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The Actor and the Housewife

by Shannon Hale (Goodreads Author)

3.13 · rating details · 4,969 ratings · 2,159 reviews

A very different kind of fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Shannon Hale.
What if you were to meet the number-one person on your laminated list—you know, that list you joke about with your significant other about which five celebrities you’d be allowed to run off with if ever given the chance? And of course since it’ll never happen it doesn’t matter…
Mormo...more

Hardcover, 352 pages

Published June 9th 2009 by Bloomsbury USA

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Mar 26, 2010

Angela rated it

Shelves: 2009, pub-blooms, contemporary, love-or-romance, audio-book, read-in-2009, read-in-2010

SECOND READ: March 26, 2010
Listened to the audio book edition.

The reader isn't the best, but dang it all if I forgot just how funny the banter is in this book! It makes me forget that I don't care for the reader because I am so busy smirking and laughing out loud so often.

I still love this book! I tried to distract myself at the sad part by (1) knowing it was coming, (2) only half-listening to the audio book, and (3) cleaning the bathrooms. But dang that Shannon ...more

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Jul 23, 2009

Lisa rated it

Shelves: modern-fiction

*I keep going back and forth as to what I should rate this book, because although the premise of the book still makes me uncomfortable, the parts about her husband are so powerful and hit me so hard that I felt it deserved more than a 4.*

I began this book with hesitancy, angry at myself for reading the jacket, knowing that a married woman would somehow get involved with an actor - also married. As I read more, I was sceptical, as they became best friends, worried as to where this ma...more

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Jun 14, 2009

Tanja rated it

My dear Shannon, what have you done. I will be honest and say I am surprised a book like this came from her. I enjoy her writing style and her quick wit in all her books, but in the A&H I found myself laughing out loud. Is it a romance you might ask, no. Not in the traditional sense. It is a story of friendship. How do friends fit into our lives and how do we survive without the friend we need the most? Have you ever met that person who just knew you? You could stay up and laugh with them over t...more

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Jul 22, 2009

Angie rated it

I'm going to warn you upfront that I had an extreme reaction to this book. An extreme and unexpected reaction. Just ask DH. He had to listen to me rant ad nauseam until I'd exorcised the demons enough to move on. The thing is I haven't reacted so strongly to a book for quite some time and it took me a bit by surprise. Oh, well, who are we kidding? It threw me for one hell of a loop and I had an extremely hard time shaking it off. Despite all this I'm going to try to continue my tradition of spoi...moreI'm going to warn you upfront that I had an extreme reaction to this book. An extreme and unexpected reaction. Just ask DH. He had to listen to me rant ad nauseam until I'd exorcised the demons enough to move on. The thing is I haven't reacted so strongly to a book for quite some time and it took me a bit by surprise. Oh, well, who are we kidding? It threw me for one hell of a loop and I had an extremely hard time shaking it off. Despite all this I'm going to try to continue my tradition of spoiler-free reviews and, as a result, won't be able to tell you the precise reasons why I reacted the way I did. I won't be able to go into excruciating detail explaining exactly how and when my emotions bounced back and forth. But let's be honest. That's probably for the best. So.

Becky Jack is a Mormon housewife living in Layton, Utah, pregnant with her fourth child. She has just sold a screenplay to a film agency in LA and is meeting them there to sign the contract, when in walks Felix Callahan--sexy British star of Becky's favorite romantic comedies. The two of them clash right from the start and, despite their visible disdain for one another (and the fact that Felix has long been Becky's movie star crush), they find themselves staying at the same hotel and eating dinner together that night. Becky returns to Utah sure it was some fluke, a fun story to tell the fam, and that she'll never see Felix again. Au contraire, Becky. Turns out Felix hasn't been able to get their abrasive encounter out of his head and the next time he has a layover in Salt Lake City, he turns up to see her and figure out what the deal is. From there these two unlikely characters become the very best of friends. Talk on the phone daily, stay up all night long talking, drop everything to jet off to New York at a moment's notice kind of BFFs. As you might expect, a whole host of factors get in the way of their "friendship," including at times concerned/jealous spouses, their different faiths (or rather Becky's strict one and Felix's utter lack of one), their diametrically opposed lifestyles, etc. Self-proclaimed platonic lovers, these two weather the small and large storms of life as their friendship and story stretches out over a decade and more.

