Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
The Forever Marriage
by
Ann Bauer (Goodreads Author)
"Phenomenal" (Garrison Keillor) storyteller Ann Bauer brings to life the tale of one faithless widow. Carmen wishes Jobe, the husband she never loved, dead --only to fall in love with him after he is gone. As she helps her three children grieve, she discovers, after a tryst with her most recent lover, that her own life may be in danger. Heremotions reeling, Carmen reflects...more
Hardcover, 320 pages
Published
June 14th 2012
by Overlook Hardcover
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
This book is not yet featured on Listopia.
Add this book to your favorite list »
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
859)
Although The Forever Marriage begins on a less than appealing note, one is hooked by Ann Bauer's expert ability to weave together this story of complexities in mesmerizing fashion. Mixing flashbacks and current events, Ms. Bauer drew me in to her somewhat agonizing story filled with imperfect characters and obstacles faced in a variety of ways. Without spoilers or listing all overwhelming sad events, I will say the writing is brilliant and scenes so real, navigating through miserable moments bec...more
The story begins on an unsettling note.
A narcissistic woman has waited over twenty years for her husband to die so she could start living her life. As she sits at his death bed, she daydreams about her librarian lover and all the wonderful things she will be doing once her husband is gone.
In The Forever Marriage, Ann Bauer introduces an unlikely protagonist, one some readers may find unsympathetic. This sentiment was also shared by the many publishing houses—large, mid-size, tiny prairie—that re...more
A narcissistic woman has waited over twenty years for her husband to die so she could start living her life. As she sits at his death bed, she daydreams about her librarian lover and all the wonderful things she will be doing once her husband is gone.
In The Forever Marriage, Ann Bauer introduces an unlikely protagonist, one some readers may find unsympathetic. This sentiment was also shared by the many publishing houses—large, mid-size, tiny prairie—that re...more
This was an OK read. A fast page turner with an interesting story, that I read during the busy holiday season.
I found issues with the author's writing. It seemed like every page of dialog, had the word "suddenly". A character said something, "suddenly" now a different personality. And then, the author would write "What was happening to this person?" And the sentence they said seemed not that dramatic. This happened often, where a character would, in their one sentence response, the author would...more
I found issues with the author's writing. It seemed like every page of dialog, had the word "suddenly". A character said something, "suddenly" now a different personality. And then, the author would write "What was happening to this person?" And the sentence they said seemed not that dramatic. This happened often, where a character would, in their one sentence response, the author would...more
Early on in this book, I pretty thoroughly disliked all the characters, particularly the "protagonist," Carmen, but the author did a wonderful job of rounding the characters out as the book unfolds. By the end, I found many of Carmen's characteristics admirable--her courage, her willingness to face the truth (even about herself) and her forgiveness and compassion for those around her who were also very flawed (her mother-in-law who actively conspired to ensnare her in a loveless marriage, her de...more
I disliked this novel so much that I could not remember its name or author a mere 3 days after reading the last page. I returned it to the library and never looked back. Then I realized I needed to review it for 2 online book clubs and for Amazon and had to rack my brain to even remember the subject matter. All I remembered is that it was the first of 3 books in a row that I read, and did NOT like.
I awoke last night with a sudden memory of its title, and here I am, remembering that I did not lik...more
I awoke last night with a sudden memory of its title, and here I am, remembering that I did not lik...more
The Forever Marriage
by Ann Bauer
From the publisher's description: "The Forever Marriage is at its heart a mystery, and the mystery is what, exactly, the nature of Carmen and Jobe's marriage might have been. Page-turning and irreverent, The Forever Marriage is a compelling examination of a relationship and of a woman facing up to her imperfect past. It merits comparison to the best work of Anne Tyler, Elizabeth Berg, and Alice Sebold."
I loved it: because of the characters, who are flawed and comp...more
by Ann Bauer
From the publisher's description: "The Forever Marriage is at its heart a mystery, and the mystery is what, exactly, the nature of Carmen and Jobe's marriage might have been. Page-turning and irreverent, The Forever Marriage is a compelling examination of a relationship and of a woman facing up to her imperfect past. It merits comparison to the best work of Anne Tyler, Elizabeth Berg, and Alice Sebold."
I loved it: because of the characters, who are flawed and comp...more
The concept is good -- a woman who fell into a marriage she wasn't passionate about, then felt trapped and obligated for so long, is widowed and then she feels... free? alone? guilty? still trapped?
