The Widower’s Tale
Julia Glass
September 2010
407 pages
Published by Pantheon
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This is an ARC that I received at BEA. It’s even a signed ARC. Do you want it? ‘Cause I’m willing to share. Just holler in the comments, and I’ll choose one of the hollerers later this week. FTC employees not eligible, because I’m sure that would be a major conflict of interest. Or something.
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I loved Three Junes, and the sort of sequel that followed that I’ve forgotten the name of. I still haven’t read I See You Everywhere, but it is on the shelf. And I enjoyed this book, even if it did tend to ramble a bit, and suffer from an excess of characters. It’s like once an author wins some awards, no one wants to cut any of their words. Which is unfortunate, because I hate thinking “let’s get on with the story” while I’m reading.
The Widower’s Tale focuses on Percy Darling, a retired librarian who lives in an old house in a quiet New England village. Percy’s routine life is shaken up a bit when his daughter Clover talks him into renting the big old barn on the property to the local preschool, Elves and Faeries. From there, the story expands to include Percy’s other daughter, a well-respected oncologist, his grandson Robert, a college student who is getting involved with a radical environmental group, one of the teachers, Ira, and his partner, a single mother and her young son, Clover’s ex and his family, Celestino, an illegal immigrant who works for the town gardener, Celestino’s long-lost love, Percy’s uptight neighbor, and various other family and friends. You see the problem? And that sentence is hard to decipher…I know the commas are going to be confusing and lead to some misunderstood relationships. Oh well. If there had been fewer characters I wouldn’t be having this problem!
The thing is, most all of the characters have intriguing stories. But there were too many of them. Celestino’s long-lost love and Clover’s ex and children could’ve easily been excised from the story. I wouldn’t have missed them. Same goes for the oncologist’s husband…he was boring. Percy, however, was delightful, with his old-fashioned manner of speaking and his wry sense of humor. And I loved Robert, in all of his confusion.
Also, Glass writes beautifully, so it’s not too much of a hardship to read about all the inconsequential characters. Which why I still enjoyed the book, even if I do wish it had been a little tighter.
I have heard others say that this book suffers from having too many characters as well. It sounds like it was a good book, but some aspects needed to be tightened up. I have not read anything by this author, and I am not exactly sure if this is the place I want to start. Thanks for sharing your honest thoughts on this one with us.
zibilee´s last [type] ..The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay — 528 pgs
Hmmm. I am very interested in this book. I heard Julia Glass speak about the character and her inspiration for this book at the National Book Festival. After than, I added it to my wishlist!
Julie P.´s last [type] ..Book Club Exchange- Karen White
I’d LOVE to read this, if you consider a Londoner eligible. I read the whole world over and really liked her style, though I was a little put off by the surfeit of characters in that and it seems from your review she hasn’t changed!
Lyndsey´s last [type] ..Courtyard Hounds- Union Chapel 2nd November 2010
Ooooh me me me me me!!! *jumps up and down*
Cass´s last [type] ..Quick Hit- The Internet Is Made of Cats- After All
I read Three Junes and loved it.
amandarwest at gmaildotcom
Count me as a holler out – I would enjoy reading this book. I enjoyed the review!
Lori L (she treads softly)´s last [type] ..Mindscan
I loved The Three Junes, and listened to the sort-of sequel The Whole World Over – it was a great audio! No need to enter me for this one… the tbr pile is overwhelming at the moment.
JoAnn´s last [type] ..A Quick Update on Bleak House
Someone (not me) should do a study to see if award winning authors have longer books once they win an award.
Jenners´s last [type] ..Review- At Home- A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson
I was dying to read a few more reviews for this one –yours was great, and fair. I’ve read all of this author’s previous books except-Three Junes, and was not thrilled with them. (I love her cover art). I will be reading this one soon, so I have my fingers crossed. Thanks for your feedback
Bibliophile By the Sea´s last [type] ..139 – Strangers at the Feast Jennifer Vanderbes
I appreciate your balanced review. I can understand why you found the various characters and their stories a bit overwhelming. I had trouble even making it through that paragraph, where you described the characters, although it was clearly written. Just too much information to absorb in one sitting.
Stephanie´s last [type] ..Bad Mother
I have to say I’m with Jenners on this – it would be very interesting to find out how much less award-winning authors are edited…
Trisha´s last [type] ..Life and Death
Um, that’s a lot of characters! Especially if they each get to tell a story. I still haven’t read anything by Julia Glass, but I have The Whole World Over somewhere on my shelves.
Erin´s last [type] ..Books for Your Ears- Fiction Favorites
Not hollering, since I’ve already read the book, but I did want to say it sounds like our feelings were similar. I thought all the stories were interesting, but it was too much of a good thing. And I agree with you on Percy’s wonderful voice.
I haven’t read any by this author, but I guess I do not mind a bit of rambling. I would like to have this, if you don’t mind sending it to me.
Veens´s last [type] ..Butterfly Swords by Jeannie Lin
Oh I have a copy of this one too — Note to self: get to this soon.
Beth F´s last [type] ..Todays Read- Diamond Ruby by Joseph Wallace