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One Minus One
The year is 1969, a time of turmoil for the United States—and for thirty-year-old Emily Bean, who, following her devastating divorce, leaves her home in the New Hampshire mountains to work as a teacher in the state’s coastal region.
Still in love with her ex-husband, David, Emily struggles to adjust to single life. Women’s liberation and the freewheeling sixties had only been on the perimeter of her married life, so even walking into a restaurant alone makes insecure Emily self-conscious.
The men in town are quick to notice an available and attractive young woman with legs made for miniskirts. Emily falls into relationships with two men, one of whom could be her way back to the safe life that she lost.
But in this portrait of a woman on the brink of self-realization, Emily must learn whether or not she can truly recapture the past.
Still in love with her ex-husband, David, Emily struggles to adjust to single life. Women’s liberation and the freewheeling sixties had only been on the perimeter of her married life, so even walking into a restaurant alone makes insecure Emily self-conscious.
The men in town are quick to notice an available and attractive young woman with legs made for miniskirts. Emily falls into relationships with two men, one of whom could be her way back to the safe life that she lost.
But in this portrait of a woman on the brink of self-realization, Emily must learn whether or not she can truly recapture the past.
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First published January 1, 1971
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 6, 2014
This was my first Nancy Pearl-recommended book. I'm still trying to figure out if I liked it. I kind of find it hard to like anyone who tells you that she wears a size 7 dress and who is also constantly dieting. That would be the main character, Emily, not the author or Nancy Pearl. Also generally irritating are fictional women who are irresistible to men. Also mopers.
The book club questions state that the fundamental problem facing Emily is to choose between her head and her heart. I didn't see it that way, but since Nancy Pearl is undoubtedly much smarter than me, I'll go along with it. It didn't seem like Emily chose either. It seemed more like her choices were move on in life, take control, do something, don't just let people drag you along, or wallow in misery and self pity. At the end it was impossible to tell which choice she had made, but it looked a lot like she was going to wallow.
I guess the book was the opposite of a romance novel, in which she would have discovered her ex husband it be a cad and rode off into the sunset with the guy who's stood by her all along. She didn't do either of those things, which is probably a lot more like real life. She just didn't do anything, which may also be more like real life, but I'm not sure what to make of a novel that leaves its main (and only really fleshed out) character in exactly the same situation she was to begin with, and as far as I could tell, with no more awareness.
And yes, the characters. Emily we get to know well. Her roommate Kaykay is pretty much a cutout with the words "bride-to-be" on it. Her roommate Grace's cutout says "bitter old maid-to-be." So Emily looks at them and can't really settle on either of their roles being what she wants. At least not without David. The other women; her grandmother, mother, sisters, her roommates sisters--I could keep track of which was which and it didn't seem to matter that much. It would have been easier if she had called mother Mom instead of Lucy and her father Dad instead of Ned. Both those names constantly took me by surprise.
The men, David, Warren, and Cliff are not much more fleshed out than the women. David and Cliff are essentially the same: Perfect English teachers. One doesn't love her any more, the other does. Warren is a sort of cad and not in the story long.
If I were her, I'd ask Cliff for time to make up my mind, which seems reasonable as they've only known each other a few months. I don't think she's going to do that. And I still don't know if I liked the book.
The book club questions state that the fundamental problem facing Emily is to choose between her head and her heart. I didn't see it that way, but since Nancy Pearl is undoubtedly much smarter than me, I'll go along with it. It didn't seem like Emily chose either. It seemed more like her choices were move on in life, take control, do something, don't just let people drag you along, or wallow in misery and self pity. At the end it was impossible to tell which choice she had made, but it looked a lot like she was going to wallow.
I guess the book was the opposite of a romance novel, in which she would have discovered her ex husband it be a cad and rode off into the sunset with the guy who's stood by her all along. She didn't do either of those things, which is probably a lot more like real life. She just didn't do anything, which may also be more like real life, but I'm not sure what to make of a novel that leaves its main (and only really fleshed out) character in exactly the same situation she was to begin with, and as far as I could tell, with no more awareness.
