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Apr/ May 2016 Group Read - The Widow by Fiona Barton
Not completely. There were clues along the way. (view spoiler)I didn't know the details but I could vaguely see where it was going.
I was not surprised by what happened to Bella.
I was most interested in what the child abuser and the family say to themselves and others about sexual abuse. These two: both avoided saying out loud 'rape', 'sexually abused' 'murdered' to the bitter end, despite the evidence. Jean told the story as if the killer did it out of love for her, and then excused it throughout her telling, although on some level, she must have known better. Choosing the bus stop to kill the killer showed she finally processed the killer's evil (they met at a bus stop).
What do you think Barton was trying to convey by having Jean refer to herself variously as "Jean" and "Jeanie," as though they were separate people?
I thought about that because it confused me too. Was she going for dissociative disorder (split personality) ? If so it was badly done and didn't work because otherwise we wouldn't question it.
Disassociation is a spectrum - most of us have felt it as a sense of unreality when something happens we have difficulty accepting, like a horrible sudden car accident, or even something benign but shocking, like a male stripper unexpectedly showing up during a family breakfast because he misunderstood his event time. My mother-in-law experienced it upon an accidental fall and seeing her ankle bent wrong, but no pain. She straightened her foot in a panic but didn't understand what had happened for awhile. When the sense of unreality hits, suddenly you are watching yourself function as if you are participating in a video. It can happen when told of a parent's sudden death (my experience). It also happened when I was a passenger in a car which was skidding out of control on ice on a freeway, and seeing six stopped cars (two of which were police cars) in front of my boss's car in various locations and positions which we were going to have try to avoid at 70 miles an hour without brakes and skidding.
Little kids sometimes make up another kid who 'did it', because they get so scared of being 'bad', more afraid of adult displeasure than understanding why something made everybody mad. Little kids can make themselves believe their fantasy was true, as well.
I think Jean 'regressed' a little to her child self under the pressure, and disassociated, which would have been a factual fictional response, but I think the author handled it poorly. I could tell the author was 'trying' to use these kinds of disassociation (I suppose since the author is a reporter, she has had personal experiences too) appropriately, but she didn't explain enough. (I hope I did!)
You explained it beautifully April. It's not like Sybil. It's natures way of helping us cope with trauma. Although some Sybils exist but not in this case. The author was a little clumsy on the subject. You, were very articulate. Thank you!
Sherry wrote: "You explained it beautifully April. It's not like Sybil. It's natures way of helping us cope with trauma. Although some Sybils exist but not in this case. The author was a little clumsy on the subj...": ) You're welcome!
I read the book this weekend - it was one I could hardly put down - I just had to know the ending. One important point is that I wasn't particularly interested in Jean, Glen or any of the other characters. It was the missing child which drew me on. It's a very effective way of working a plot.
Jean was a strange character. She seemed weak at times, manipulative at times and then, towards the ending, she became stronger.
(view spoiler)
(I found it hard to accept she would be so weak as to hide information that would have helped the police...this was one issue which stayed with me after I put the book down - how many women might have done this....)
More insight into Jean's character would have helped me. She seemed like a little ball on one of those table games - getting smashed around by the other players but not in control of the game herself - except at the end.
As others have said, Sparkes was the most likeable character for me too.
I didn't like Kate and she seemed rather two dimensional. As others have commented too, it's interesting to see (from the Huffington post article) that Kate is the one who will figure in Barton's next book!
I shall give it four stars because I would have preferred more insight into how Jean worked.
It's a great first book though - I write in the same genre and I hope my first, upcoming novel will be as popular!
Yes, Sherry, and for that reason I didn't think she deserved Sparkes' sympathy ...
Thanks everyone for your comments. It has been a lot of fun getting to hear each unique perspective! Feel free to continue sharing and I look forward to hearing from you when we read more books together in the future :)
Sherry wrote: "Thank you Jene!"It's been a lot of fun! I just realized that I missed a bunch of great comments from April, Ann, Deborah and yourself - thanks for keeping the convo going into page 2 (which I did not think to look for!)
I particularly enjoyed the discussion around the bus stop and disassociation.
I am on massive waiting lists for this book in both paper and digital form. Hopefully I will be able to get a copy before the read is open. It looks really interesting!
I started this two days ago - at 78%. Loving it. Have not yet read any of your comments and won't until I am finished. *:D
Kelly wrote: "I am on massive waiting lists for this book in both paper and digital form. Hopefully I will be able to get a copy before the read is open. It looks really interesting!"Let us know what you think!
Sandy *The world could end while I was reading and I would never notice* wrote: "I started this two days ago - at 78%. Loving it. Have not yet read any of your comments and won't until I am finished. *:D"Can't wait to hear your thoughts :)
I loved this book!I have read through some of the comments above.....(view spoiler)
Re bringing Kate back in the next book, I believe she is a merely a good 'vehicle' to carry the story, but we may learn a little more about her.
Sandy *The world could end while I was reading and I would never notice* wrote: "I loved this book!I have read through some of the comments above.....[spoilers removed]
Re bringing Kate back in the next book, I believe she is a merely a good 'vehicle' to carry the story, but..."
(view spoiler)
I'm enjoying reading all the comments. Keep them coming!
