The Other Woman: Twenty-one Wives, Lovers, and Others Talk Openly About Sex, Deception, Love, and...
She's been called the harpy, the Jezebel, the Lorelei, the bitch...and other choice names. In truth, she is someone's daughter, mother, friend, con...
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reviews
Nov 21, 2011
Anya
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Here's the thing about the other woman. She lives inside your head. She may live on the next corner or in the next town or halfway across the world; she may be five-two or five-nine; she may be rail thin (never skinny) or voluptuous (never fat). But however big or small she is, however much space she takes up in the world, will never compare to the amount of space she'll take up in your brain. (from Not Istanbul, by Pam Houston)
The Other Woman is an anthology of non fiction musings More...
The Other Woman is an anthology of non fiction musings More...
Jul 26, 2011
Kate
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While some of these stories are beyond riveting (ex. Mary Jo Eustace's essay), there are several that leave much to be desired. Some of the authors seem to tell their stories from a detached perspective, while others are emotionally stripped. That being said, some of the essayists bring a lot to the table with their emotionally-charged tales. While there are certainly women I could not relate to in this book, they displayed a new perspective; sins with no guilt and destroying lives without remo
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Aug 11, 2008
AJ
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VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVery in*ter*est*ing.
amusing quotes/food for thought/and questionably flawed theories:
-who is the other woman? she is our friend, our sister, our doctor, grocery clerk, or neighbor. sometimes, despite our best intentions, she is us. and while the other woman may believe that she got her man, she understands that what she has gained may be the most she'll ever get. so she takes what she can, reminded in many little ways of the existence of h More...
amusing quotes/food for thought/and questionably flawed theories:
-who is the other woman? she is our friend, our sister, our doctor, grocery clerk, or neighbor. sometimes, despite our best intentions, she is us. and while the other woman may believe that she got her man, she understands that what she has gained may be the most she'll ever get. so she takes what she can, reminded in many little ways of the existence of h More...
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Nov 22, 2010
I attended a seminar where Victoria Zackheim, who is the anthologist of this collection, presented. A voyeuristic sharing of the many aspects of the other woman. Individual memoir pieces (often with the names changed to protect identities)portray confessions from the point of view of all: wives, lovers, and observers. The memoirs reveal the lessons learned from the anguished, funny honest encounters and obsessions.
Sep 12, 2011
hey.emily
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I loved this book. The stories in it were compelling and thoughtful, and demonstrated the shades of gray in relationships. Some of the women were gay, some straight, some were cheaters, some were cheated on, but everyone in the book had a distinct voice, thoughtful perspective, and wonderful writing voice. Definitely worth checking out, especially for Mary Jo Eustace, Dani Shapiro, Ellen Sussman, Caroline Leavitt, Connie May Fowler, Aviva Layton, and Gayle Brandeis.
Jun 22, 2009
Leslie
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An interesting perspective on the whole notion of cheating. I did feel like the book was written for a much older audience and from the perspective of much older women. As if in your 20's cheating isn't a reality, just a concept, but by the end of your life, it will have touched you in some way.
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May 20, 2011
Found this in the free book room and read it on a plane. I completely recommend picking it up for free and reading it on a plane--I was very absorbed. This is not the first essay collection I’ve read in which Jane Smiley’s contribution is head and shoulders above the others.
Nov 29, 2008
Woodie
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I enjoyed this book for the most part. It did get repetitive near the end but I did find the different view points of affairs interesting.
Nov 23, 2011
Michele
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Not as juicy as I thought it would be, nevertheless, it was insightful as it gives perspectives of the other woman as well as the wife's.
Aug 28, 2009
Denise
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Got this book because it has the story of Dean McDermott's Exwife in it. How Tori Spelling stole my man...lol!
Sep 05, 2007
Marjanne
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This book was an interesting read. It shared various views of "The Other Woman" such as from the 'other woman's' perspective, women dealing with the 'other woman' in their marriages, and even lesbians with 'other women'. This book reminded me a bit of high school, when my girlfriends when some other girl 'stole(!!)' their guy. I was always amazed that they would be more upset with the girl than with the stupid guy. This book is pretty much in that same vein. Women blaming other women r
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Jun 07, 2010
Sara
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I really liked some of the essays. It was nice to hear it form the wife's perspective and on the other hand from THE OTHER WOMAN'S perspective.
