"The Mere Wife" First Impressions *No Spoilers*

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Welcome to your Mental Health in Fantasy club pick! Did it grab you? What are your initial thoughts?

Please leave any specifics, including anything about plot, character growth/introduction, or changes in writing styles for the full spoiler thread open on the 7th!

Content warnings: (view spoiler)[ severe PTSD. Loss of a loved one, alcohol use, loss of a child, concerns of rape. (hide spoiler)]

If you'd like to check out Beowulf (which you might appreciate but is not required to enjoy this book)

free eBook via Gutenberg Project: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/16328
free audio via Librivox: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kTS1...

[Megan]

I liked this book a lot and found it compelling, from beginning to end. Or from cover (so pretty!) and dedication (YES!) to the end, really. Oh, and the double meaning of the title, too!

I ended up reading the Seamus Heaney translation of Beowulf a couple weeks ago in preparation. I also have John Gardner's Grendel lined up to read soon, because now I have a growing fascination with this story. But, yeah, I don't think any of that's necessary for enjoying this book: I thought Maria Dahvana Headley made her version feel very singular and able to stand on its own.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

The dedication hooked me. The Prologue dragged me in. There was no escape!

In our buddy read, we hypothesized that the title had 3 allusions: mere as in "just" or "simply"; mere as in an underground body of water; and mere as in a somewhat anglicized play on "mother."

[Megan]

Oh wow, I didn't know about that third possibility. That is an impressive amount of relevant allusion!

[Andy]

Only a few chapters in, but I'm loving this book. So, so impressed.

I'm worried I'll damage my finger from highlighting all the beautiful sentences on my Kindle. Ouch. Oh! Another one! Ouch.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

right?? make sure you stretch first! no injuries to fingers, eyes or necks please! this book is dangerous!

[Hank, Hankenstein's Modster]

4 chapters in and I am liking it although I don't like the fact that I keep looking for Beowulf parallels. I would like to just enjoy the story as is.

[Gabi]

Hank wrote: "4 chapters in and I am liking it although I don't like the fact that I keep looking for Beowulf parallels. I would like to just enjoy the story as is."

That's what I thought, when I read the discussion in the first BR thread. I don't know Beowulf and enjoyed the story just as is and I was glad about that.

[Ariana]

A few things about the description made me think this wouldn't be my cup of tea, but I decided to dip my toe in just to see, and I've been completely hooked. It's so engrossing.

[Carolyn]

Finished 3 chapters and I’m loving Willa’s sarcasm!!

[Pujashree]

I am loving being able to use my rusted over AP English muscles which were once sharpened on Seamus Heaney's Beowulf and The Wife's Lament (the poem right after that EXCELLENT dedication), among other Old English gems. I don't know if anyone else is listening to the audiobook but the narrator is SO good, and nailing it with the epic Greek tragedy style storytelling, especially the Chorus sections. I am so incredibly grateful this book was picked this month. It's so unexpected and refreshing!

[Andy]

John wrote: "It is also of Latin root meaning undiluted, unadulterated, pure."

Nice. 🙂

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

That is nice, John! And hi Rachel! I'm so glad you and Puja are both enjoying this book! It's certainly different from my expectations as well, in what, for me, was the best way possible! I'm so excited to hear everyone's thoughts on it tomorrow :)

[Anthony]

In the early going (I’m in chapter 3) I’m finding the writing to be lyrical and evocative but also I’m feeling Headley’s authorial voice superseding her characters’ individual voices, if that makes any sense. Especially the first-person voice. Maybe I just need to get used to it, but at first blush it’s keeping me a bit at arm’s length from feeling inside these characters’ lives in the way that I think she’s meaning me to feel.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

I can see that. I don't think I felt "inside" their lives--they're so very extreme that they feel a bit more like parables than people to me. What drew me in was the sense that the distant past (through the writing style) and the present (through the setting) were woven in one large, inescapable net.

[Anthony]

I’m not sure how exactly the writing style evokes the distant past. It feels quite modern to me, with its archness and frequent use of pop culture references, and evocation of plastic surgery, etc. Something about Headley’s approach makes me feel like she’s a bit on the outside of her characters’ experience, subtly judging them, or something.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Wow! That's so different from my take. This sounds to me a lot like epic poetry in its oral form, with the "judginess" coming from the characters' pov rather than her own--I felt for both main characters whenever I was seeing the world from their eyes.

[Anthony]

Did you listen or eye-read? I’m having trouble with this, moreso the more I read. But it’s relatively short, and I am very curious to see it through, especially since you and so many others love it so.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Eye read.

If I may make a suggestion? Have you read through the first couple chapters of tags in the "finished reading" thread? We had some wonderful discussion when it was a BR which might do a better job explaining what I saw and how some of us interpreted it than I can do in this thread :)

[Anthony]

I haven’t, but I shall check them out, thanks!

[Anna]

I wholeheartedly agree with Allison's suggestion! I didn't connect with this book at all, but then I started reading the BR thread, and I got a whole new level of appreciation for it!

[Anthony]

I read them, and I can respect the symbolism and thematic approach, indeed. I like parables and allegories and fables and epics when they ring true for me. What I’m finding grating and distancing in this case is her voice.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

I very much want to discuss what that means for you! Damn this 2 thread system of ours. Perhaps Kaa will see this soon--I believe she had a more temperate reception and may be able to speak better to it? Or if others are feeling the same! Please, chime in!

In any event, my non-response is not a chilly one, Anthony, seen and appreciated!

