The Good Wife

This is the story of a politician's wife in the UK, and how she has to be a 'good wife' at every stage. Took a while to get going, but by the last third I was enjoying it more. Quite thought-provoking in places, and (assuming it's accurately researched, which I think it probably is) gives a good insight into the home lives of politicians.

Three and a half stars, really.

Blurb:
After nineteen years of being the perfect wife to an ambitious politician, Fanny Savage is restless. Tired of merely keeping quiet and looking good at public engagements, she remembers the career she abandoned and the life she left behind as a successful partner in her father’s Italian wine business. She has devoted two decades to being the Good Wife. Was it worth it after all? Could it be time for a trip back to Italy—to the pleasures of sun, wine, and food? Could it be time for . . . a change?

This is the first book by this author that I have read. I enjoyed it very much. The copy I read was the UK version and called simply, The Good Wife, which I think is a much better title than The Good Wife Strikes Back.
The story is of show more Fanny and how, after a series of events, finds that she doesn't really know herself. After years of being wrapped up in her husband’s politic life, being a mother, daughter and carer for her alcoholic sister-in-law, she realises that she lost along the way the things she wants to do.
Fanny’s journey is very realistic and portrayed well. I felt perhaps the ending wasn’t as clear cut as I would have liked. I felt she could have asserted herself more clearly and make define changes so that her husband would be less selfish, but on the whole, this is a very good story. show less

This book wasn't what I was expecting, based on the title. I assumed it would be chick-lit, something along the lines of, "woman with jerk for a husband leaves him, and finds delightfully evil ways of getting revenge against him." It wasn't like that at all; instead, it was more sedate and thoughtful. The wife of a British politician starts to wonder if she's wants to continue making the sorts of sacrifices that she's been making for the past 20 years - putting her own goals and dreams on hold so she could support her husband in his political career. He's not really a jerk (although he has his moments). He does have a sister, though, who is a bit of a nightmare. In any case, the wife (whose name escapes me at the moment) starts show more evaluating her life, and starts thinking that maybe it's time to make some changes, and put herself first for a change. I did enjoy the book, although I never really felt all that strongly for any of the characters. I'm not sure I liked the main character enough to really *care* that her life wasn't what she'd hoped it would be. So, not a bad read, but not really interesting enough that I'd strongly recommend it. show less

The title of the book implies that this is going to be a humorous book that fills you with laughter and love for the wife. Not so. Not so at all. I found nothing humorous in this book. I felt like there was soo much hum-drumming and boredom.

The potential is there, but I feel like I was sitting around waiting for no reason.

A book about a women who finds she is unsure if she is happily married to Will, her politician husband. She flashes back to different parts of her marriage and decides to stay a few months in Italy with her aunt.

An enjoyable light read. something to lose yourself in for a short while.

Ok story, but nothing really happens, and no ending as such