I'll preface my comments by saying I have read all of Shannon Hale's YA books. I love her Books of Bayern and thought her first adult novel Austenland was a fun, light romp for Austen fans. I expected to like this book just fine. I knew it would be quirky and different and fun. I certainly didn't go in expecting a happy ending because, well, given the subject matter who would? I laughed my way through the first 100 pages because any scene Becky and Felix share sparkles. I even cried. Once. At a scene about 80 pages in or so that was just so real (and a little close to home) it struck me in the gut. However, I felt that the next 250 pages were an uneven roller coaster ride of conflicting emotions, increasingly hard-to-swallow turns of event, and very inconsistent characterizations. Every aspect of the story felt so deliberate and pre-planned that it got in the way of my reading experience. It was strangely a prime example of too much telling and not enough showing. The narrator and Becky herself told me over and over (and over again) how much she was in love with her solid-as-a-brick-wall husband, how little Felix meant to her compared to Mike, how she would never do anything to jeopardize her marriage, etc. Her actions spoke differently. The actual depiction of her marriage was lukewarm at best. The rock Mike was too vague an image to grasp onto. Next to Felix he was a mere smudge. Felix clearly meant an inexplicable amount to Becky. And vice versa. These two cannot function properly without each other. They will always be returning to each other. The crystal clear, most evocative, and resonant depictions were of Becky and Felix. And it was simply too difficult for me to buy everything Becky was saying in the face of what she was showing me page after page. THE ACTOR AND THE HOUSEWIFE is an exploration of whether or not married men and women can be friends and just friends. The answer is, of course, yes. But that is not what Becky and Felix are. I know that's what they're supposed to be. But they're not. They are intimates. They are soulmates. That is the way every encounter, ever glance, every touch is characterized. The intent seemed to be some sort of Humphrey Bogart-Ingrid Bergman-Paul Henreid triangle a la Casablanca. The result was a Rock Hudson-Doris Day-Tony Randall anti-triangle a la Pillow Talk. And by the time the overwrought, rushed ending arrived I felt so completely jerked around I was unable to deal with the melodrama a moment longer.

I'm really sorry it ended this way, THE ACTOR AND THE HOUSEWIFE. I know you've gotten a lot of positive reviews and it's quite possible it's me and not you. Fortunately, each reader can decide for herself. And I hope they do. As for you and me, I think it's time we start seeing other people.(less)

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Sep 28, 2009

Kristin rated it

Oh Shannon Hale...I try to like you...I really do. I give you chance after chance and guess what? I just don't. I know I am in the minority especially in my little subculture of the world but you're just not my...as you would annoyingly say..."cup of herbal tea". I found this book to be so "gosh darn" full of sugary cliched Happy Valley Mormonism that my teeth hurt and I wanted to vomit.

I thought this book would be the "delightful romp" that it claimed t...moreOh Shannon Hale...I try to like you...I really do. I give you chance after chance and guess what? I just don't. I know I am in the minority especially in my little subculture of the world but you're just not my...as you would annoyingly say..."cup of herbal tea". I found this book to be so "gosh darn" full of sugary cliched Happy Valley Mormonism that my teeth hurt and I wanted to vomit.

I thought this book would be the "delightful romp" that it claimed to be but it wasn't. The main character, Becky Jack, truly is the MOST annoying of characters. She's just knocked Bella from Twilight down a few notches. She is such a Utah LDS stereotype. You disappoint me Shannon Hale.

First...the plot. The book is basically about Becky and her crush British actor, Felix (who in my book looks just like Hugh Grant) and their emotional affair. I wanted to scream as Becky was titillated every time Felix called, how her little pudgy heart just skipped a beat whenever she heard his voice but she would then go on and on about how much she "loved" her good old dependable husband Mike. Me thinks the lady doth protest too much. Shannon Hale tells us over and over again...ad naseaum...about how much Becky loves Mike and how her marriage is her number one priority yet Becky's actions tell a far different story. Each time Hale would have Becky say how much she loved Mike in the next breath she would then have Becky go off on how she and Felix were "soulmates". Ugh. I found myself asking throughout the whole book "Couldn't Felix do better than you? You are a bore...and a stereotype." And...not a very flattering stereotype, Ms. Hale, of LDS women.

