Say When is a story about a marriage breaking up, and the efforts made to repair it. Elizabeth Berg tells it from the husband, Griffin’s, perspective, which was something a little different that I enjoyed.
Griffin and Ellen met in college and were married right after college. They had Zoe a few years later and Ellen became a stay at home mom focused on raising their daughter. Griffin is successful in the workplace and comes across as a very likable guy. At the beginning of the book he seems to realize that things aren’t right between he and Ellen, and he even seems to realize that Ellen is paying extra attention to another man. Yet when Ellen tells him that she is having an affair and wants a divorce (and for him to move out) he completely ignores a lot of that information. He refuses to move out and sets about living as a “roommate” with Ellen to try to make things as normal as possible for Zoe.
This book explores the emotions that Griffin goes through as he tries to take a more active parenting role, explore the dating role again, and as he tries in small ways to win his wife back. I found myself rooting for him through most of the book. I thought that this was an easy, pleasant read and I would recommend it.
16/11/2009 at 11:23 pm Permalink
This sounds good! I’ve read a couple of her other books and both were really good and emotional.
22/11/2009 at 1:15 am Permalink
I’m completely unfamiliar with this writer but will have to add a book to my mental reading list. Good job posting more this week. I always enjoy reading what you have to write about.