The Uncoupling by Meg Wolitzer
The Uncoupling by Meg Wolitzer
Hardcover 271 pages
published April 2011 by Riverhead
ISBN-13: 9781594487880
Type: {Beach Read: fluffy, mindless, or easy to read.}
Rating: {Me Likey: Enjoyable! Particularly for fans of this genre.}
Why You’re Reading It:
- You’re looking for a story line you haven’t read before.
- You enjoy smart characters.
- You’re looking for a light (but not too light), easy read.
What I Thought:
The Uncoupling started out strong. It was a unique story with good character development. I was actually interested in seeing what happened with these people. The plot kept rolling, the pages kept turning, and the tension was building…
It is the story of a school in New Jersey. An anytown, if you will, full of people living their comfortable lives in a comforting way. Nothing new or exciting, but all things rolling along just as they should be. Marriages relatively happy. Students typical teenagers – nothing too out of the ordinary. The school having satisfied teachers who stay put year after year, and some even entertain their students via learning. But when Robby Lang, who shares the English teaching position at the high school with his wife, Dory, decides to stop being the director of the drama department, the school brings in a new teacher. Fran Heller, the new teacher, announces that the next play performed will be Lysistrata (the Aristophanes comedy in which women stop having sex with men in order to end a war) something happens to this humdrum community.
In interesting and clean prose, Wolitzer presents the story of a spell that is cast on the women of Stellar Plains, New Jersey – in particular at Eleanor Roosevelt (Elro) High School. One in which females want little or nothing to do with the men in their lives. Unfortunately the end was not satisfying for me, but luckily – it wrapped up quickly, so there was no dragging on of the bland tie-up. Overall it was an amusing story, which kept me reading. I finished it in about two days and appreciated the author’s overall intelligent way of writing, even when wishing for a more remarkable ending.
The end was not satisfying to me either. She seemed to wrap it up too fast and the whole play thing seemed almost comical.
I forgot to mention that — yes, the play thing jolted me out of the rhythm of the book. It was a bit too much.
I had a similar reaction to you. I loved this one until the end. I’m a big fan of Wolitzer in general, and I need to take time to read more of her backlist too.
I actually first saw this book on your blog! I haven’t read any of her others, but someone on Twitter just recommended The Ten Year Nap. Have you read it?
It’s always so upsetting when the end lets you down!
I am intrigued by this. I read one of Wolitzer’s book, one of her first ever from about 20 years ago and loved it and then I read one of her books from a couple of years ago and hated it. So needless to say I am a little gunshy!
That makes sense. Which book did you love? I’ve heard The Ten Year Nap is worth a read.