Second, the characters are so uninteresting, except for Felix, and completely unrealistic. The husband Mike after putting up with so much from his wife and her infatuation/relationship with Felix he finally reaches the end of his rope and tells her...that he "just doesn't understand." What!?! That's it? Call her out Mike!!" I wanted to yell. Grow some balls and a spine while you're at it!! I don't know what most of the readers husbands are like but mine would put up with behavior like that for exactly two seconds and vice versa. I kept wanting Mike to find a nice sexy blonde big boobed co-worker and claim her to be his "soulmate" and see how frumpy old zucchini bread baking Becky liked it. Probably not so much.

Third, was this book written for the masses or did I miss the LDS lit label? Because Ms. Hale assumes that your average reader is in on all the LDS/Utah insight and most are not. I couldn't stand her description of how the city of Layton is pronounced...inside joke to Utah readers only. When Becky goes in to talk to her Bishop and she says that she has read a bunch of "Conference Talks" I'm sure the non-LDS reader has no clue what she is talking about...and these are just a few examples.

Now that said there were some parts of this book where the dialogue between Becky and Felix was humorous...but then it never let up...every single time they spoke to one another it was in this obnoxious banter that I felt was contrived. Most of us have a friend or two were we riff off one another but then we can stop...it isn't endlessly ongoing. It got really old.

The ending was pure torture. After all of the jerking around of the reader and the manipulating of our emotions (not to mention the offing of a main character) the ending blows. Really. Did we just go on that nausea inducing roller coaster ride for this. As I stared in disbelief at the last few pages what did Becky do? She giggled and guffawed and chortled and chuckled. How funny that after 11 years for them and a grueling 350 pages for me we find ourselves here. Lame.

I know I am in the minority here and that lots of people who I respect liked this book but I didn't. Truth be told I despised it. I liked the premise but was disappointed with the product. Can men and women be friends...perhaps...just not "soul mates" if they are married to other people. But that's just my opinion. So here's where the rubber meets the road. Good-bye Shannon Hale.

My rating: Too cheesy; too contrived; and too "Happy Valley" for me. I hated it.(less)

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Aug 07, 2009

Alyssa rated it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Mar 16, 2010

Annalisa rated it

Shelves: chick-lit, romance

I'm not a fan of romantic comedies. You know that moment in a movie where it's so awkward and contrived you're embarrassed someone wrote it and you're embarrassed for the actors and you're embarrassed to be sitting there watching it? That's what this book was like. I'm not sure if Hale was trying to make an authentic Mormon housewife endearing to the masses, but she misses the mark. Becky comes off as selfish and completely self-absorbed and makes Mormons look strange, not cute quirky, but pleas...moreI'm not a fan of romantic comedies. You know that moment in a movie where it's so awkward and contrived you're embarrassed someone wrote it and you're embarrassed for the actors and you're embarrassed to be sitting there watching it? That's what this book was like. I'm not sure if Hale was trying to make an authentic Mormon housewife endearing to the masses, but she misses the mark. Becky comes off as selfish and completely self-absorbed and makes Mormons look strange, not cute quirky, but please don't touch me weird. I guess these worlds were never meant to collide.

Which brings me back to that awkward, contrived storyline. I never bought, not for one second, that a self-absorbed actor with a fear of all things domestic would not run for his life when Becky excuses herself to pump because she's letting down or would find her ramblings about her two-year-old showing her a snot-covered finger cute. Really. I was embarrassed for her and I wasn't wearing a tux.

So yeah, I didn't believe the story, nor did I believe Becky. Here's the actor that she swoons over because he's so hot, but now that they're best friends she's unattracted to him? No way. Me thinks the lady doeth protest her platonic feelings too much. The more time you spend with someone, even someone who you aren't attracted to, the more attractive they become to you. There really is no plausible way to be that close to a man and your husband and not have the boundaries/your feelings cross. And the ending doesn't justify it because: a) she had no way of knowing how things would end from the beginning, b) as evident by his behavior she isn't flawless (and yes that includes Celeste; I believe the relationship played a part in that), and c) when all her safety devices are down and she's vulnerable, she may act differently than she would have otherwise (I hope that makes sense to someone who's read the book).