And yes, the characters. Emily we get to know well. Her roommate Kaykay is pretty much a cutout with the words "bride-to-be" on it. Her roommate Grace's cutout says "bitter old maid-to-be." So Emily looks at them and can't really settle on either of their roles being what she wants. At least not without David. The other women; her grandmother, mother, sisters, her roommates sisters--I could keep track of which was which and it didn't seem to matter that much. It would have been easier if she had called mother Mom instead of Lucy and her father Dad instead of Ned. Both those names constantly took me by surprise.
The men, David, Warren, and Cliff are not much more fleshed out than the women. David and Cliff are essentially the same: Perfect English teachers. One doesn't love her any more, the other does. Warren is a sort of cad and not in the story long.
If I were her, I'd ask Cliff for time to make up my mind, which seems reasonable as they've only known each other a few months. I don't think she's going to do that. And I still don't know if I liked the book.
April 14, 2013
I received this free copy from bookbrowse.com and posted a brief review there as well. This novel was originally published in 1971, and was brought back into print by Nancy Pearl in her Book Lust Rediscovery series published by Amazon. It is the story of Emily, newly divorced from her high school sweetheart. She is devastated and has taken a job as a high school teacher which she dislikes. While married she was a writer who was unable to sell any of her work and her husband worked also as a teacher (most of the characters are teachers except for a local morning radio announcer). Emily is very much a character of the time, unable to imagine doing anything that she would actually like as a career and she remains stuck with her choices. The author depicts the 60s very well through descriptions of food, drink and dress and the book is brief which made it worth reading. It is probably closer to 2 1/2 stars.
July 29, 2021
Newly divorced and having to resort to teaching, rather than writing, Emily tries to adjust to the life of a divorced woman in the 60s'. This was a reminder for me of the distance women have had to travel to be themselves. A good read.
June 10, 2020
This edition of ‘One Minus One’ by Ruth Doan MacDougall was selected by American literary critic and librarian Nancy Pearl as part of her Book Lust Rediscoveries series. This particular author was unknown to me before requesting it to review from Amazon Vine.
This melancholy tale is set in 1969 and focuses on thirty-year old Emily Bean, who following her divorce leaves the New Hampshire town where she grew up to take up a teaching position in a town near the coast.
She is still in love with David, who left her for a woman that he had met at work. She is having a hard time coming to terms with the divorce and everything reminds her of their marriage.
In the course of this short novel she attempts to move forward with her life and begins to date again though cannot stop thinking about David.
Originally published in 1971, it was intended as ‘Women’s Fiction’ and likely Emily’s seeking to rebuild her life post divorce would have been quite relatable to many, especially as divorce was becoming more common in American society.
For me, it was a perfectly fine read that provides not only insight into its era but explores themes that remain relevant today. Having divorced at the same age as Emily in circumstances that mirrored hers, I can attest to the fact that it takes time to heal and there are rarely quick fixes. I also have witnessed others going through the process, so would say that MacDougall has written a novel that is true to the experiences of many women.
Given current fashions in fiction I couldn’t help thinking that with a little tweaking Emily could become the protagonist of a psychological thriller. Yet instead this is a staid, open-ended relationship drama.
I could see it appealing to reading groups that are seeking to read fiction that was contemporary when first written. Pearl’s Introduction places the novel in context, gives details of MacDougall’s other works, and following the main text provides discussion questions and suggestions for further reading.
This melancholy tale is set in 1969 and focuses on thirty-year old Emily Bean, who following her divorce leaves the New Hampshire town where she grew up to take up a teaching position in a town near the coast.
She is still in love with David, who left her for a woman that he had met at work. She is having a hard time coming to terms with the divorce and everything reminds her of their marriage.
In the course of this short novel she attempts to move forward with her life and begins to date again though cannot stop thinking about David.
Originally published in 1971, it was intended as ‘Women’s Fiction’ and likely Emily’s seeking to rebuild her life post divorce would have been quite relatable to many, especially as divorce was becoming more common in American society.
For me, it was a perfectly fine read that provides not only insight into its era but explores themes that remain relevant today. Having divorced at the same age as Emily in circumstances that mirrored hers, I can attest to the fact that it takes time to heal and there are rarely quick fixes. I also have witnessed others going through the process, so would say that MacDougall has written a novel that is true to the experiences of many women.
