The doctor's wife

I'm finding it tough to write a review for this book. I've been trying to read it now for almost two years, but had a lot of stuff going on and had to start/stop and start over a few times before finally getting through it. Was all the effort worth it? Honestly, I'm not really sure.

THINGS I LIKED ABOUT THE BOOK

Brundage's use of language inspired me throughout. I've always enjoyed and admired authors who have a way of taking words and using them in new ways (e.g. slightly modifying verbs to use them as adjectives and so on). The language itself was quite descriptive, yet not so descriptive that it lost the flow of the story. In some ways, though, you could tell it was a debut novel in which the author was flexing her linguistic muscles just because she could.

Also, and this opinion is tainted because I have lived my entire life in a state that is “quasi-South” and certainly widely (wrongly) considered close-minded and backward (WV), but I admired the fact that much of the religious fanaticism normally associated with people from the south was on display in a decidedly northern state (NY). All of us are guilty of relying on stereotypes to describe places we've never been, but it was refreshing to read an author that celebrated the fact that there are both enlightened populations, opinionated populations, and those that take their enlightenment and opinions too far in a state like New York. Conversely, it would be nice to see an author depict a truly cutting-edge, genius character in a southern setting.

THINGS I WASN'T CRAZY ABOUT

While I enjoyed Brundage's use of language, I was not crazy about the storytelling. I found the plot to be somewhat predictable and even cliche (i.e. bored, lonely housewife has affair, struggles with the moral aspects of cheating on a spouse, then finds out she is pregnant). The abortion angle could have interrupted the predictable but, instead, added to it because we knew from the very beginning that Michael was abducted because of his openness to the procedure.

Annie, the supposed feminist, had settled into the role of stereotypical housewife. With a family and a job at the local college, the housewife aspect of the character was not what bothered me; it was the fact that there was no new spin on the role. We as readers weren't given access to how her younger life as a fearless feminist journalist shaped her actions and worldview as a housewife (and, as the book progressed, a bored housewife). The Michael character had flashes of some emotional turmoil that was have created an additional layer of tension in the novel (e.g. his conviction to a cause versus his feelings of obligation to his family), but those flashes were extinguished much too quickly. I could go on, but you get the idea.

The way the events of the novel played out seemed like teenage drama with a purpose. It's fine that abortion and religious fanaticism were focal points of the book. But it's only mentioned that the primary antagonist ultimately tried to kill as a protest of abortion even though she herself had had an abortion! The book could have been much deeper if it would have explored the tension in that character's mind as she carried out the bombing, the kidnapping, etc. Add to this fact that character's mental instability, and we could have had an incredibly complex, memorable read.

All in all, the book intrigued me enough to pick up a copy of Brundage's next novel. Her use of language alone was enough to spark such an interest. As a recommendation to those picking this one up, just don't expect too much and you'll enjoy it!