(and Happy Mother's Day to you all)
aPriL does feral sometimes wrote: "Sandy *The world could end while I was reading and I would never notice* wrote: "I loved this book!I have read through some of the comments above.....[spoilers removed]
Re bringing Kate back in ..."
Great points about Jean!
This novel is chock-full of repugnant characters. Don't get me wrong - I enjoyed reading it very much. But, truth told, nobody seems to make it through with a sterling character except, perhaps, Sparkes. Some of the social/technological issues are worth a world of discussion, as are the gender roles, but I just wanted to throw in my opinion that I felt the novel is a worthy read.
I requested this from the library....but won't get it in time for the group read of the month. :( I'll come back later and read all your comments. Nice to see that the book inspired such lively discussion!
VickiLee wrote: "This novel is chock-full of repugnant characters. Don't get me wrong - I enjoyed reading it very much. But, truth told, nobody seems to make it through with a sterling character except, perhaps, Sp..."I agree. The author has a very unique look at the characters which makes the book worth reading and worth checking out her next book. It's not a generic book by any means.
Barbara wrote: "I requested this from the library....but won't get it in time for the group read of the month. :( I'll come back later and read all your comments. Nice to see that the book inspired such lively d..."
I'm still waiting for the audio from the library/Overdrive.
Better late than never. Just had a note from the library that my copy of the widow is here.
Jan C wrote: "Barbara wrote: "I requested this from the library....but won't get it in time for the group read of the month. :( I'll come back later and read all your comments. Nice to see that the book inspir..."
I listened on Overdrive too. It's well done and worth the wait.
Gisela, I hope you like it!
Can someone let me know, what is 'Overdrive' please?
Overdrive is an app. Mine is an Apple device app, but they are available for Android and Windows too. You search for the name in your devices' app store.Once you get the app and open it, you can use the app to sign in over the Internet at your library, with your library card. (You need a library card.)
Once you have signed in, whatever resources your library has available to check out - ebooks, audiobooks, videos - you can now check out over the Internet and download to your app and device to read.
https://app.overdrive.com
aPriL does feral sometimes wrote: "Overdrive is an app. Mine is an Apple device app, but they are available for Android and Windows too. You search for the name in your devices' app store.Once you get the app and open it, you can ..."
Thanks for the brilliant explanation. I knew it was available from the library, but couldn't figure how to do it. I am one of the last people on this earth who hasn't got an I phone yet, but will finally assign my old Nokia to mobile heaven and get one. What attracts me are the apps and the Overdrive will now be one of the first ones to get.
Thank you
I don't have an iPhone either but it works on iPads and tablets and I bet regular computers too. If the app isn't available on your device you can still get it. Librarians are more than willing to help too!
aPriL does feral sometimes wrote: "Overdrive is an app. Mine is an Apple device app, but they are available for Android and Windows too. You search for the name in your devices' app store.Once you get the app and open it, you can ..."
Whaaaaat!?!? This is amazing. Seriously have no idea how I did not know about this, thank you so much for sharing. Life changer :)
Happy for everybody! I don't have an iPhone, but I have an iPad. Overdrive works great on iPads. Bigger screen. So I use it mostly with my iPad.
I have an Android phone, and I got Overdrive from the Google Play app/store, but I don't use it as much. I prefer my ancient iPod when I listen to audiobooks.
I use it mainly on my Android phone, although I also have it on my Android (Samsung) tablet. I primarily use it on the phone because then I can listen to audiobooks in the car. I expect that if I got one of the videos I would do that on my tablet.My brother and his SO told me about Overdrive several years ago.
Finished it this morning loved following the twists and turns but like so many of you didn't particularly like the characters. Was increasingly frustrated by Jean who must have known that she was covering up for her husband some of the time surely.
I just finished the book today and gave it solid 3 stars for the writing and for keeping me engaged. As for the characters, meh! ... I didn't feel much for any of them, except for Eileen (Bob's wife ;) ... Overall, great writing but a decent story.
Finally got around to posting my review - it fell between a four and three stars for me and in the end I gave it three. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Ann wrote: "Finally got around to posting my review - it fell between a four and three stars for me and in the end I gave it three. https://www.goodreads.com/review/edit..."
Your link keeps accessing my editing page for my own review, instead of yours, Ann. This is very strange.
That's odd, because when I click on it, it definitely goes to my own review ! (I just checked to make sure)
Maybe there's some funny stuff going on at GR??
Ann wrote: "Here's another try.https://www.goodreads.com/review/edit..."
Wow, still happening - linking to my own review's editing page, that is.
I haven't a clue! Maybe it is the Apple update to my iPad, or something odd with GR. Have no idea at this time....
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The Widow (other topics)
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I agree, which is why I am surprised that Barton intends to bring her back in her next book.
In the Huffington Post interview, Mark Rubinstein states, "One narrator in The Widow is not very reliable." Barton goes on to explain why she finds unreliable narrators so popular:Clearly, the unreliable narrator is meant to be (view spoiler)[Jean (hide spoiler)], yet I don't think that character meets Barton's definition. (view spoiler)[While Jean's discussions with Kate and Sparkes were dishonest, she told the reader from the beginning that she knew more than she was saying about Bella's fate, so I never thought the book "veer[ed]" off in an unpredictable direction." An unpredictable direction would have been something like Jean having Bella's body in a cradle in her bedroom. (hide spoiler)]
Were any of you surprised by what had really happened to Bella?