Given current fashions in fiction I couldn’t help thinking that with a little tweaking Emily could become the protagonist of a psychological thriller. Yet instead this is a staid, open-ended relationship drama.
I could see it appealing to reading groups that are seeking to read fiction that was contemporary when first written. Pearl’s Introduction places the novel in context, gives details of MacDougall’s other works, and following the main text provides discussion questions and suggestions for further reading.
March 17, 2019
The writing was good, the characters were interesting enough, but what sold this for me was the setting. Of course it helped that I read this on a train through New Hampshire, past the towns where the story took place.
February 20, 2013
Disclaimer: I received a free review copy of this book at ALA Midwinter 2013
Originally published in 1971, One Minus One is a Nancy Pearl Book Lust Rediscovery which has been re-released by Amazon Publishing. A housewife and aspiring writer, thirty-year-old Emily’s world is rocked when her husband, David, divorces her to marry the guidance counsellor at the school where he works. Married to David right out of university, Emily never worked as a teacher herself but, determined not to accept alimony from David, she takes a job as an English teacher in Millstead, New Hampshire to support herself. Unhappy with her work as a teacher, and not having written a word since the divorce, Emily struggles to find and define herself separately from David, who she fell in love with when she was fifteen. She begins dating again, first Warren, a local morning radio host, and then Cliff, the head of the English department at the high school. But despite her efforts to move on, Emily can’t get past David.
Slow moving in terms of plot, One Minus One is a character-centred story that focuses on Emily’s struggle to tease out her own personality and separate herself from her past with David. Only once she is alone does she realize how much he defined her. Emily has a quiet, disarming uncertainty which make her sympathetic, even though she could be accused of wallowing in sorrow. She evinces a brave determination to become independent and find her way through situations she never thought she would face. It is easy to feel protective of Emily, and to root for her to come out alright in the end. I wanted to her to find love, and to find herself, all the while worrying that, for Emily, the two goals might not be compatible quite yet.
Set in 1969, this book shows it age in small details; the characters wear bell-bottom pants and earn miniscule salaries by modern standards. It is a portrait of divorce in a particular time, but it retains a strong emotional resonance which ensures that it still remains relevant today. The cliff hanger ending will likely leave some readers unhappy, but the sudden ending shows how much we’ve come to care about Emily in the space of such a short novel (160 pages). She stayed with me for several days before I was able to make peace with not knowing her fate.
Originally published in 1971, One Minus One is a Nancy Pearl Book Lust Rediscovery which has been re-released by Amazon Publishing. A housewife and aspiring writer, thirty-year-old Emily’s world is rocked when her husband, David, divorces her to marry the guidance counsellor at the school where he works. Married to David right out of university, Emily never worked as a teacher herself but, determined not to accept alimony from David, she takes a job as an English teacher in Millstead, New Hampshire to support herself. Unhappy with her work as a teacher, and not having written a word since the divorce, Emily struggles to find and define herself separately from David, who she fell in love with when she was fifteen. She begins dating again, first Warren, a local morning radio host, and then Cliff, the head of the English department at the high school. But despite her efforts to move on, Emily can’t get past David.
Slow moving in terms of plot, One Minus One is a character-centred story that focuses on Emily’s struggle to tease out her own personality and separate herself from her past with David. Only once she is alone does she realize how much he defined her. Emily has a quiet, disarming uncertainty which make her sympathetic, even though she could be accused of wallowing in sorrow. She evinces a brave determination to become independent and find her way through situations she never thought she would face. It is easy to feel protective of Emily, and to root for her to come out alright in the end. I wanted to her to find love, and to find herself, all the while worrying that, for Emily, the two goals might not be compatible quite yet.
Set in 1969, this book shows it age in small details; the characters wear bell-bottom pants and earn miniscule salaries by modern standards. It is a portrait of divorce in a particular time, but it retains a strong emotional resonance which ensures that it still remains relevant today. The cliff hanger ending will likely leave some readers unhappy, but the sudden ending shows how much we’ve come to care about Emily in the space of such a short novel (160 pages). She stayed with me for several days before I was able to make peace with not knowing her fate.
