She is pregnant, he murders an old woman. He is incarcerated for 25 years, she is faithful and visits him every week. He gets out and they resume their marriage. ( )

I like the way O'Nan writes in a conversational tone. The Good Wife was a bit slow and boring, but I liked it none-the-less. I can't imagine loving and believing in someone so completely for so long without questioning guilt! ( )

I really liked this book. Living in the Southern Tier of New York State, I found it really interesting to read a work of fiction that mentions cities and landmarks all around me! It's evident that O'Nan is extremely familiar with this area. This book is told from the perspective of Patty Dickerson who finds herself navigating through life on her own when her husband is sent to prison. This book really draws you into Patty's world as she copes with single motherhood (although she has the support of her mother, whom she lives with), countless menial jobs, welfare, the many visits to the jail to visit her husband, numerous appeals, and the scorn of those in her community. Patty could be anyone (your neighbor, your friend). This book has no bells and whistles. It tells the story of one woman's ordinary life (a life many of us lead ourselves!) and that's the magic of it. This story is probably playing out for many people in the world right now. Highly recommended.
Review also posted on my blog: http://crazy-for-books.blogspot.com ( )

Brilliant use of telling. If I taught, I'd use him for my classes. ( )

Patty, who is pregnant with her first child, is woken up one night by a phone call: her husband Tommy is in jail for murder. The story continues as Tommy fights the charges against him. Typical for O’Nan, the story unwinds carefully and patiently, focusing on the small details of Patty’s experience throughout the ordeal. O’Nan clearly did his research. The best part of this book is the tender and hyper-realistic depiction of Patty and Tommy’s relationship over many years. On the downside, the plot bogs down at times and can seem monotonous. This may be intentional by O’Nan, but the reading experience suffers as a result. The Good Wife is not O’Nan’s best but a worthwhile read nonetheless.

This review also appears on my blog Literary License (short reviews, real opinions): litlicense.blogspot.com ( )