[Ben]

I'm about halfway through the book, and I'm not quite sure why, but it's filling me with a sense of existential dread. It's written well, but in a way that is stressing me out in a way I can't quite put my finger on. I'm trying not to confuse that feeling with thinking the book is bad. I'll have to wait to finish to fully form an opinion, but I'm certainly intrigued

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Ben wrote: "I'm about halfway through the book, and I'm not quite sure why, but it's filling me with a sense of existential dread. It's written well, but in a way that is stressing me out in a way I can't quit..."

Ooh, yes, the dread! I always start out with a big lump in my throat when I'm watching one of the great tragedies. This felt very similar to me.

[Dawn F]

Oh and it just came to me that I really dislike short sentences like in the quote. I love long, intricate sentences that shows off the author’s knowledge of structure, syntax, grammar and vocabulary. I think this was another thing that annoyed me subconsciously haha.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Haha! I love it, Dawn! But could you please put it in the spoiler thread? Sorry to ask. I can copy it for you kind of if you're on the app.

[Dawn F]

Oh, it kind of is my first impression so I thought it belonged here XD I’m home, I’ll get on the laptop and move it!

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

The feelings are fine, the quotes etc. though are spoilers =/ Gah! One day we'll have a better system. Thanks very much!

Oh yes, if short sentences annoy you, this book would be a trial haha

[Dawn F]

Alright, my thoughts and feelings have been posted here instead.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Muchas gracias!

[Kaa]

I see it, I see it! And yeah, I agree with Anthony, though it took me a lot longer to realize that I was having issues with the author's voice. I enjoyed the writing style at first, but as the book went on I was more and more bothered by the lack of specificity in the first-person narration, which by the end of the book created some pretty serious issues for me in terms of the message, as well. I thought it was worth finishing, but I didn't love it nearly as much as most everyone else I read it with.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Specificity. That is a good word for what this book does not do. Thank you!! I knew we could count on you ^^

[Mareike]

Allison wrote: "Ben wrote: "I'm about halfway through the book, and I'm not quite sure why, but it's filling me with a sense of existential dread. It's written well, but in a way that is stressing me out in a way ..."

Agreed! I hadn't made that connection yet, Allison, but, yes, it is like one of those tragedies.

[Oleksandr]

I just started it and it is not something I expected. I assumed it will be a retelling like The Song of Achilles. This doesn't mean I'm disappointed, quite the contrary!

[Sabrina]

I just downloaded the audiobook as a spur-of-the-moment decision. I have to finish a few other books first but I look forward to reading everyone's thoughts. Also, I have no previous knowledge of Beowulf, but it seems that this is actually preferred. So far, so good :-)

[Kateblue]

Oleksandr, I bought The Song of Achilles when it was on sale not too long ago. It's written by Madeline Miller, who wrote Circe, such a big hit last year that I never got around to reading it.

I am going to try it but I am not sure I have time right now. Do you want to take this over to the H&N group and do a buddy read?

[Sabrina]

I started listening and felt completely lost after the prologue and first chapter. Luckily, the second chapter started to make sense and drew me in - I loved the sarcastic tone as well.

Also all these "listen" at the start of a chapter made me laugh - I am actually listening, but overall I'm not sure if it was the right decision - English is not my mother language and I'm more used to reading. Well, I'll see, but anyway, there wasn't any choice given the price of the e-book.

[Megan]

I just started reading this and I am loving this - I read two chapters in the car in my work parking structure before I could convince myself to go in - oops! I just read Beowulf recently, so I'm eager to see which elements are woven into the narrative and how. I'm also curious to see how fantastical it gets.

I had to switch away from the audiobook though, because I found it a little too hard to follow and I wanted to live in the language a little bit more. Thank goodness for libraries!

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

i'm so glad it's swept you up!

[Kateblue]

I have a question for all of you who have read beyond the prologue and the first couple of chapters.

I hate previews and spoilers. Often, a "prologue" will be a leap forward in time that exposes future events. I hate when that happens. Here, I skipped to the first chapter after the first few pages. It seemed that there was a lot of info in that prologue, though, and it was longer than the prologues I dislike usually are.

So, given my dislike of previews, should I read the prologue, or start with the first chapter and go back at some point?

Thanks!

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

You should definitely read the prologue first!

[Kateblue]

Thanks, Allison. I will go back

But I may not get this one read at all. So many books, so little time

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

It happens! But the prologue is backstory, not a preview :)

[Melanie, the neutral party]

The prologue is a work of art all by itself. It's pretty special.

[Kateblue]

OK, I can read backstory, Allison. No prob. It's previews I hate. And Melanie, thanks for the recommendation about it being a work of art. I will try after I finish Vita Nostra, which I am reading right now and I think is very good.

[Valerie]

Hmm, so much emotion. I think I would prefer a reread of Beowulf.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

Valerie wrote: "Hmm, so much emotion. I think I would prefer a reread of Beowulf."


I kinda wanna rewatch that weird movie version with Angelina Jolie.

[Joelle.P.S]

colleen the convivial curmudgeon wrote: "I kinda wanna rewatch that weird movie version with Angelina Jolie."

Good idea! :-)

[ashley]

Started this yesterday (quite late!!) but I'm eating it up -- the prose feels pretty special, as does the story. Some of the author's intent feels a little heavyhanded at times but it does not detract from my enjoyment, more of just a personal preference pick. I do like the topics she's working with and how she's melding them into the Beowulf retelling.