Aug 29, 2008
Saghar
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Some of the stories are very good. I especially
loved the story by Diana Abu-Jaber and Lynn Freed. It's really true that for most of us women 'Reason itself knows nothing of the heart'. The other comment that I loved by Diana Abu-Jaber is: 'It seems to me that being an Other must be at times at least as painful as being betrayed'. I have never experienced this and hope I never will but I bet this is very true. I recommend it to women who might be interested in reading about the other side. More...
loved the story by Diana Abu-Jaber and Lynn Freed. It's really true that for most of us women 'Reason itself knows nothing of the heart'. The other comment that I loved by Diana Abu-Jaber is: 'It seems to me that being an Other must be at times at least as painful as being betrayed'. I have never experienced this and hope I never will but I bet this is very true. I recommend it to women who might be interested in reading about the other side. More...
Aug 22, 2008
Kevin
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They truth is stranger than fiction. Well, this book is a collection of essays by female writers who describe their own true & personal experiences where they have been victimized by the other woman . Or in some cases, where they have played the role of the other woman. And each essay truly does validate the saying truth is stranger than fiction. Fascinating reading !
Jul 25, 2008
Lennie
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In this collection of stories, several women talk about their own relationship that ended when their partner left them for another woman. Overall, I thought this book was boring and that it lacked "juiciness". I found that the only story I was interested in reading about was on Mary Jo Eustace whose husband Dean, had left her for Tori Spelling. I give this book two stars.
Nov 04, 2007
Reader
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I couldn't love this book any more than I do. Compelling, quirky, sometimes lyrical accounts of being the cheated-on wife, the other woman, and the other other woman. No one is a two-dimensional cartoon, and no one is a simple villain even when the emotions and actions are simply awful. Jealousies, fears, and needs subvert and reify cultural conditioning.
Feb 25, 2008
Princess
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I didn't like this book as much as I thought I would. It did delve into some interesting issues though. I would not recommend this book to everyone. There are some graphic descriptions. There are stories about lesbians and there is also an essay about sexual abuse. If anything, this book opened my eyes to the "other" side of the story.
Mar 15, 2010
Michelle
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I really enjoyed getting to read the multiple perspectives of the other woman. Whether it be a woman scorned, or a woman who fell in love with someone else's man, the other woman at a young age, or older and after marriage. I loved how the stories had all different emotions: humor, love, rage, healing. Great stories, super interesting.
Mar 29, 2009
Martha
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Very emotional, a quick and easy read. The stories got repetitive after awhile.
Dec 24, 2008
Cassi
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Just like any book of short stories, there are some facinating and well written pieces, and some that just, well, aren't. But overall, I found myself flagging a lot of pages that struck me.
Can someone please read this just so we can have a really long conversation about some of the chapters- please?
Can someone please read this just so we can have a really long conversation about some of the chapters- please?
Dec 13, 2007
Barb
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This book was interesting and very funny in parts. Nice book to pick up when you don't have hours to read; you can read one or a couple 'stories' at a time. Each of the 21 entries was an essay, but some of them read more like fiction; i.e., they seemed too improbable to be true, but true they were.
Sep 17, 2007
Barbara
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A great topic--the other woman--and great essays about this topic. If you've ever been the other woman, or have any curiosity about who she is, you'll love this collection. (I sound like such an advertisement. I don't meant to be. Oh, yes I do. I love this book.) Zackheim was on my show two weeks ago.
Dec 17, 2009
Jennifer
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Some of the stories are interesting, especially the one on the history of "romantic" marriage. But, some others are dry. This is an easy read though and pretty entertaining. Although, some of the authors will question your sense of morality and just who the "other woman" tends to be.
Aug 14, 2007
Mark
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This is a collection, and as you can guess some of these are great, some bad and most in between. Toward the end, though, you get a little tired of the repetition of themes--younger women rehashing some elektra complex with much older men, the hurt, the betrayal . . .
Aug 12, 2008
Cathyannebaron
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I found this book fascinating partly because it feels like juicy gossip, and partly because it explores the deep emotions involved in love and lust and follows the stories of women who were involved in all types of heartache.
Feb 04, 2008
Ellen
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Another winner edited by Victoria Zackheim (see FOR KEEPS: WOMEN TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT THEIR BODIES, GROWING OLDER, AND ACCEPTANCE). She has a good eye for pertinent collections.