April 23, 2013
This book is not my usual fare at all, but since Nancy Pearl said it was good and she is one of my library heroes and I gave it a try.
The story is about a 30 year old woman Emily who finds herself divorced and confronting life on her own. She has to learn how to do everything alone, something with which she is not familiar. with. Like many women who created their identity based on their relationship with a man she falls into a relationship rather quickly with Warren, a radio host. Their relationship soon becomes its own predictable pattern. Emily is going to school to be a teacher because that's what her mother did and while she wanted to be a writer in the past when she was married that desire seems to have left her. Emily's thoughts often go back in time to happier time with her husband David. He may be gone, but he is present in her own mind. Over the holidays Emily gets possession of her grandmother's diaries and starts reading. Honestly her grandmother's life is more interesting than Emily's (which on some level she may realize). Somewhere along the line her relationship with Warren unravels and Emily begins a new chapter moving in her with school friends Kaykay and Grace. She also briefly acts on her attraction to Cliff who is the department head at the college. Over time Cliff wears her down and she begins yet another relationship. While out with Cliff she meets David and his pregnant wife and finally breaks down about the divorce. No matter how far she goes or who she ends up with Emily is still haunted by David. Their relationship was such a huge part of her life trying to get past it is nearly impossible.
While the story is set in 1969, it can be easy to forget unless you really pay attention to all the small details. There is something universal about the story. I think most people know someone like Emily, the girl who defines her whole existence based on her relationship with a guy and when it ends- well on to the next one. Part of me does want to shake her and say maybe there is a reason why things didn't work out. Its 1969, not 1869. You've moved on, moved out, gotten a job, now its time to take some me time and figure out what you want. In a way its not really fair to the guys she dates. They are really just rebounds and I feel bad for Cliff who has true feelings for her. Here's hoping one day Emily finally moves on!
The story is about a 30 year old woman Emily who finds herself divorced and confronting life on her own. She has to learn how to do everything alone, something with which she is not familiar. with. Like many women who created their identity based on their relationship with a man she falls into a relationship rather quickly with Warren, a radio host. Their relationship soon becomes its own predictable pattern. Emily is going to school to be a teacher because that's what her mother did and while she wanted to be a writer in the past when she was married that desire seems to have left her. Emily's thoughts often go back in time to happier time with her husband David. He may be gone, but he is present in her own mind. Over the holidays Emily gets possession of her grandmother's diaries and starts reading. Honestly her grandmother's life is more interesting than Emily's (which on some level she may realize). Somewhere along the line her relationship with Warren unravels and Emily begins a new chapter moving in her with school friends Kaykay and Grace. She also briefly acts on her attraction to Cliff who is the department head at the college. Over time Cliff wears her down and she begins yet another relationship. While out with Cliff she meets David and his pregnant wife and finally breaks down about the divorce. No matter how far she goes or who she ends up with Emily is still haunted by David. Their relationship was such a huge part of her life trying to get past it is nearly impossible.
While the story is set in 1969, it can be easy to forget unless you really pay attention to all the small details. There is something universal about the story. I think most people know someone like Emily, the girl who defines her whole existence based on her relationship with a guy and when it ends- well on to the next one. Part of me does want to shake her and say maybe there is a reason why things didn't work out. Its 1969, not 1869. You've moved on, moved out, gotten a job, now its time to take some me time and figure out what you want. In a way its not really fair to the guys she dates. They are really just rebounds and I feel bad for Cliff who has true feelings for her. Here's hoping one day Emily finally moves on!
April 3, 2013
One Minus One by Ruth Doan MacDougall is a book that was originally published in 1971 and has recently been republished by Book Lust Rediscoveries. The main character, Emily Bean is recently divorced and out on her own. She has been hired as a teacher for the first time and is struggling to find her way. The conflict within the book is internal within Emily. The action is minimal and the pace slow and reflective. Her pathway to a new start is cluttered with memories and distress at moving on in her life. To me, she is so deeply mired within the past, that I am unsure if she will ever be free of it. The book is broken into three sections each descriptive of current events/relationships within her life and part of her first school year.
