Book Review: The Women
I didn’t love The Women, by T.C. Boyle.
Proof: It’s taken me about 3 months to finish it. I may or may not have snapped at my mom for saying “You’re still reading that?” the other day. Yes, yes I am!! Sorry, Mom.
But I didn’t hate it either.
It’s the second book I’ve read about Frank Lloyd Wright this year and I basically feel like I know him personally. The concept of this book is great. It’s the life of Wright told through his relationship with four different women. And it’s also narrated by a fictional apprentice of Wright’s, which gives a really interesting complexity to the novel. It wasn’t so much the concept or the plot or even the characters that I didn’t love, but more the style of the writing.
I’ve come to realize that what makes or breaks a novel for me, is the author’s ability to make me feel. I want to love the characters and become entangled in their lives and this book didn’t get deep enough into the characters to make me feel that way. If you’re looking for a good book about FLW, might I suggest this one?
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What are you reading right now?
Do you know anything about Frank Lloyd Wright?
What makes or breaks a good book for you?
Also, Happy Happy Birthday to my brother today!
Lauren Loves Good Food 
It’s interesting that you brought up FLW. I just got done watching Ken Burns’ documentary on him for the 4th or 5th time (I think I really need to buy that one instead of getting it from the library every other month, LOL). On my next trip to Chicagoland to see my family, I want to spend some time in Oak Park seeing and shooting FLW works. I’ve got a side trip to Milwaukee planned, too. I might have to see about stopping in Racine to see the Johnson Wax building, when I do that.
Wright is certainly a fascinating individual, even beyond his architectural prowess. Unfortunately, the fascinating aspects of his personal life seem akin to watching a car wreck. I would suspect that reading about the relationships with the four major women in his life had to entail some of that, especially with regards to his abandonment of Kitty and his children and the chaos that was his relationship with Miriam Noel.
I’ll have to see about picking up the two books you referenced here.
The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides…a perfect read for anyone who has recently graduated from college and/or majored in English!
Hey, that’s me 🙂 I’ll add it to my list.
I just finished this book called “She’s Got Issues” which was SO good!!!! It’s all about the issues that women face (insecurity, comparison, judgement, etc.) and I loved it! I’d totally recommend it!
Was it non-fiction?