The characters are flawed and complicated, their actions are merely human and not always the right choice, they struggle with balancing their own needs with their love and responsibilities to their families. Mostly, it's a story that questions the SHOULDs in life -- should you marry that person? shoul...more
The characters are flawed and complicated, their actions are merely human and not always the right choice, they struggle with balancing their own needs with their love and responsibilities to their families. Mostly, it's a story that questions the SHOULDs in life -- should you marry that person? shoul...more
This book was mostly about Cameron Garrett. Her husband has passed away from a terminal illness and she is relieved, actually glad that he is gone. Her feelings don't come from love and sympathy and the feeling that her husband will no longer suffer, but from her long-awaited desire to be out of the marriage. Cameron should never have marred Jobe. She never loved him, but never seemed to find the right time to tell him that. Her behavior was clear and you can't help believe that he knew that all...more
I have to be honest. I hated this book. It was like a car accident. The subject matter was awful but awful is part of life and I was intrigued by this awful so I read. And the first third or so wasn't too bad. It was pretty much what I expected but it just got more and more where I was just skimming parts in disbelief that the protagonist and the author had teamed up and thought well we gave it our best shot so lets try to get over 300 pages and call it a day.
Carmen is a woman who didn't want t...more
view 2 comments
Carmen, a new widow, has to decide how to handle her grieving children and figure out whether or not she should continue to see her lover. Then she discovers she has breast cancer, leaving her with both physical and emotional issues to sort out. To top things off, she's secretly relieved that her husband died because she never truly loved him.
The story goes back and forth in time, from when she met her future husband to the present day. In some ways I found her very unlikeable; she's rather hars...more
The story goes back and forth in time, from when she met her future husband to the present day. In some ways I found her very unlikeable; she's rather hars...more
Against her better instincts, a young woman marries a young man, a math genius whose mother makes not marrying him almost impossible. Twenty-some years and three children later, he dies. There you have it! Bauer somehow manages to makes my short summary into a fascinating read. Initially, I didn't like the protagonist, Carmen. She is selfish, sometimes wondering if she'd mistake in saving her husband from a fatal fall on their honeymoon. Gradually, Bauer develops this character into someone I'd...more
I think it is one of the most artfully constructed stories about the complexities of relationships and love that I've ever read. Carmen is not the conventional heroine -- but she may be the most honest female protagonist in recent literature. What were the tragic circumstances in her own life that lead her to marry Jobe in the first place? How does Luca's birth impact the fate of that relationship? I find myself rereading passages to fully appreciate the depth of what Ann Bauer has put on paper....more
Although the main character, Carmen, was definitely flawed and pretty unlikable as a person until the end, this was a great read. What was so enticing about Carmen's flaws, which were apparent from the first few pages, was that she was totally a human being. While you may be disgusted by her actions and how she feels about her marriage, you have to admit that humans are imperfect and often do the wrong things. Though not a sympathetic character, she was actually quite real. Also enjoyed the stor...more
This was a hard read due to the subject matter - infidelity, a long-time marriage without love, the death of a young-ish spouse etc., but I think it was well written and certainly the story will stick with me for a long time to come, even if it's just in my bad dreams. I didn't like the main character, she was self involved, atavistic and hurtful, but oddly, overall I still liked the book. I felt the ending was wrapped up a little too neatly, complete with a "moral to the story", but again, it's...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I have mixed feelings about this book. Ann Bauer's writing conjures the turbulent emotional ebb and flow of Mrs. Carmen Garrett who, despite her flaws, at least is testament to the adage that sometimes you don't realize what you have until you've lost it.
I'm not sure if my underwhelming emotional response is perhaps mostly that I don't have enough years in life to totally empathize with the self-centered protagonist. She doesn't quite love her husband -- but in some ways, she does, even if that...more
I'm not sure if my underwhelming emotional response is perhaps mostly that I don't have enough years in life to totally empathize with the self-centered protagonist. She doesn't quite love her husband -- but in some ways, she does, even if that...more
I picked this up at my local library--had never heard of the book or the author before but am now interested in reading more by her. Interesting story and character development. In a nutshell, while Carmen's husband is dying, she's having an affair. Shortly after his death, she is diagnosed with breast cancer (this is what killed her mother). Her father's an alcoholic, her eldest son has Down syndrome and she's not a huge fan of her mother-in-law (the feeling is mutual). I would highly recommend...more
The Forever Marriage by Ann Bauer. The story of a woman who wishes her husband dead - only to realize after he does pass away that maybe their love was stronger than she had realized. This is a story of the widows reflections of her life as the reader comes to realize how she came to be the person she is.
I have not read many authors that write as true to life as Bauer does! She addresses some topics that most won't even touch and she does so with such brilliant honesty. I recommend this one!
I have not read many authors that write as true to life as Bauer does! She addresses some topics that most won't even touch and she does so with such brilliant honesty. I recommend this one!
