Wicked Women

by Fay Weldon

With Wicked Women , Fay Weldon has created an incisive collection of stories, turning her sharp eye on love, men, therapy, and the myriad of self-deceptions we depend on. Here we meet nuclear scientist Defoe Desmond, a post-Cold War irrelevancy, who is ineptly drawn to a youthful, wily, husband-stealing New Age journalist; three sisters named Edwina, Thomasina, and Davida, who are appalled when their mother finally gives their father a male heir--two years after his death; and Paula, who keeps so still waiting to hear evidence of her husband's adultery that she does not notice she's giving birth. Weldon's world is peopled with therapists who blithely destroy marriages and family ties, husbands and lovers whose greatest cruelty is their detachment, and clever women navigating the perils and pitfalls of domesticity. Her wicked humor and seasoned wisdom are as evident here as always--and tempered by great compassion for the foibles of the human heart.

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories, Feminism, Contemporary, British Literature

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Fay Weldon CBE was an English author, essayist and playwright, whose work has been associated with feminism. In her fiction, Weldon typically portrayed contemporary women who find themselves trapped in oppressive situations caused by the patriarchal structure of British society.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fay_Weldon

Reviews

[Taylor Hocking · Rating 3 out of 5]

Weldon offers such a raw insight into marriage, parenthood and the emotional struggles of life, and it was perhaps this older, more life-experienced focus that made me feel at times lost within her writing. Maybe as a young person I wasn’t able to entirely understand her interpretations of these complex experiences as I am yet to develop emotionally, but I must say that some of her stories were stronger than others. I would say the only thing that disrupted the development of her ideas and my enjoyment of this book was inconsistency. Some stories were magnificent and highly illuminating, others either too confusing or just a bit dull. Either way, Weldon no doubt is highly skilled in both her writing and views on the complexities of human nature and relationships.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, now it all makes sense. I first read Fay Weldon when I was a teenager and had but a fleeting sense of what she was trying to convey with her wicked, funny and feminist short stories. Now, reading her at a time when the characters are about my age, everything is funnier, and yes, wickeder. I certainly don't share her overall assessment of the irreparable relationship between men and women - but her understanding of power dynamics and the nature of sexual needs is extraordinary. She also has an incisive and wonderful way of writing about "home" and what it (differently) means to men and women - particularly those homes we inherit and those we burn down (literally).

[Shawn]

I read a story in this, to knock it off my "to read" list, and am porting over another review from an anthology as the story also appears here. Weldon strikes me as an interesting writer of dark lit, or at least the stories I was directed to (as a reader of horror and the macabre) fall into that area (it may not be true of her fuller output) - writing in the 70s (at least the stories I read), fiercely feminist in a second-wave mode (although someone on Goodreads refers to her as an "anti-feminist feminist" which without knowing details just implies to me that she has the good sense to reject extremes and absolutes), and surprisingly able to note and trenchantly convey passive-aggression and what are no-called "micro-aggressions" (a term I'm not comfortable with as its moved beyond it initial definition into a broader, generalized pop-culture one, but still valid when used correctly). Weldon has a nicely light and breezy style, conversational and informal. Not "horror" stories in the traditional sense, although they do convey disturbing interpersonal relationships and petty cruelty.

"A Good Sound Marriage" - which I read in The Mammoth Book of 20th Century Ghost Stories (given its inclusion in that book, it should come as not surprise that this is not a horror story but instead a lit story in which the "ghost" is a device). Here, a pregnant newlywed suffers through her worries and upset at her husband's absence, only to be visited by the ghost of her wise Grandmother who gives her some life-lived tips about what it means to be a woman, a wife and a mother in this world. A solid lit piece, well-written, if a bit "speechy."

"Through A Dustbin, Darkly" - a new wife is informed by her (thoughtless, juvenile) artist husband's circle of shallow friends of the details surrounding the demise of his previous wife, which they all treat as her own fault and something of a joke. But as the new wife settles in to her new home, the previous wife's unhappiness still seems to linger about the place and, heavily pregnant, the new wife begins to realize just how shallow her husband is, and how she's vaguely being warned. Nice.

[Lucynell · Rating 4 out of 5]

15 short stories and a novella in this collection from England's premier part-time anti-feminist feminist, full-time off-the-wall witch. Two are essential, End of the Line and In the Great War, most are good, a few average and one simply unreadable. A cast of deliciously self-centered (consequently, ignorant), naive, life-hardened, manipulative, cynical characters negotiate lives that are one step from disaster or salvation. Still, she seems quieter here, sober, not exactly tired but with a patience that sometimes works in her favor, ours too, as one is permitted to conveniently forget whose work one is reading, until the one sentence, sharp, bold and often simply cruel reminds one. There's a ghost or two present as well, always a delight. She even comments post Cold War politics, rather brilliantly (Wasted Lives) Great stuff.

[Morgen · Rating 2 out of 5]

A collection of short stories by an author whose wit I have appreciated in the past. Not so much this time- maybe the stories are dated, but the characters were such terrible people. the descriptions so unkind, the situations often absurd; if it were a novel I would have given up, but I read each, sadly. I think of wicked as kind of wittily bad- these people were just horrible.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Fay Weldon's writing for a period in the 80s so I decided to check out this newer collection. It reminded me of why I liked reading her work, and why I stopped.