I really like you Shannon, but sorry, I just didn't like this book. There were moments I chuckled out loud and the title headings were fun, but I didn't like the story. And I have a bone to pick with you: you type sh--, but then you go ahead and say Lord? Me thinks you need your priority of Mormon swear words reorganized.(less)

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Dec 24, 2009

Susan rated it

I was disappointed in this book. It would have been more accurate if it was described as "a modern fairy-tale". Her other books are a re-telling of fairy tales (my favorite is "Goose Girl"). In this book, the main characters were not believable, the banter was contrived and not very funny, the husband was too saintly, the children were too good to be true (not even any teenaged attitude, all sweetness and light!). I did not believe that Becky would be as accomodating as her ...more

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Mar 18, 2009

Melissa rated it

Shelves: er-review-books, adult-fiction, f2f-book-group

I really liked this one. Sure, it's implausible, and it's not *really* chick lit, but it hit home with me. It is the story of a woman who happens to have an unconventional friendship, and how that effects her life. I laughed, I cringed, I cried, I rooted, I wondered. Good times.

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Oct 19, 2009

Jen Russell rated it

I did like the way she talked about how intensely she loved her husband and kids; the way she thought about her kids and how important her role as a mother was.

That's all I liked.

1/2 of the book was a sob fest. Which is not why I didn't like it.

I didn't like it because I am not a girl who swoons over movie stars or talks about how attractive someone in a movie is. And, just the whole her hanging out with another man, alone and intimately made me uncomfor...more

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Mar 08, 2009

Jenlbot rated it

Completed Review- So now I am done with the book and I raised it to two stars. All the things I said below I still feel, but actually the last 1/3 of the book was better. This book was a span of 11 years and it read very disconnected to me. Am I glad I finished it? yes. Would I recommend it to a friend? Hmmm, only to see if they agree or disagree.
In the middle Review-I JUST have to get this off my chest!
I HATE this book! Now, I am still reading it and I am on page 143. I am really...more

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Aug 06, 2009

Amy rated it

Shelves: recently-read

I loved this book! It’s a fun story with magnetic characters I wish were in my real world! I laughed out loud many times at vivacious, out-spoken Becky and cried along with her more than once. Though the story requires a smidgen of a suspension of disbelief from the reader, this is not your usual formula chick-lit, as expectations end up twisting on you a number of times.

I admit that I came to this book with a bit of a chip on my shoulder. The premise of a married woman strikin...more

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Feb 13, 2009

Nikki rated it

Shelves: adult-literature, to-buy, contemporary, wishlist

This is where having book connections comes in handy: being able to borrow an Advance Reading Copy!

Becky Jack is exactly the sort of character you'd want to be best friends with, even if just so you could tease her about her triple weekly pies and hear her witty retort. She has strong convictions, but within those she's game to see where the combo of fate and choice takes her--through fun, doubts, laughs, romance, tough decisions, beauty, anguish, great twists, gorgeous hope, and hu...more

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Oct 21, 2009

Alice rated it

I was really looking forward to reading this book and loving it. I enjoy Shannon Hale's books, so I'm disappointed to give this book only 3 stars. Actually, I was only going to give it 2 stars, but I guess I'm feeling generous.

I hate to totally beat up the book, but I actually enjoyed reading it for the most part. It was funny and witty, touching and sad, and entertaining. But at the same time it just really rubbed me the wrong way.

Here is what bugged me about the b...moreI was really looking forward to reading this book and loving it. I enjoy Shannon Hale's books, so I'm disappointed to give this book only 3 stars. Actually, I was only going to give it 2 stars, but I guess I'm feeling generous.

I hate to totally beat up the book, but I actually enjoyed reading it for the most part. It was funny and witty, touching and sad, and entertaining. But at the same time it just really rubbed me the wrong way.

Here is what bugged me about the book:

1) The main character is supposed to represent me: married "Mormon" housewife with kids. And yet I could NOT relate to her. She did not seem to think or act anything like I do, and I think I'm pretty "normal." Her relationship with this actor was just too hard to big of a stretch.

