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His Wife and Daughters
It’s 1988 and Trina Brath and her teenage daughters, Jill and Phoebe, lead happy and privileged lives as the wife and daughters of successful California Congressman Dan Brath. But that all changes when Dan, 52, is suspected of having an affair with Lesley Chisholm, a 19-year-old Washington DC intern who has gone missing. Soon Dan Brath is being accused in the harsh media spotlight of not only sleeping with Lesley Chisholm, but responsible for her disappearance. Despite Trina’s standing by her husband—yet keeping the secret that he has cheated on her many times before—the incessant media scrutiny puts a strain on the family, and their lives to go into a tailspin. Eight months later, when Lesley mysteriously returns home safe and sound, Dan Brath’s career is over, and his family is in tatters.
Fast forward to today and the scandal that rocked the Brath family continues to take its toll. Jill has food issues and can’t trust men, Phoebe leads a self-destructive life and Trina continues to blame Lesley Chisholm for everything. And now Lesley is breaking her silence with a tell-all memoir, which is sure to make Dan Brath’s wife and daughters relive the trauma all over again. Will Jill, Trina and Phoebe be able to cope, heal their wounds and move on with their lives? Told from the viewpoints of the three women, His Wife and Daughters is a moving story of how one family attempts to survive the ultimate betrayal.
Fast forward to today and the scandal that rocked the Brath family continues to take its toll. Jill has food issues and can’t trust men, Phoebe leads a self-destructive life and Trina continues to blame Lesley Chisholm for everything. And now Lesley is breaking her silence with a tell-all memoir, which is sure to make Dan Brath’s wife and daughters relive the trauma all over again. Will Jill, Trina and Phoebe be able to cope, heal their wounds and move on with their lives? Told from the viewpoints of the three women, His Wife and Daughters is a moving story of how one family attempts to survive the ultimate betrayal.
- GenresFiction
246 pages, ebook
First published December 1, 2011
3 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 10, 2013
From the Ashes of Scandal
In our world, a political sex scandal seems as frequent as a monthly full moon. How many times have we seen the good wife standing poker straight and silent next to her husband as he makes a public mea culpa?
Blurb It
Tokunaga's book is a behind-the-headlines look at the emotional disintegration of those affected most deeply by a public figure's indiscretions -- his wife and children as well as the weak-willed politician himself who just can't keep it zipped.
In 1988, California Congressman Dan Brath's wife Trina and her teenage daughters, Jill and Phoebe, lead a Norman Rockwell life of affluence and public service. Then a beautiful young Congressional intern disappears.
Brath, suspected of having an affair with the young woman, is questioned. Although he is never arrested, the media has a field day with him. Trina stands by her man even though she knows he has cheated countless times before. Convicted by the court of public opinion, Brath's career is over. Even when the intern surfaces again, the damage has been done.
Brath and Trina -- and daughters Lesley and Phoebe -- cannot return to the blissful life of privilege they once took for granted. Even worse, the happiness and emotional security they once shared have been shattered into so many pieces, that, like Humpty Dumpty, cannot be put together again.
The next 2 decades find the disparate members of the family struggling against their demons. Only when they face the past -- and each other -- can they heal and embrace what the future may hold.
Bottom Line
I've never been disappointed when reading a novel by Wendy Nelson Tokunaga, and His Wife and Daughters is no exception. I give this a definite 2 thumbs up.
In our world, a political sex scandal seems as frequent as a monthly full moon. How many times have we seen the good wife standing poker straight and silent next to her husband as he makes a public mea culpa?
Blurb It
Tokunaga's book is a behind-the-headlines look at the emotional disintegration of those affected most deeply by a public figure's indiscretions -- his wife and children as well as the weak-willed politician himself who just can't keep it zipped.
In 1988, California Congressman Dan Brath's wife Trina and her teenage daughters, Jill and Phoebe, lead a Norman Rockwell life of affluence and public service. Then a beautiful young Congressional intern disappears.
Brath, suspected of having an affair with the young woman, is questioned. Although he is never arrested, the media has a field day with him. Trina stands by her man even though she knows he has cheated countless times before. Convicted by the court of public opinion, Brath's career is over. Even when the intern surfaces again, the damage has been done.
Brath and Trina -- and daughters Lesley and Phoebe -- cannot return to the blissful life of privilege they once took for granted. Even worse, the happiness and emotional security they once shared have been shattered into so many pieces, that, like Humpty Dumpty, cannot be put together again.
The next 2 decades find the disparate members of the family struggling against their demons. Only when they face the past -- and each other -- can they heal and embrace what the future may hold.
