The Wife's Tale

A Novel

By: Lori Lansens

Narrated by: Justine Eyre

Length: 11 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

Mary Gooch was once young and slender and carefree. But with each passing year she's accumulated an excess of pounds and worries. On the eve of her 25th wedding anniversary, her handsome husband does not come home. Shocked out of her inertia, Mary boards a plane for the first time and begins a desperate search. With a surge of energy that she hasn't felt in years, Mary fights for her husband while she reflects upon a life half lived. Accustomed to hiding behind hunger and fear, she's forced to look up at her new surroundings, astonished by how the shift in perspective has let in the light.

©2010 Lori Lansens (P)2010 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Lansens's portrait of a woman who hides behind the Kenmore as protection from life's heartache is earthy and primal in its pain. Yet Lansens doesn't resort to an overnight makeover to save Mary. Instead, our heroine uncovers a hidden strength she had all along....Highly recommended." ( Library Journal Bette-Lee Fox)

a decent read

first read of Lori Lansens - it was a good read but a little slow

great

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

very graphic about bodily functions If that grosses you out, this is not a book for you.

Couldn't stop listening...

Very interesting story. No diet tips, just love and loss can make you forget about food-not me. Great ending. A suprising turn on a 25 year marriage.

I want more Mary Gooch!

If you have ever struggled with you self confidence as a heavy wife... this book will speak to you beyond imagination. I so identify with everything about Mary Gooch. This was a great book. Do read it.... especially if you have been married for more than 10 years...

Oh Mary, Mary, Mary...

I got so frustrated with Little Nell -I mean Mary Gooch -I wanted to stop reading. But,the story is so well written I couldn't give up. I think the message of Mary and her life helped me with my life. If you're a postmenopausal woman buried alive in a pit -I recommend this book.

Where's Gooch?

I liked The Wife's Tale. I like Mary Gooch, the way it was read by Justine Eyre, the tone of much of Canadian writing. The sentence structure was varied and unusual. I found myself rooting for Mary and delighted with the many turns of events. I even liked the ending, which I won't tell. Lansen only gets 3 stars for her effort because of her total lack of subtlety. Heavy handed alliteration; repetitive, predictable reactions to Mary's weight ; the inexplicable motives behind her husband's actions; Mary's on again off again brain tumor scare that is explained by cultural voodoo; and my least favorite, Lansen's assumption that all Hispanics in California are from Mexico. Mary, however, is a lovely woman and I will not forget her. I'm pretty sure her husband agrees. Maybe he had brain damage? I think Lori Lansen needs a better editor.

BORING with a capital B!

I thought the synopsis of the book sounded funny and entertaining. Boy was I mistaken!!
I did not care for the English accent of the narrator for one thing, and maybe that is what made me not care for the book. Nope.....it was just boring!

Insipid!

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

A non-thinking female. The story was so improbable and contained ridiculous coincidences. Ending was unsatisfying.

What could Lori Lansens have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Less religious overtones. And a story that might have a stronger ring of truth to it. This was soooo farfetched.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Wife's Tale?

Probably the ending. We never find out where the husband is or why he left or why he withdraws vast amounts of money. I think even the author couldn't stand the story anymore so she just ended it.

the story was meandering and ultimately pointless.

there are so many loose ends at the end, there is literally no resolution to anything.

Cliffhanger ending...

I got a little bored occasionally in this book but wouldn't have given it only one star if it weren't for the rotten ending. After dragging us through all the emotions this woman goes through, we're left hanging. Why on earth couldn't the author have written SOME kind of closure into the story? I wish I hadn't wasted a credit on this book. I was extremely disappointed. Something positive is finally happening, the book is moving along and suddenly, it's over. It's like the last chapter got left out. So irritating.