The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano

A Sliding Doors experiment with nine different paths and outcomes. Sociology professor Rose Napolitano marries photographer Luke; she has been clear with him from the beginning that she does not want children, and he says he doesn't either, but changes his mind and pressures her to try. From a conversation over prenatal vitamins, Rose's story branches in many ways: she does have a child with Luke, or she doesn't; they stay married, or get divorced; he cheats, she cheats; she finds love with Thomas; Rose's relationship with her parents strengthens; her mother dies of cancer. In each timeline, some of which weave and converge, Rose faces pressure and expectation from Luke, his family, and society at large to have a child, and either show more defies it or caves. In timelines where she does become pregnant, she experiences a range of feelings about it; she has one miscarriage and one abortion. A final short section shows Luke's marriage proposal to Rose and her acceptance, despite the voice of doubt inside.

See also: My Real Children by Jo Walton

Quotes

"It's not easy making a choice that no one else around you is making." (Aunt Frankie, 108)

I look up from my hands, reminded that I am the one who holds the power to give or take this desired thing away. The woman always does. The man can do nothing to change it. Which is why they always find other ways to punish us for this one thing we have that they don't, right? (120)

I realized that it was always going to end up like this, wasn't it? Luke could only get his way by me relinquishing mine. (146)

Maybe this is a regular part of marriage, of the wish for liberation, for the chance to start everything over again and make different choices this time around. (233)

How much does a marriage have to endure before two people give up? (256)

You always think a child is going to be all take, then suddenly they are the ones who are giving, without even realizing they're doing it. Just by being. (317) show less

Interesting concept for a book; nine possible lives resulting from one decision; the eternal "what might have been". It is a bit of a difficult read in that each of the possibilities feature the same cast of characters and the possible lives are intermingled throughout the book. But a good summary of how decisions are influenced by other's expectations. And how women are expected to subordinate their lives to those expectations.

I was immediately taken by the colorful cover for this book and curious about "the nine lives."

It's all about Rose and how she feels about bringing a baby into this world. She and her husband, Luke, agreed when they got married that kids were off the table. But in time, Luke changed his mind and desperately tried to convince his wife to get pregnant. Is it possible that a baby could make her happy? She has a professional career and would a child be a distraction?

At one point, Rose's mother tells her there's an order of things: you go to college, get a good job, save money, meet someone, fall in love, get married and have children. But it doesn't account for variables in life that can change everything.

The chapters have various show more timelines. I found it to be a distraction. However, this book addresses a hot topic and will most likely open up a lot of discussions. show less

Well. I just saved HOURS for any of you fellow readers! This book, honestly, is probably the absolute WORST book I have read in my life.

Let me count the ways:

Where does one even start?! OK. This entire 369 page novel is about 1 choice (does it even matter what the decision is about??) made by Rose, our protagonist.

Said decision is a life changer, so the reader gets to see what could happen in 8 scenarios. Then the 9th "Life" at the very end (a total of 16 pages!!!!) is how the story of Rose is told as "the true story".

SERIOUSLY?! That is 4%. FOUR PERCENT! The remaining 96% is what "could have been" had the author actually made up her mind about what to write about. To DEVELOP!! To do the damn work!!

So many "could have beens" resulted show more in my not really believing in or caring about Rose. She goes from indecisive, to being a wimp, to being a cheat, to having the baby, to having an abortion THEN comes Rose #9 - such a STRONG, no nonsense woman. .... just all over the map.

And the pièce de ré·sis·tance!!! Each and Every "Life" of Rose Napolitano is numbered. Each chapter throws at you (sometimes a multitude of) different pretend life numbers (scenarios)!!

I LITERALLY had to take notes to figure out which life was being talked about - which damn "could have been" storyline am I reading about now?!

That happens with Lives 1-8. Then it all wraps up nice and neatly with Rose's real story.

So if any of you are on a waiting list for this garbage of a novel, I suggest you cancel it! Too many books that actually TRY. show less

Oh, I really enjoyed this book. If you liked Kate Atkinson’s Life After Life you’ll enjoy this book. Rose has never wanted children but in this book nine scenarios are presented in which a woman who doesn’t want children married a man who wants children. It is a book to make readers think about what it means to be a mother.

This "Sliding Doors" type story - what if I'd done this instead of that? - was told perfectly by Kate Atkinson in her novel Life After Life, and every effort I've read after that one is a fail. This one centers around whether or not the lead character has a child, after telling her husband she'd never make that choice - and then nine possibilities after that that involve adultery, divorce, stepmothering, abortion, and giving birth. Why nine different lives? I don't know, maybe some parallel with cats, but I just didn't care enough to keep track of each life.

I like books about different lives and choices but this was just too confusing and I could not keep the lives organized.