2) Though the book recounts her busy life as a mother, and active member of the LDS church, never once does it mention her having a church calling/assignment, though it does mention her husband's calling. This seemed really inconsistent.

SPOILER ALERT:

3) I found it very disturbing that her husband would agree to let his wife continue a relationship with another man as a "friend", that she would even WANT to continue it, and that her bishop would agree that it's OK. That was just too ridiculous. Why would her best friend be a man other than her husband? I just could not get past that. My husband IS my best friend... the one I want to talk to about everything, laugh with, etc. It was creepy that she felt comfortable being so intimate with a man other than her husband. What happened to cleave unto your spouse and none other? It was just yucky.

4) I can suspend my disbelieve to allow that somehow this woman was able to sell a screen-play or two to Hollywood producers, and even get a movie made, and mabye even that she would end of "co-starring" it in. But I could not get past the fact that even though she wrote the script she somehow doesn't realize she would have to kiss Felix? Give me a break.

5) I was really worried that after her husband died she would actually end up with Felix. I was getting really disgusted as I saw the story going that way, so I was relieved when it didn't happen. Thank goodness for that.
(less)

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Jul 26, 2010

Kaye rated it

Shelves: romance, religious, goodreads-first-reads

Having a hard time reviewing Hale's latest. Definitely worth reading. Others have summed up the story line; Utah, LDS, mom of four (Becki), meets British movie star (Felix) and a friendship starts. The funniest parts were the dialog between the two. Sometimes it was so fast and clever it was worthy of movie status in itself. The most interesting aspect for discussion is can a man or women be friends and when does that cross that line and become an "emotional affair". The fantasy...more

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Sep 13, 2009

Beth A. rated it

Shelves: lds-fiction

I love Shannon Hale’s fairy tale retellings and fantasy. I also enjoyed Austenland. However, I had two major problems with this story.

1. I’m pretty oblivious to celebrities (I am, ask my husband), so I didn’t identify with all the “I’m so star-struck” or “I’m amazed that I’m not star-struck and he’s just a real person” business.

2. Although well justified in the story, I couldn’t get past the “I love my husband but this guy is my other best friend”. I know it’s possible, b...more

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Jun 26, 2009

Sarah Stevens rated it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Sep 19, 2009

Cheryl-Lynn rated it

This sort of contains spoilers. Nothing too specific but just be warned if you want to know NOTHING when you read this book don't read my review until after.

I don't even know how to write a review on this book. I would give this book 5 stars for the actual writing. AMAZING. I think I felt the emotions exactly as Shannon Hale wanted me to feel them. 100+ pages into the book I really did not like it, I wanted to stop reading except I wanted to know what happened and I knew peopl...moreThis sort of contains spoilers. Nothing too specific but just be warned if you want to know NOTHING when you read this book don't read my review until after.

I don't even know how to write a review on this book. I would give this book 5 stars for the actual writing. AMAZING. I think I felt the emotions exactly as Shannon Hale wanted me to feel them. 100+ pages into the book I really did not like it, I wanted to stop reading except I wanted to know what happened and I knew people had liked the book. I believe for the average LDS woman, this is exactly what Hale WANTED us to feel. I read books wanting to vote for the relationships and at this point in the book, I couldn't. It was such a complete turn around when they got to renew their relationship. This was the point when I realized just how good Hale had written this because SHE was controlling MY emotions with words. Amazing. I don't remember a book when I have actually laughed out loud so much. Such great writing. The story I give 2 or 3 stars. Not my favorite. It kind of reminds me of the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie. I didn't necessarily like the story but Depp did such an AMAZING job acting, I just wanted to see it again to see him act. Hale did such an amazing job writing this I'm glad I read it but the actual story- ugh. From not knowing how to morally feel about it, to just not being able to picture this ever happening to me or anyone I know- it just didn't uplift me. The last 1/3 of the book- wow. Tear jerker. Poor Kiley was trying to watch a movie while I was reading this and just kept asking me if I was okay. "Yup, it's just sad." This was such a *real* part of the book. We'll all go through our personal trials- not those day to day trials but those Abrahamic trials. Amazing writing- have I mentioned that? And yet, on goes the overlying theme of this book- so unrealistic. The reality mixed with unbelievable just didn't jive well with me. Don't know how to feel about the ending either. Is there another book? Doubt it. When I finished the book and Kiley asked me how it was, I couldn't really say. Weird, fine, witty, emotional, funny, ugh. (less)

