"[A] BRILLIANT, WITTY AND PROVOCATIVE NEW NOVEL."
--San Francisco Chronicle
As a young woman, the brilliant and eternally curious M... read full description
--San Francisco Chronicle
As a young woman, the brilliant and eternally curious M... read full description
reviews
Dec 28, 2009
Maryjoamani
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I thoroughly enjoyed this book, coming out of a long hiatus from reading novels. It's an old-fashioned kind of book, with writers and university college professors as main characters, and lots of literary references. An opening quote hints at the main theme--"Mates are not always matches, and matches are not always mates"--but I was struck more, by its call for us to be open to unplanned-for connections and consequences in life of even the simplest choices, to live fully and exuberan
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Jul 11, 2007
Jamie
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Godwin is the author of one of my favorite novels, Evensong.
This novel centers around 2 married couples in a small college town. One of the wives is dying from cancer as her devoted younger husband cares for her. The other wife, recovering emotionally from the loss of a baby, befriends the couple as a way to escape from her own loss and crumbling marriage.
I didn't fall in love with this book the way I did with Evensong, but it was an engaging read.
This novel centers around 2 married couples in a small college town. One of the wives is dying from cancer as her devoted younger husband cares for her. The other wife, recovering emotionally from the loss of a baby, befriends the couple as a way to escape from her own loss and crumbling marriage.
I didn't fall in love with this book the way I did with Evensong, but it was an engaging read.
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May 05, 2011
Mark
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It is said there are only seven great themes; I can only think of two: birth and death, love and loss. In "The Good Husband" these themes become Gail Godwin's canvas.
Magda Danvers is dying of cancer. Magda is a writer, a brilliant academician (think: Joseph Campbell) a great acerbic wit, and the author of a perennially re-printed work on the transcendent in literature.
Hugo Henry is a complicated, fifty-ish novelist, married to the lovely Alice; the couple have just More...
Magda Danvers is dying of cancer. Magda is a writer, a brilliant academician (think: Joseph Campbell) a great acerbic wit, and the author of a perennially re-printed work on the transcendent in literature.
Hugo Henry is a complicated, fifty-ish novelist, married to the lovely Alice; the couple have just More...
Dec 15, 2010
Jeannette
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This book was epiphany for me. I have admired, enjoyed, and followed the writing career of Gail Godwin now for, oh, roughly forty years. The style of this, the clarity, the wallop this prose packs is not the only reason why I love this novel. Nope. It's the people in this book, so real, so true to themselves and to life, who struggle so, especially with their own beloveds' deaths. And the central character whose slow dying precipitates all these marvelous designs is hooting, howlingly, excr
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Jan 24, 2008
Barb
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Magda Danvers, professor of English at a private college, is dying of cancer in what she calls her "final examination." Her husband, Francis, is the "good husband" who cares for her tenderly through her ordeal. When Alice, the wife of Magda's fellow professor begins to visit Magda and Francis, she is drawn to them and their relationship, mainly because her own marriage is floundering in the aftermath of the death of her stillborn son. Through flashbacks and the story line
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Dec 31, 2011
Nancy
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I loved this book, mostly because it digs deeply into the relationships and motivations of two married couples. The main characters are very distinct. In the first half of the book Magda, a highly regarded and rather eccentric academician, is in the process of dying, which draws her husband and the other couple into a closer relationship. Each has dealt with tragedy or loss in the past. The ways in which they can and sometimes can't support each other are very familiar in real life. Another
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Dec 30, 2010
Rachel
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I'm not exactly sure what I liked about this book. It's the type of book I think I would typically find rather dull, and while I still can't say it was one of those hard-to-put-down books, I was definitely immersed in the story and the characters. There wasn't really much of a story line, or maybe I should say the story line was very realistic and believable. Not a lot of drama or action. But it left me with a good feeling.
Feb 19, 2009
Elizabeth
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I got the book for my mother (in large print!) but read it myself. A college professor is dying of cancer and has a (duh) good husband. Lots of academic talk and references which I enjoyed == an easy read, but not a very gripping story. A pretty good main character though.
Jun 29, 2009
Beth
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What a great book! Love her characters. She has just a touch of Southern Goth to her writing. I'm about two-thirds finished with it and had to leave it in the kitchen last night when I went to bed or I would have finished it (undoubtedly at some ungodly hour of the morning) before sleeping.
Mar 31, 2010
judy
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Her writing makes me draw in my breath over and over again. It's simply stunning. I loved this book for many reasons not the least of which is that the central character is who I'd like to be.
Sep 29, 2011
Vikki
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This is a story of dying. Magna Deavers is married to Francis, an almost Priest. It tells of different couples in his academic setting. A very good book. I really like Gail Godwin.
Jun 14, 2010
Callie
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It had its moments, but the characters seemed very one-dimensional. Brittle Alice, gruff Hugo, brilliant Magda, and gentle Francis were like caricatures more than fully developed people.
Aug 22, 2009
Marvin
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The characters are, as always in Godwin's books, wonderfully drawn in all their complexities, and the theme of how we die is a good one, but the relationships don't work as well for me in this one as in Godwin's other books.
Nov 18, 2010
very good book about a devoted husband of academic wife. Husband photographs misericords. He cares for wife as she is dying.
Jun 28, 2011
Debby
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Overall, I guess I liked this book. That said, it was WAY too long. The writing just dragged in the last half to third of the book, but I was determined to finish it. The characters and story are interesting to a point, but after about 300 pages or so, it just got on my nerves. Like cut to the chase and wrap this thing up already!! It's better than a 2 star rating, but not by a lot!
I've heard good things about Godwin's writing, but The Goood Husband didn't prove that to me! I'll More...
I've heard good things about Godwin's writing, but The Goood Husband didn't prove that to me! I'll More...
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Jan 14, 2010
Adrianna
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Does a mate need to be a match? This is a question that this book prompted me to think more deeply about.
Oct 04, 2008
Phoebe Kate
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Absolutely brilliant. Ironically, it was one of the few novels by Gail Godwin not to make the bestseller list. Do we shy away from death and cancer as the subject matter of our popular fiction? Yes, it's a dark novel, but not because of terminal disease -- it's the personalities of the characters that are most troubling, an ongoing problem that is at best only superficially and temporarily resolved by the last page. But isn't that just like life at its realest?
Jun 25, 2008
Chris
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I read this many long years ago - probably at least 10 - it was my first introduction to Gail Godwin and I remember thinking it was really, really well-written. She has disappointed me with some of her other books, but this one I really enjoyed. A very thorough examination of what makes a "good" marriage - provocative, lots of good thinking engendered by reading this.
Oct 02, 2007
Elizabeth
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If I could, I'd give this 3.5 stars. The only reason it's not 4 is that it's not my favorite Gail Godwin book. I enjoyed the academic community that forms the setting as well as the relationship dynamics between the two couples in the book. It's more than a beach read, less than a classic, but definitely worth reading!
Mar 10, 2008
Lori
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It is taking me a while to get going with this book. I hope something grabs me soon, or I'll be tempted to put it down. 3 weeks later I finally finished it. I don't think I am part of the intelligencia that would love this book. Too long and too boring and nothing resolved itself. A book about absolutely nothing.
Aug 10, 2008
Emma
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I was expecting more from this book. The characters were one-dimensional and boring. After reading about a third of the book I was so bored that I started skimming big chunks of it and when I got to the (predictable) end I didn't feel like my skimming made me miss out on anything.
Jun 29, 2011
Holden
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I think this book is beautifully written. In some cases, the author has overused obtuse words that the average reader may not be familiar with. She paints a beautiful picture of the relationship between Magda and Francis, despite Francis seeming a bit blank at times.
Apr 02, 2008
Elizabeth
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I am in love with this author's writing style. A fascinating look at love and marriage, human death and the demise of a relationship. Really quite a insightful yet quiet look at life. I literally couldn't put it down.
Jul 29, 2008
Tiffany
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It took awhile for me to get into this book, partially because it's very unlike many of the books I've read, but it was excellent. I highly recommend it.
Aug 23, 2008
Julie
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Good book but depressing. It involves cancer and infiedelity. It you are having a bad day/week....don't recommend
Jan 27, 2008
Laura
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Read this book if only for the description of good writing's beginning, middle, and endings (chapter 12).
Dec 17, 2009
Helen
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A beautiful, poignant book of love and yearning and being true to yourself.
