LOVE AND OTHER INFIDELITIES by HELEN TOWNSEND

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.