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Oct 29, 2009

iLa rated it

When I started this book I had decided that I wasn't going to like it. I went back and forth on whether I liked it or not for the first few chapters. Mainly, I think, because how realistic is it to have a housewife meet a movie star and they just click as best friends? And one of America's hottest male movie stars? However, after the first few chapters when I was more comfortable with their friendship, I began to enjoy the book. I could relate to a lot of what goes on in Becky's life, and u...more

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May 11, 2010

Snorkle rated it

Shelves: adult, read-2010

Initial reaction: Huh. I kept reading wondering where on earth the story was going to end up. There were so many random twists - I didn't know what Shannon was doing. And the end? Um, yeah...definitely not her best.

Review:
This book just didn't work for me. I thought it was a really intriguing storyline and I was interested in seeing how one of my favorite authors would write this book. I was disappointed with the ending though. I was even disappointed with the alternative endin...more

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Jul 18, 2009

Esther rated it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jul 10, 2009

Kirsten rated it

I have mixed feelings about it. I read it in less than 24 hours, so it's not bad or anything, and part of it I couldn't put down, but.... I don't know if I liked it or not.
(no spoilers)

I didn't like the beginning, by the mid-beginning I was afraid I wouldn't like the whole book. By about 2/3 of the way through I was completely hooked, and then I was let down by the ending - even though it may have been a 'better' ending than what I wanted? Hmmm. No, still a little let dow...more

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Mar 23, 2009

Cheryl/Aradanryl rated it

Recommends it for: no one

Shelves: first-read-arc-giveaway

I enjoyed Austenland so when this book was given me to read, I was looking forward to a lovely read. I was very disappointed. Read about 1/3 of it, skipped to end and then moved it to the return-for-other-advance-readers pile.

In my opinion based on the parts I read, the author did a good job of capturing the self-delusional "what I'm doing is perfectly innocent and more than ok" attitude I have seen over and over. Becky struck me as self-centered, full of false humility. ...more

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Mar 11, 2009

Heather rated it

I was delighted to get an advance reader's copy from Bookmooch.com. What an unexpected treat! Like the back cover declares, it is a different kind of fantasy: what it would be like to become friends with a famous person. The book is full of fun times and witty banter. I even laughed out loud a few times!

The nitty-gritty part is whether a person can have a best-friend relationship with someone of the opposite sex (who is not her spouse) while maintaining a strong, healthy marriage...more

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Aug 04, 2009

Tara rated it

Huh. Well, I wanted to like this, but found that I kind of had to force myself to finish it.

Pros: Cute banter, funny at times.

Cons: It just went on and on and on with no climax or good conclusion. At the end of the book I was like, "That's it? That's what I've been hanging on for?" Seriously, you could have read the first few chapters and then tacked on a "The End" and you would have had the whole book in a nutshell.

I won't say it didn't ha...more

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Mar 10, 2009

Becky rated it

Becky Jack is the housewife. She's your average deliriously happily married mother of three (with one on the way), a devout Mormon in a community of Mormons, secure and comfortable in her life and beliefs. Felix Callahan is the actor. He's the beautiful guy next door type, an Englishman cut from the same cloth as a Hugh Grant or a Colin Firth. He too is happily married, to a French supermodel.

Becky and Felix meet cute in the L.A. office of a production company where Becky's gone to ...more

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Jan 11, 2012

Carma Chemezova rated it

This book is ripe for discussion. I read it after reading all of Hales young adult novels so I guess I was vibing to her style and was really able to get into this one as opposed to her other adult book Austenland. Unlike that book, I really felt this one was sincere- enough to make me cry for the characters at a certain part of the book- and no it was not that time of the month for me. This certainly brought up some very interesting (if somewhat tense)conversations between me and my husband. Th...more

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Dec 17, 2011

Christina (Reading Thru The Night) rated it

Shelves: 2009, grown-up, srsly-realistic

Odd friendship forged when least expected.