Bottom Line
I've never been disappointed when reading a novel by Wendy Nelson Tokunaga, and His Wife and Daughters is no exception. I give this a definite 2 thumbs up.
October 19, 2012
This story is amazing. The most incredible aspect is the characters. Three women who have been trashed by their husband/father's self-indulgent behavior have to come to grips with it, and each does in her own way. I found the wife's response irritating (but very real) and the two daughters went totally separate ways in how they dealt with the situation. This is a book for readers who love to look inside other's lives and wonder how they tick. It requires the reader to face facts; it's not for readers who want everyone and everything to "play nice."
If Billy Joel is right, and "honesty is such a lonely word" then this is a lonely story--because it comes across as so honest and truthful you'll find yourself yelling at the characters, "WTF?" But we know these women, we've seen these women on TV-news and in our everyday lives. And now Wendy Tokunaga has lovingly crafted a story of these women and how they cope with crushing disrespect from the man they all love.
If Billy Joel is right, and "honesty is such a lonely word" then this is a lonely story--because it comes across as so honest and truthful you'll find yourself yelling at the characters, "WTF?" But we know these women, we've seen these women on TV-news and in our everyday lives. And now Wendy Tokunaga has lovingly crafted a story of these women and how they cope with crushing disrespect from the man they all love.
October 9, 2012
While I enjoyed some things about this book (the premise, the attempt at presenting three different point of views), it felt like the listing of events in a synopsis at some points. I'm not sure the change in point of view always worked because there wasn't enough distinction between the voices, but I commend the author for the attempt. The plot line was interesting enough to keep me coming back to find out what would happen next, but I was slightly disappointed in the way the author ended the book. I don't want to give out any spoilers but it seemed the ending needed to be slowed down and the climax given its proper due. As an author, I learned some things from reading this book and for that I am grateful. I could almost give it a 4-star but my feelings are mixed on technique. However, I would read another book by Wendy Nelson Tokunaga.
October 8, 2012
Really 4.95 with. 5 taken off for the way the story ended. All in all, this was a really great story; told from the perspective of the wife and daughters of a man who had an affair. This is the first time Ive considered how an affair affects each family member differently. The author took her time to let the story of Dan Brath's public affair devastate an entire family. Trina is the wife who puts up with Dan's bad behavior for years without considering that her daughters are aware that he cheats. Eldest daughter Jill and younger daughter Phoebe each react differently to the public humiliation. This affair between Dan and the intern ends up being between Dan and his entire family after said intern goes missing and is presumed dead. I highly recommend this story.
February 20, 2013
I really enjoyed this story. Based on the real theme of politicians who have affairs and get caught and then lie themselves into a no-win situation; this story goes on to give the reader the behind the scenes affects on the wife and children. Several years after the scandal, the reader finds out what happened to each of the family members. It isn't always pretty. And in the end, the reason for the affair is explained ~ not that it really makes the politician's actions any more acceptable. I would read another book by this author. I liked her style of storytelling very much.
February 23, 2016
Just read this book a second time after finishing another book by the same author. I enjoy her stories- so much drama!- but what's with the repeating characters? Both books had a San Francisco staircase painter trying to get their work into a gallery and the same plot-point-revolving box of tampons.
October 16, 2012
What a rollercoaster ride! Very good read...but very depressing in a lot of parts. It delivers what it promises...so definitely not a book with a HEA ending :-(
I do recommend it if this is what type of book you are looking for...
I do recommend it if this is what type of book you are looking for...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 1, 2012
There were plenty of things in this book I found implausible, and the ending was way too nice and neat. Still, there were parts of the emotional story in this book that I thought the author really nailed.
June 13, 2013
I was not impressed with this book. Neither daughter was a likable character - very shallow and drama queens as well. And the mother was a doormat. Not a good read. I gave it one star for the premise. The execution was completely lacking.
June 28, 2014
A story of how a politicians wife and 2 daughters are affected by his affair. It bounces back and forth between the 3. His side of the story isn't revealed until the very end, which wasn't what I expected. The ending was too "neat".
September 29, 2012
Great book.....highly recommend~
January 28, 2013
The plot held my interest, and I wanted to keep reading to see what happened. The ending felt rushed and unrealistic though, and it seemed to be lacking dialogue in some parts.
January 17, 2015
i thought the women in this novel were foolish and couldn't get into their stories. i also felt the ending was too tidy.
October 4, 2012
Quick enjoyable read
November 4, 2012
Just say no.....
September 27, 2015
Political scandal.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews