The Wife's Tale: A Novel

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 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.

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.

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...

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

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

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.

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

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!

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.

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