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The Wife

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The Wife

By: Meg Wolitzer
Narrated by: Dawn Harvey
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About this listen

Random House presents the audiobook edition of The Wife by Meg Wolitzer, read by Dawn Harvey.

A husband. A wife. A secret. Behind any great man, there’s always a greater woman.

Joe and Joan Castleman are on an aeroplane, 35,000 feet above the ocean. Joe is thinking about the prestigious literary prize he is about to receive and Joan is plotting how to leave him. For too long Joan has played the role of supportive wife, turning a blind eye to his misdemeanours, subjugating her own talents and quietly being the keystone of his success.

The Wife is an acerbic and astonishing take on a marriage from its public face to the private world behind closed doors. Wolitzer has masterfully created an expose of lives lived in partnership and the truth that behind the compromises, dedication and promise inherent in marriage there so often lies a secret...

©2015 Meg Wolitzer (P)2018 Random House Audiobooks Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Women's Fiction Marriage

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Critic reviews

Hilarious and touching (Erica Wagner)
It’s funny, and it’s brilliant, and I press it on everyone I know (Rachel Cooke)
A triumph of tone and observation, The Wife is a blithe, brilliant take on sexual politics (Lorrie Moore)
With a great lightness of touch, Wolitzer's novel satirises American literary circles of the Seventies and Eighties and traces the generation of wives who poured their own creative energies into "stoking the fires" of their husbands' reputations (Emma Hagestadt)
All stars
Most relevant  
The writer had obviously not made any proper research about Finland and Finnish people. Also the narrators pronounciation was lousy. Finns don’t have russian accent.

Otherwise a three star book.

Writers should do they research properly

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However good the film, and I still look forward to seeing it, it cannot convey the vivid inner voice of Joan, wonderfully narrated here by Dawn Harvey

extraordinary writing

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Excellent novel and narration. As a previous reviewer says, should be required reading for youngsters on their way to making big life choices.

A timeless story

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What a wonderful book! Very well read, and the topic sadly all too timeless- Women disappearing behind (successful) men, struggling to make a name for herself. Makes on angry in a healthy way, and sympathize with the protagonist. Never mean, at times tender, and very worthwhile.

Behind every successful man is an exhausted woman

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This is a very moving account told through the eyes of a woman / wife of a certain time.

Well written.

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The Wife is an excellent novel. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the audiobook. Dawn M Harvey gives a wonderful performance. Highly recommend.

Brilliant Audiobook

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This stellar book should be required reading for newly-weds. Tight, elegant prose with an only too credible plot. Hats off to Meg Wolitzer!

Superb

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superb book. well worth the read absolutely fantastic. first meg wolitzer book will read more

the wife

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The actual writing itself was good, but the story? Very weak. The 'secret' was pretty obvious from the get go. Awful, petty characters - everyone of them. These characters were authors, yet their behaviour? You'd think they were rock stars. Complete waste of time.

Really Didn't Like This

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