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Apr
05
Read It Now: THE UNCOUPLING by Meg Wolitzer
2011 at 5am Posted by Rebecca Joines Schinsky
Partially reprinted from a preview post that first ran in October.
On sale today, April 5, 2011, from Riverhead.
Brush off those volumes of ancient Greek drama, folks. Meg Wolitzer is breathing new life into Lysistrata, and it is fan-freaking-tastic.
In case it’s been a while since you snuggled up with good ol’ Aristophanes, the quick and dirty is thus: the men of Greece have been at it for years, but there’s still no end in sight for the Peloponnesian War. Enter Lysistrata, who knows that the way to a man’s heart isn’t so much through his stomach as in his pants. So she gathers the ladies, and they go on strike. A sex strike, that is. The women won’t do the dirty until the men lay their weapons down. Heh.
The Uncoupling isn’t so much a rewriting as a new story inspired by Lysistrata. Stellar Plains, New Jersey is rocked when the new drama teacher at the local high school selects the ancient work for the school’s big production. One by one, the woman of the town—sex-crazed teenagers and middle-aged wives alike—turn away from the men in their lives and lose all interest in sex. And they have no idea why.
Some are distressed. Some are relieved. Some resign themselves to their newfound celibacy and mark the occasion by buying a Snuggie made for two (think giant yellow fleece with holes for two heads).
Wolitzer’s take on sex and relationships is sharp, witty, and thoroughly engrossing in that perfect one-sitting read kind of way, and her examination of the role sex plays in our lives is poignant without taking itself too seriously. I’ve been raving about The Uncoupling for almost six months, and I don’t intend to stop any time soon.
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Sounds amazing. Straight onto my TBR list. I read Wolitzer’s The Wife recently and totally loved it. I’m so glad I finally delved into that one. I know you should never judge a book by its cover, but when browsing in bookshops I had always been put off by the cartoonish lemon yellow cover. I’m so glad I got over that. The Uncoupling sounds like it is just as good…
This has been on my wish list for a long time! So glad you love it!
This sounds fascinating!
This sounds really good. Thanks for the summary of Lysistrata.
Let’s face it…it isn’t a bad idea to get one’s own way.
Sandy´s last [type] ..Monday Movie Meme – Ladies in Orange Jumpsuits
I’ve been reading a lot of positive reviews on this one! Glad you liked it – it’s now on my list
Short Story Slore´s last [type] ..Short Story Sunday
Meg Wolitzer has seemed to be everywhere lately — and as a fellow Meg, I feel obligated to check this one out! Plus, you know — it sounds great. Can’t wait to read it.
Meg´s last [type] ..Book review- ‘Moonlight In Odessa’ by Janet Skeslien Charles
[...] make the Indie Next list for April, and two book reviewers I really trust – Ron Charles and my pal Rebecca – raved about [...]
Thanks so much for reading my novel and writing about it. Truly, it’s most appreciated. Here’s to fiction!
Meg W.
[...] opinions about The Uncoupling (mostly good): The Book Lady’s Blog Boston Book Bums The Boston Globe — Laura Bennett The Literate Housewife Review The [...]