Brief Summary - Meet Becky -pie baking, bread making, housewife extraordinaire, loving wife and mother of three (with another one on the way). Oh yeah, and her strong LDS beliefs will shush any curse words you might want to utter, discourage you to drink, and call social services on any parent who puts their six-year old in a tee that sparkles "Flirt". (Sure, I'm only kidding about actually calling Social Services, but the thought doe...moreOdd friendship forged when least expected.

Brief Summary - Meet Becky -pie baking, bread making, housewife extraordinaire, loving wife and mother of three (with another one on the way). Oh yeah, and her strong LDS beliefs will shush any curse words you might want to utter, discourage you to drink, and call social services on any parent who puts their six-year old in a tee that sparkles "Flirt". (Sure, I'm only kidding about actually calling Social Services, but the thought does cross her mind!) Now meet Felix -god mocking, heart throbbing, swanky and egotistical Brit actor who believes all of the hype that the media has to say about him. He really is just that handsome. It's pretty obvious that Becky and Felix are as opposite as their gender, so what a surprise that they meet and begin a friendship that will see them through life's joys and hardships.

My thoughts? As I mentioned in yesterday's Sunday Salon, I had no intention of really following through with this book. First, I'm not a religious person at all, and didn't know how I would feel with such a *religious* protagonist. Second, the plot line just seemed so out there. A woman from Utah meets her heartthrob in California while she's selling her first screenplay? I mean, come on! It's like believing that my students really will send in letters to Oprah to get me on the show with the gorgeous Johnny Depp and we become fast friends.

But then I started reading, and within the first ten pages, I was hooked. The dialogue! Oh my gosh, the dialogue is in-freakin'-credible. You know how so many authors try to write dead pan sarcastic exchanges and they just fall flat? Like, you should be laughing, or smirking, but it's forced? Shannon Hale is a vixen at this sort of humorous exchange.

And her exposition isn't too shabby either! In fact, there is this moment in the book where tragedy strikes and the characters are trying to identify their emotions. Becky gets the idea that each emotion resembles a zoo animal:

Sorrow, they decided, was a raven, dark as night that perched on your should and ate away at your heart. Grief, as opposed to sorrow, was a crow that sat on your other shoulder and pecked at your eyes so you couldn't see clearly. Anger was a rhinoceros that gored you from behind, spurring you to holler and run.

I LOVED this.

I've never read a Shannon Hale book. While at Target a couple of days ago, I saw that she had some YA books out, and I don't know if I'd enjoy those as much. I googled her (of course I did, isn't that what everyone does after they find a new author?) and saw that she also wrote Austenland, which I have heard about. Will definitely have to add this one to my list. Perhaps it will be used in the Austen challenge this year!

Soooo...

Yay, Nay, or Eh? Yay, most definitely. The Actor and the Housewife is adept look at friendship, life, difficulties, and what makes us human. I am especially proud at how Hale chose to end the book.(less)

· see review

Dec 07, 2011

Colleen rated it

I actually REALLY enjoyed this book. There were frequently parts that had me laughing out loud (Adam even asked, "Should I read that one?") and a couple of chapters that had me crying my eyes out. I want so badly to give it 5 stars, but there were a lot of parts where, in spite of the painstaking efforts on the author's part to make you feel OK about the closeness of the friendship between the main character and her actor best friend (and the ending helps that OKness greatly!), I cou...more

· see review

Oct 25, 2011

Jessica Snell rated it

Shelves: mothering

This book still makes me laugh harder than any other book except "A Civil Campaign". And it makes me weep every time too - this time I got to the sad part while I was sitting at the table with the kids, and I kept quiet about it, but had to keep wiping away tears so that they wouldn't notice Mom was crying.

When we reread books there's always a reason. Sometimes it's because of the characters or the plot, sometimes it's the dialogue or it's because the setting is exactly the...more

· see review

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About Shannon Hale

Shannon Hale is the New York Times best-selling author of six young adult novels: the Newbery Honor book Princess Academy, multiple award winner Book of a Thousand Days, and the highly acclaimed Books of Bayern series. She has written three books for adults, including the upcoming Midnight in Austenland (Jan. 2012), companion book to Austenland. She co-wrote the hit graphic novel Rapunzel's Reveng...more

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The Goose Girl (The Books of Bayern, #1)

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