[Aňa · Rating 3 out of 5]

For the life of me I cannot remember whose recommendation got this book on my to-read pile. And I would really like to know, because this was what you might call a “challenging read”. On balance, it wasn’t a pleasurable experience, I would describe neither Ms Weldon’s style of humour nor her brand of feminism as my cup of tea. But I'm very glad I read it, and even more glad that I looked up the four or so additional stories mentioned on Wikipedia that were not included in my edition of the collection, as those might have been my favourite.

Copy+paste from the notes on my phone:
• The satire is laid on a bit thick IMO…it’s very 1990s, especially in Tale of Timothy Bagshott.
• Skewed power dynamics in relationships, unworthy men holding all the power while claiming to be in love (and therefore under the woman’s power). The ways in which the women set themselves free. The ways in which men tie women down, imprison them: pregnancies, children, micro-aggressions and actual abuse, financial dependency and ruination. The men as seen by FW are, above all, weak, unable to stand up to the demands of the world (unable to achieve or maintain success, recognition or their mothers’ love). The only way they can feel powerful is by standing on the necks of the women in their lives (usually much younger, full of naive admiration, but not actually stupid or weak).
• Many (too many) of the ex-wives are called Audrey. What’s with that?

Highlights:
Wasted Lives — what is this City in and unnamed post-communist country? everything points to Prague until they start mentioning Muslims in “the southern province”
Leda and the Swan — an exercise in sublimation becomes a lifeline for a woman married to a wicked man (i.e. a prize prick)
Web Central — FW’s venture into sci-fi is...disgustingly weird?
All the stories in the final section (Going to the Therapist), especially Heat Haze, were the collection’s highlight for me.

[Johan D'Haenen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laat je niet misleiden door de titel van dit werk... in plaats van "Wicked Women" ware het beter "Wicked People" geweest. Want Fay Weldon laat er geen twijfel over bestaan, mensen zijn verdomde egoïsten die elkaar het leven zuur maken en alles in het werk stellen om hun eigen verlangens te realiseren en anderen te bestraffen telkens als dat om een of andere reden niet lukt.
OK, misschien gaat Fay Weldon wel een beetje ver in haar sarcasme en cynisme, maar wie eerlijk is zal ruiterlijk moeten toegeven dat ze ergens wel gelijk heeft.

[Samantha Anderson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read the first story in the collection, "End of the Line". The author really wanted to make the point that there were lots of different meanings of the phrase, and used it way too many times throughout the story.

The story itself was a out a selection of selfish and self-centred people, rather than "wicked women".

Very disappointing. I didn't bother with any of the other stories in the collection.

[Filip Ilievski · Rating 2 out of 5]

A mediocre book.
I was intrigued by the initial stories, but it becomes very repetitive and somewhat boring after the first two chapters or so. If the book would only contain the chapters 'wicked women' and 'wicked men', I'd be much happier with it.

[Marie (UK) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read the Cloning of Joanna May which was a bright and insightful piece of story telling. This felt more like work, although i did enjoy some of the short stories in the collection others just left me cold.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Range of short stories focusing on life in 1970s-1990s. Well written. Found the first half more enjoyable than the second. Maybe because that contained the stories focusing specifically on wicked women. Some of the therapist references are a little dated now

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fay Weldon at her wicked, witty, sharp and funny best; she rarely if ever disappoints. Some were more to my taste than others, and 'Santa Claus's New Clothes' hit the top of the pile for me. Well-written, of course, deep and dark. Not much more to say, really; give these short stories a go.

[chelsea! · Rating 1 out of 5]

Stories about miserable people being miserable. Extremely well-written, though.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

End of the Line and Leda and the Swan are wonderful stories. All is written beautifully, but some aren't so relevant.

[Barbie Queenie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5. The first half was great (especially Leda and the Swan). The rest was too repetitive. It was like reading the same story over and over again...

[Sally Hickman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good stories some not so good. Dont think short stories are for me, I like to get to know characters and other features.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

As usual with Weldon, there is something rather uncomfortable about each of these tales that makes their truth stick. What is surprising is that in certain respects some of them seem dated - probably because of attention to detail that turns out to be of its time: mention of shoulder pads and a recession that now seems as nothing, for example.

Would like to go back to these one day if I happened across another copy.

[Ricardo Lopes Moura · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's a short stories compilation and the first is clearly the most enjoyable and is true to the title. The rest is just a bitchy and desilusioned woman writing about married men who take on lovers while their wives suffer endlessly and eventually leave. Boring and stupid. But do read the first story.

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you didn't suffer from depression before you read this book, you certainly will by the book's end. Very dark short stories about vicious, vicious people. Many of the stories do not have endings -- they just end. Best story -- an idiot of a man drops his wife for his therapist and the family (sans wife) tries to have a "civilized" Christmas dinner.

[Daniel Mcbrearty · Rating 4 out of 5]

damn. I lost my copy, I want to read it again. I remember it as being sharp, funny, and refreshing.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very pleasantly surprised by the stories in this book. Well-written and enjoyable to read.

[Siel Ju · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite story was "Wasted Lives."

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Odd. Short stories about women's behaviour.

[Kari · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't really my kind of book. A collection of short stories, most of which were just "ok". I'm not one to give up on a book, so I finished it grudgingly.

[Aisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

i just love Fay Weldon's sense of humor...