of a woman, a nineteenth century English literature specialist who has lived a life fulfilling expectations of other people, namely of her dead mother - never making mistakes in her life, being quiet and obedient as a child so as not to inconvenience her father and as an adult. to be always calm and careful and to be perfect in her marriage.
Then one day, when all this becomes too much for her, her marriage failing after her husband Matt leaves her for Mia, another professor at their school, Phoebe walks out of her job and heads for the resort hotel in Newport she has always dreamed of visiting. Her intention of doing away with herself there is foiled by a bride Lila who had rented the entire hotel for her elaborate six day wedding, and who has to grudgingly accept that Phoebe is an unplanned visitor, an uninvited guest at her wedding.
The bride Lila begins to intrigue Phoebe, who slowly is drawn into her world and that of the wedding people at the hotel, enough to have Phoebe slowly change perspectives about people and her life. This story is told with humor, insight into personalities, and persuades Phoebe to "become part of the world again." The great thing is that the bride and her groom also change and find their true selves during this wedding week.
I totally loved this book, which I thought of as excellent literary fiction. It's the story of a woman, a nineteenth century English literature specialist who has lived a life fulfilling expectations of other people, namely of her dead mother - never making mistakes in her life, being quiet and obedient as a child so as not to inconvenience her father and as an adult. to be always calm and careful and to be perfect in her marriage.
Then one day, when all this becomes too much for her, her marriage failing after her husband Matt leaves her for Mia, another professor at their school, Phoebe walks out of her job and heads for the resort hotel in Newport she has always dreamed of visiting. Her intention of doing away with herself there is foiled by a bride Lila who had rented the entire hotel for her elaborate six day wedding, and who has to grudgingly accept that Phoebe is an unplanned visitor, an uninvited guest at her wedding.
The bride Lila begins to intrigue Phoebe, who slowly is drawn into her world and that of the wedding people at the hotel, enough to have Phoebe slowly change perspectives about people and her life. This story is told with humor, insight into personalities, and persuades Phoebe to "become part of the world again." The great thing is that the bride and her groom also change and find their true selves during this wedding week.
" ...becoming who you want to be is just like anything else. It takes practice. It requires belief that one day, you'll wake up and be a natural at it."
The writing is superb, with references to Walt Whitman, Jane Eyre, and other 19th century literature that Phoebe refers to in her musings about her aims and her life. The characters are well drawn, unusual and distinct, and realistic at the same time.
Memes: The Sunday Post hosted by The Caffeinated Bookreviewer. Also, It's Monday: What Are You Reading, Sunday Salon, and Stacking the Shelves
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