Audio Book Review: The Paris Wife

'The Paris Wife'
Author: Paula McLain


Format: Audio CD
Published: Random House Audio; Feb. 2011
Narrator: Carrington MacDuffie
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: C
Source: Personal copy


Synopsis: History is sadly neglectful of the supporting players in the lives of great artists. Fortunately, fiction provides ample opportunity to bring these often fascinating personalities out into the limelight. Now Paula McLain brings Hadley Richardson Hemingway out from the formidable shadow cast by her famous husband. Though doomed, the Hemingway marriage had its giddy high points, including a whirlwind courtship and a few fast and furious years of the expatriate lifestyle in 1920s Paris. Hadley and Ernest traveled in heady company during this gin-soaked and jazz-infused time, and readers are treated to intimate glimpses of many of the literary giants of the era, including Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, James Joyce, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. But the real star of the story is Hadley, as this time around, Ernest is firmly relegated to the background as he almost never was during their years together. Though eventually a woman scorned, Hadley is able to acknowledge without rancor or bitterness that "Hem had helped me to see what I really was and what I could do." Much more than a woman-behind-the-man homage, this beautifully crafted tale is an unsentimental tribute to a woman who acted with grace and strength as her marriage crumbled. 


My Take: This may be controversial but Ernest Hemingway is not one of my favorite authors. I know a lot of people are big fans. For me, his books are too testosterone filled. I've read a few and struggled through them. However, when I saw this book being reviewed a dozen different times, and very positively, it made me sit up. It wasn't from Hemingway's point of view after all. It was from the wife's. Maybe that would make me think different of Ernest, or not putting so much pressure on the book, maybe I would simply really enjoy it.


Going into it, I was thrilled to see that it was read by one of my favorite narrators: Carrington MacDuffie. Also going into it, I knew how it would end. I don't normally know how fiction books will end but I know enough about Ernest Hemingway to know that he marries more than once and this is a novel from the prospective of his first wife. So well, it isn't going to end well for these two lovebird is it? They can't change history. 


Hadley is Hemingway's first wife. She was a little older than him and they seemed very much in love when they got married. He was not a successful writer at the time. In fact, for most of their marriage they were quite poor. Having met in the US, Hemingway soon decided that Paris was the place to be for aspiring writers so they saved up and moved. For much of the initial part of the book it did seem as though they were very much in love and I enjoyed the narrative. Hadley's perspective on Hemingway was interesting. They met many famous people and their life was fascinating, although hardly envious. Together, they had one son named John, whom they called Bumby.

This paragraph may contain spoilers so read at your own risk! I had a hard time with the second half of the book, or the dissolution of the marriage. I knew it was coming and this part just seemed incredibly drawn out for me. It was also very painful to read about. If this is true then the way Hemingway treated Hadley and the set up he wanted was awful and in no way loving. He messed with her head and it turned my stomach to listen to it. I didn't want to keep picking up the audio but I did, hoping she would fight back. I felt like it was also too drawn out. Rip the band aid off! We, the reader, know where this is going. I can't take it any more. Honestly, it hurt the narrative for me. It should have been tighter. Had I been reading and not listening, maybe my experience would have been different but since I wasn't, there you have it. What did you think of the book?

Cover Lust: I do love this cover. It's totally evocative of a Parisian coffee house to me!