I'm not sure why I didn't like this book more. It only took me 3 days to read it but I just can't say I liked it. Maybe I wasn't in the mood to read a book about someone who's husband dies and then gets cancer herself. I just thought the whole book was a downer. I can't recommend it. Read any of the other books on my list that have at least 3 stars and you'll be happier. This book gets a 5.5 on my 10 scale. (I haven't the slightest idea why Garrison Keillor raved about it.)
I'd give this book three and a half stars. Carmen's husband has just died after an agonizing illness. She goes out to meet her lover. It seems she's never loved her husband and doesn't know how she ever came to marry him. Through flashbacks, we find out. In the meantime, Carmen is diagnosed with breast cancer and has to do more self-exploration. All of this is not quite as depressing as it sounds, and it is well written with a deft structure.
This is the story of Carmen coming to an understanding of the value of love across many relationships in her life as she deals with the death of her husband, Jobe. It is told primarily through dialog between the characters and there is little description of setting which is appropriate because this is a tale of relationships. Being fairly idealistic I don't usually care for stories about people's infidelities, but this is well told. A good read.
Wow ... the most powerful book I have read in some time. One of the (few) good things about being in my mid-50's is the range of relationships I've had and witnessed, so I very much appreciated the emotional depth that is Carmen in the aftermath of her husband's death, her entry into treatment for breast cancer, the coming of age of her children, and her eventual understanding of the love she hadn't been wise enough to recognize or appreciate. The protagonist, although sometimes unlikable, was i...more
I really loved this book. It struck me as very brave, and very honest - Bauer didn't go out of her way to make readers feel sympathy for the main character, or to sugar coat any of her taboo thoughts or resentments. Yet, she came off as thoroughly human and relatable anyway. I just thought it was great - a quick absorbing read that was thought provoking and I wish I could rehash with somebody IRL.
This is an amazing book, very complex, intricate, and thought provoking. The description of the book makes it sound very maudlin and predictable....a young widow finds herself falling in love with her dead husband,and I was expecting fluff. But the story is anything but predictable, as the author explores marriage, friendship, motherhood, family dynamics,extra marital relationships, and most importantly, the concept of love.
This book drove me crazy. I pretty much hated Carmen, the main character, for being so insipid and stupid and for making poor decisions throughout her life. She hated Jobe, but for a myriad of ridiculous circumstances she ended up married to him, cheating on him all along the way. Don't ask me why I finished it; I guess I hoped it would have a happy ending. I wasted my time.
Very real, authentic, deeply felt, exquisitely articulated struggles. Beautifully expresses a certain audience's pain. Was too short. I enjoyed looking into this world. Best read by those who have weathered many of their own storms, successfully and otherwise. Folks without flaws need not bother to read. A deft look at how the best of intentions leave permanent wrinkles in a life.
Just finished this book last night. Took a few chapters to get into it but once I did I was hooked. Honest and well-written. While I didn't like what Carmen stood for, I found myself coming back for more to examine her relationships with her mother-in-law, her children, her lover and her best friend. No spoilers here...just read it. I think you'll be glad you did.
I found the theme of this intriguing novel, a widow coming to a more complete understanding of her marriage after her husband's death, fascinating. The author's character development is either inadequate or points to the inadequacies in the characters, I couldn't decide which. Somewhat contrived ending. All said, I'm glad I read it.
Excellent writing, flawed complex characters, and a multi-layered story made this an absorbing book. Carmen is a woman dealing with the recent death of her husband, raising three children (one of whom has Down's Syndrome), and now learning of her own life threatening illness. Carmen is also reflecting back on her past, on the marriage she seems to have drifted into, and the troubled relationship that lasted for twenty years, until her husband's death.
I plan to read more by Ann Bauer.
I plan to read more by Ann Bauer.
I enjoyed this book in a way that I find difficult to describe. It taps into how our lives stumble, seemingly randomly, onto a certain path only for us to realize that that path seemed almost pre-determined. I felt like the book took the characters into some very depressing situations, yet managed not to delve into a depressive feel. Somehow, despite the content, the book left me feeling hopeful and content.
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
I’m a writer. It’s all I do—all I’ve ever done—because it’s the only thing I’m good at.
People assume I’m making a joke when I say that. I’m not. I don’t knit, decorate, garden, draw, run marathons or ski. I have no sense of direction. I can’t even hem my own pants; and I’m 5-foot-3, so they always need hemming. I write because it’s how I think.
I have an MFA from the University of Iowa. Not from t...more
More about Ann Bauer...
People assume I’m making a joke when I say that. I’m not. I don’t knit, decorate, garden, draw, run marathons or ski. I have no sense of direction. I can’t even hem my own pants; and I’m 5-foot-3, so they always need hemming. I write because it’s how I think.
I have an MFA from the University of Iowa. Not from t...more
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