Ruth Doan MacDougall is from New Hampshire as clearly evidenced in this novel. Despite the changing of names, to me many places are clear as to their location. There is a particular pleasure in knowing the places in a work of fiction. Especially, when they are shown in a clear light. (personally I think I waitress at the Pizza Hut on the Miracle Mile, but not during the time of the novel.)
This book was a meandering journey through the internal and external life of Emily Bean. I felt mired down in the depressive nature of the characters with their constant drinking and their nature, like they were just taking up space and following a path set before them. I felt like they were all trying to fill an ideal, but they were unhappy with the ideal. While I completely read the book and did not feel the need to stop reading or become disgusted with the book, I did want the character to move on. I was not bored, but not fascinated either.
I won this book from Bookbrowse and am expected to publish a review.
Ruth Doan MacDougall is from New Hampshire as clearly evidenced in this novel. Despite the changing of names, to me many places are clear as to their location. There is a particular pleasure in knowing the places in a work of fiction. Especially, when they are shown in a clear light. (personally I think I waitress at the Pizza Hut on the Miracle Mile, but not during the time of the novel.)
This book was a meandering journey through the internal and external life of Emily Bean. I felt mired down in the depressive nature of the characters with their constant drinking and their nature, like they were just taking up space and following a path set before them. I felt like they were all trying to fill an ideal, but they were unhappy with the ideal. While I completely read the book and did not feel the need to stop reading or become disgusted with the book, I did want the character to move on. I was not bored, but not fascinated either.
I won this book from Bookbrowse and am expected to publish a review.
September 28, 2013
Let me start my saying I loved Ruth Doan McDougall’s The Cheerleader back when I was a teen. I re-read it a few years ago and still loved Snowy and her 1950s high school days.
I listened to One Minus One on audiotape. Set the late 1960s in New Hampshire, Emily is recently divorced from her college sweetheart David. She moves and starts to work as a teacher. Mind you she was educated, but never worked. She pursued her writing while she was married. She quickly starts to drink, hang out and have sex with Warren. Then she connects for co-worker Cliff. You would think she had the life of the gay divorcee, but there looms a ghost from her past – David. Every experience reminds her of David, makes her long for David, truthfully it got a little old. Emily can’t move on despite others around her falling in love and moving forward with life.
The end was very open ended. After a “stalking” episode at David’s new home with his pregnant wife and lots of friends, Emily??? Well that’s open to your interpretation.
What I did like was this was of a Nancy Pearl Book Lust of lost books and the intro and thought provoking questions at the end of the audio were really good to ponder.
I listened to One Minus One on audiotape. Set the late 1960s in New Hampshire, Emily is recently divorced from her college sweetheart David. She moves and starts to work as a teacher. Mind you she was educated, but never worked. She pursued her writing while she was married. She quickly starts to drink, hang out and have sex with Warren. Then she connects for co-worker Cliff. You would think she had the life of the gay divorcee, but there looms a ghost from her past – David. Every experience reminds her of David, makes her long for David, truthfully it got a little old. Emily can’t move on despite others around her falling in love and moving forward with life.
The end was very open ended. After a “stalking” episode at David’s new home with his pregnant wife and lots of friends, Emily??? Well that’s open to your interpretation.
What I did like was this was of a Nancy Pearl Book Lust of lost books and the intro and thought provoking questions at the end of the audio were really good to ponder.
Read
March 1, 2013Odd coincidence. I happened to notice this title when I was looking at others by this author. When I went to add it in Good Reads, I noticed a lot of recent adds and learned it was being reprinted as part of Nancy Pearl's Book Lust Rediscoveries series. I hope this helps readers discover--or rediscover--Ruth Doan MacDougall.
The story takes place in 1969 (published 1971) in small-town New Hampshire. Even though I grew up in a larger (but by no means large) town in Massachusetts, this is very much the world I remember growing up in. For example, one character's mother is surprised that he could get a teaching job with "that awful beard," a phrase I remember my mother using. (My dad's version was "never trust a man with facial hair.")
I would recommend this, if nothing else, as a reflection of what the world was like in 1969 for people who weren't love children or hippies or protesters. Their stories have been told many times and in many ways. This is a quieter story.
