Newman
Phyllis M.
Was her marriage over?
Jan Talbot suddenly discovers she’s a discarded wife. Abandoned in the home she’s built over two decades with one cat, two dogs, and a teen-aged daughter, Jan is blindsided by the absence of her husband, Jim, and by the existence of another woman. More offended by Jim’s stupidity than his infidelity, she is furious that he didn’t think her mind in possession of sufficient bandwidth to grasp the obvious. How could he humiliate her like this?
Feeling like an idiot for missing the obvious signs of marital disintegration, Jan seeks solace in her friends. Together they uncover the identity of her husband’s lover, which sends Jan on a reckless escapade searching for answers. Her emotions hurtle from shock and disbelief to anger as she goes on the attack, making her husband feel the full power of her wrath. Jan comes to terms with her past by taking the initiative to recover her balance and embrace change.
Both Jan and Jim reflect upon their marriage to determine what each really wants. Her desires evolve, as do Jim’s. Their feelings for and about one another veer in opposite directions, cross paths, and finally come to rest.
Professor Talbot's Wife
Readers are saying...
I really enjoyed the quality of writing in this novel, and the concept was quite interesting. The book flips between the two main characters so you see the perspective of each. The ending was VERY satisfying and elicited a verbal "Ha! Take That!" response from me (in the middle of the night, no less). No spoiler here, you'll have to read it to find out why. You won't regret buying this one.
With a mix of humor, poignance and mingled emotions, Newman portrays the end of a previously stable marriage between a big-headed academic and an under-rated librarian. As feelings sway from certainty to ambiguity on both sides, readers follow the course many divorces take, not a straight one. The presence of “the other woman” and the Talbots’ daughter throw elements of drama into the mix. If you like the kind of women willing to set things ablaze, this book is for you.
Her husband weaseled out of their marriage without a second thought. This book chronicles Jan's journey from ignorance to triumphant Good Riddance! Poignant and meaty, this story feels so real you could almost touch it.