LOVE
AND OTHER INFIDELITIES
BY
HELEN TOWNSEND
THE
BLURB:-
How many does it take
to make a marriage? And how many does it take to destroy it?
The
Husband
She was the boss's
daughter- but I wanted her. I didn't know Susan would have a
checklist for married life: the house, the garden, the kids, the
schools...
The
Wife
I hadn't wanted a
boring life. That's why I chose Martin. But once we had the kids
other things became important- like knowing if he would come home at
night.
The
Other Woman
With Martin and me it
was more than just sex. We felt the same about life, freedom and
fun. But then my biological clock started ticking.
The
Other Man
I ought to be preaching
about patience and forgiveness. But I've been in love with Susan for
years, and even a man of God has his temptations...
THE
REALITY:-
This was a slow burner
for me- despite being on lockdown, ahead with my MA work and with
many-a-chance to read this, it didn't motivate me enough to want to
pick it up every second of every day. Criticisms for this book seem
to centre on each character sounding like the same voice, but I
didn't feel that at all, and certainly picked up on everyone's
personality. I think the journal style of first person writing-
whilst being clearly labelled, with each section clearly defined by
the character's name- did make it seem rather like a memo than a
collection of feelings.
Having said that, it
was a good study of life and times in Sydney, and of relationships
themselves. I couldn't warm to Susan (the wronged wife) but did have a modicum of sympathy for her, as she appeared to be a woman who became
totally absorbed and overshadowed by her role as a working mother.
Martin, her husband seemed reluctant to grow up (he's the one I could
most associate with!) and I enjoyed the way his kookaburra ornament
became a symbol of all that was wrong in the marriage. Phil, the
other man, is a man of the cloth and, as someone who's putting a
vicar into her next novel as a main character, it was good for me to
interpret him from a research point of view- but I would have liked
for his relationship with Susan to actually have become physical! He
ends up with (spoiler alert) Mary, another character I liked
and could relate to.
This good study in
human relationships read like a soap opera, which wasn't a bad thing,
and kept the pace galloping along, but the work didn't touch me at
all. That is, apart from in one way: Susan and Martin's son, Josh,
listens to his parents disagreements from a cupboard on the landing,
which he christens 'the hearing cupboard.' I liked this personal
touch and it gave a good idea of what goes on from the perspective of
the kids.
An okay read, but
nothing enthralling.
