The Women (2008)

Well I finally finished this book. I enjoy reading about Frank Lloyd Wright and learning more about his buildings and architecture but I don't always enjoy reading about his womanizing. This book is about his women.

It isn't just about his wives. The Women starts with his last wife and then goes back to his 'Soul Mate' Mamah. This made the story confusing because things were repeated about the women in the three different parts.

This is the first book I have read by T.C. Boyle and I can't say that I will never read any of his work. I don't know. I always like to give authors more then one try.

I found myself loathing Frank Lloyd Wright at times while reading this book. I found him egotistical, self centered, and a little dim witted when it came to his money. He may have been a genius as an Architect but that doesn't mean that everyone owes you and should worship you.

I will look for other writings on Mr. Wright to get a different perspective on his life and times. ( )

This is a novel revolving around episodes from the lives of Frank Lloyd Wright and those close to him, told in reverse order. I appreciated it for the factual material contained within, but to be honest, the book didn't do a lot for me artistically.

The conceit is that the book was recalled by Wright's (fictional) apprentice, a Japanese man, and written by his American grandson-in-law. Footnotes are peppered throughout the book. Some supply factual material, and some are simply put there to remind us of the meta-fictional conceit. I didn't really see the purpose behind the footnotes.

For that matter, I really didn't see a purpose behind presenting Wright's life as fiction, since so much research was obviously done, and the resulting info showered over the readers' heads at every opportunity. Wright's life was interesting enough on its own without embellishment, what with its turbulent relationships, messy divorces, and a horrifying mass murder to rival the deeds of the Manson Family.

The only character I can say I really liked was the narrator, and his story occupies only a minute fraction of the book.

I'm giving it three stars, though, for the value of the information gleaned. ( )

An interesting and enjoyable novel about a talented narcissist and the poor women who fed his fantasies. ( )

Read this book in conjunction with a visit to Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Water, designed in the midst of some of the events described in this fictionalized account of FLW's amorous life with four diffent women. A solid background (or even interest) in architecture is not required to enjoy this book. I enjoyed the literary device of reverse chronology, which provides foreshadowing and tension regarding the tragic events of Mamah Borthwick's demise. Less entrancing was the use of a fictional Japanese apprentice narrator. I found his presence off-putting and his many added footnotes completely annoying. T. C. Boyle is a skillful writer, clearly capable of integrating his scholarship on FLW with out this device which detracts from the immediacy of a very interesting and arresting story. Some reviewers might have found FLW to be arrogant, personally and fina cially reprehensible. In this Boyle has been largely true to life. The internet has some videos of interviews conducted late FLW's life - his ego, either in truth or affected for publicity purposes, is fully evident. ( )

Did not care for the way the book was written - a little too confusing but story was fascinating.