The story takes place in 1969 (published 1971) in small-town New Hampshire. Even though I grew up in a larger (but by no means large) town in Massachusetts, this is very much the world I remember growing up in. For example, one character's mother is surprised that he could get a teaching job with "that awful beard," a phrase I remember my mother using. (My dad's version was "never trust a man with facial hair.")
I would recommend this, if nothing else, as a reflection of what the world was like in 1969 for people who weren't love children or hippies or protesters. Their stories have been told many times and in many ways. This is a quieter story.
July 22, 2013
Short, sweet and to the point! So interesting, I had never heard of this author and then I saw a few being released again, so I jumped at the chance to read it! I love books in this era, especially that show a different point of view from the 60's.
Emily Bean is just a normal lady, after her divorce she takes a job at a high school. Even though she is STILL in love with her ex-husband! But then there are a couple more men that are in love with Emily.
An awesome OOP book to reprint! I am so glad I did. Simple, but fun to read! If you are looking for something really deep, this won't be it, but I enjoyed Emily's dilemmas and was rooting for the best one!! Enjoy!
Emily Bean is just a normal lady, after her divorce she takes a job at a high school. Even though she is STILL in love with her ex-husband! But then there are a couple more men that are in love with Emily.
An awesome OOP book to reprint! I am so glad I did. Simple, but fun to read! If you are looking for something really deep, this won't be it, but I enjoyed Emily's dilemmas and was rooting for the best one!! Enjoy!
February 18, 2015
Wow. No wonder legendary librarian Nancy Pearl wanted to help us re-discover this book. This is a story about character and identity with a helping of gender roles thrown in to the mix. It is thoughtful, sad, and completing despite the fact that it is not a book heavy on plot details. Rather it is the emotional journey of a woman faced with the idea that her life will not be what she expected and her struggle to understand herself after her divorce. Well worth a read and a great choice for your book club.
January 13, 2015
There's a certain mood throughout this book that is unique to the era in which it was written. I can't describe it other than the whole novel has a lazy tone to it that is quite unlike more current literature. I didn't care for Emily, the main character, and I can't decide if that's fair. Some of the things I dislike about her are things that are not really character traits, but behaviors engendered by the time she inhabits (the early 1970s). I wanted to try one of Nancy Pearl's Book Lust Rediscovery series, but I'm a little disappointed in this choice.
March 14, 2014
2 1/2 stars of 5. Ruth Doan MacDougall wrote one my favorite books ever, The Cheerleader and I like the way she writes. This is a story of a woman trying to reassemble her life after a very painful, unexpected divorce. While I do think a lot of the feelings transcend time periods, it felt dated to me and I just didn't connect very much. This is one of Nancy Pearl's Book Lust Rediscoveries so there's a reading guide and other book suggestions.
April 29, 2015
My only disappointment with this book is that I never get to find out how the main character's life went after the book ended. I wanted to keep following her through the grieving process following her divorce and see how she finally came to terms with everything. The characters are beautifully written. There's very little plot, but the characters are so wonderful I didn't really care. I just wanted to follow behind Emily, the main character, forever.
September 22, 2014
Well, I spoke too soon. I recently wrote that I had not read a Nancy Pearl Book Lust Rediscovery title that I didn't love. Until now. I didn't like the protagonist very much and could not relate to the choices she made with her life. Hard to root for her, she seemed flat. I enjoyed reading about her roommates more than I enjoyed reading about her!
July 23, 2016
What I liked about this book was the picture it painted of life in the late 1960s...and life about a woman dealing with divorce, rejoining the working world, relearning life as a singleton in a New England town in the late 1960s. This snapshot made the story worth it for me.
August 2, 2014
Good grief! Did 30-somethings really drink and smoke that much in the 1960s? Nonetheless, Emily Bean's grieving process after divorce was plausibly presented as she lurched forward into meeting new work and new lovers.
Want to Read
February 5, 2013Nancy Pearl recommends
April 19, 2013
For anyone who likes character driven novels.
July 14, 2013
3 1/2. Awesomely depressing.
October 17, 2014
One of Nancy Pearl's rediscovered recommendations; a quick read and an amusing foray into the 1970s
February 25, 2016
Emily and Daniel were high school sweethearts who got married and was supposed to live happily ever. But things didn't work out that way and Emily isn't taking it well.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews