Other People's Marriages

by Shane Watson

Anna is working on what promises to be her breakthrough bestseller about marriage and what makes it work. Who doesnt want to peer through the keyhole of other peoples relationships from the couple whove been together for years but arent really talking, to the newly divorced pair who arent quite separated? Some of Annas friends have been eager to act as case Ruth and Dave, the contented, unconventional, boho couple; resting actor Tony and his beautiful and controlled ex-wife Jean; Valerie and Archie, smug marrieds with two children. And then theres Anna herself, living a tranquil life with new man Richard in their pale minimalist flat. It should all be plain sailing, but Annas carefully noted observations dont seem to tell the whole storyif these are the models for marriage twenty first century style, why is it that, in each case, something is missing?As affairs, break ups and brief encounters ensue, Anna reflects that a project that should have been straightforward has turned out to be thecatalyst for a monumental group mid-life crisis. And thats before she is invited to a wedding in the country and becomes involved in the lives of a very different couple.Deliciously warm and disturbingly true-to-life, Other Peoples Marriages is a terrific new novel from Shane Watson, a writer with a unique perspective on the way we live now.

Genres: Chick Lit

Hardcover

First published February 4, 2005

Reviews

[AfroBonVivant · Rating 3 out of 5]

But that was the way it happened, wasn't it? You spent the early part of your relationship priding yourself on being easy-going and undemanding - the kind of woman who made your partner's male friends green with envy - and the rest of it trying to claw back all those precious concessions so carelessly relinquished.

Theme: Chick lit

I found the premise of this book very interesting; a single friend writing a book about her friend's marriages whilst her own relationship is "sketchy", at best. Objectivity makes us all experts, doesn't it?

The first half of the book is very engaging and unfolds the four relationships very delightfully; the safe relationship post a heartbreak, the in-need-of-excitement relationship after decades of marriage; the past-hurts-manifesting-themselves-in-the-present relationship and the not-quite-ended relationship between divorcees. It was very interesting to see how little nuances, things unsaid, unattended feelings and secrets kept contributed to how each relationship played out; I felt like the proverbial fly on the wall, wondering why it's so difficult for us to be completely honest with those we love.

The latter half of the book threw me off quite substantially. The events that transpired didn't marry with the former part of the book as smoothly as I would have preferred. Fortunately, Shane's writing is engaging which atoned for the plot dereliction.

3 shining stars from me!

[Rachel Brand · Rating 2 out of 5]

I remember finding it crazy that a single woman thought that she had the right to write a book on how to have the "perfect" marriage. I'm not even married and that annoys me! This book was so-so, typical chick-lit. I don't remember much about it, other than the scene where one husband believes that eating lots of oranges will increase his and his wife's fertility. I'm not quite sure why that has stuck in my mind all these years!

[Mary Pimbblet · Rating 2 out of 5]

This starts out with a really interesting premise, the single friend researching her married friend's relationships, but then that side of things seems to be completely forgotten. The storyline just becomes more and more far fetched as it continues.

[Jenna Adkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written, but quite boring. I finished it out of determination. Some good thoughts in there, however, but nothing too special or meaningful.

Main character irritated me, actually.

[L. Toh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good characterizations and the narration is peppered with keen observations about modern life. It has a feel-good ending.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was really slow to start with, and it was only through sheer will power that i forced myself to continue reading it.

I hated how the group of friends were all middle class social climbers, they seemed like empty shells. They just didn't feel real at all.

Once the book shifted focus to the Tyntallin situation then things became marginally more interesting.

This book was okay, and in the end i ended up liking it, but for me it was far too slow paced and the characters were quite annoying.

[Antonette · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took quite some time, about 100 pages, to get into this book. Somehow I had trouble keeping all the couples apart as there didn't seem to be a logical sense in the story. After about 100 pages the book took a turn for the better and finally started to get a bit more interesting, although the end is not too surprising.

[Katrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm almost embarrassed to be adding this after reading the one review... but I'm halfway through, and, despite being definitely just chick-lit, it's not that bad!

[Nicola Atkinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite slow to start, but very interesting to see underneath what seems like the perfect marriage is actually a completely different story..