The Life Room

by Jill Bialosky

Eleanor Cahn is a professor of literature, the wife of a preeminent cardiac surgeon, and a devoted mother. But on a trip to Paris to present a paper on Anna Karenina, Eleanor re-connects with Stephen―a childhood friend with whom she has had a complicated relationship―that forces her to realize that she has suppressed her passionate self for years. As the novel unfolds, we learn of her hidden erotic with alluring, elusive Stephen; with ethereal William, her high school boyfriend; with married, egotistical Adam, the painter who initiated her into the intimacies of the "life room," where the artist’s model sometimes becomes muse; and with loyal, steady Michael, her husband. On her return to New York, Eleanor and Stephen’s charged attraction takes on a life of its own and threatens to destroy everything she has.

Jill Bialosky has created a fresh, piercingly real heroine who struggles with the spiritual questions and dilemmas of our time and, like Tolstoy’s immortal Anna Karenina, must choose between desire and responsibility.

Genres: Fiction, Audiobook, Contemporary

337 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2007

About the author

Jill Bialosky was born in Cleveland, Ohio. She studied for her undergraduate degree at Ohio University and received a Master of Arts degree from the Writing Seminars at The Johns Hopkins University and a Master of Fine Arts degree from University of Iowa Writer's Workshop.

Her collections of poems are Subterranean (Alfred A. Knopf, 2001) and The End of Desire (1997). Bialosky is also the author of the novel House Under Snow (2002) and The Life Room (2007) and co-editor, with Helen Schulman, of the anthology Wanting A Child (1998).

Her poems and essays appear in The New Yorker, O Magazine, Paris Review, The Nation, The New Republic, Kenyon Review, American Poetry Review among other publications.

Bialosky has received a number of awards including the Elliot Coleman Award in Poetry. She is currently an editor at W. W. Norton & Company and lives in New York City.

Reviews

[Diana Townsend · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think the reason that this book gets five stars from me is the simple fact that Jill Bialosky created a female character that is complicated yet real. I have not read Anna Karenina, and I don't plan on reading it. However, I could see the ties from Eleanor's life and Anna's, and while I will admit it was cheesy at times, it was also beautiful. Eleanor, like most women who are infatuated with the arts, is not content with the conventional way of life. She wants the thrills of romanticism and yet, the only men who can give her that are troubled ex boyfriends who never truly loved or appreciated her. Her husband is a good guy and she has two great kids but she loses sight of them because of the thrill of chasing her past and looking for signs in the fuck-ups she used to love. I related to her because I have had moments where I thought, now why doesn't my husband "get me" like this person gets me? Why doesn't he love literature the way I love literature... But are these things to ruin a marriage over? Anyway, this is a tedious read but I enjoyed it.

[Marianne Mullen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this story of a woman trying to find her way through the twists and curves of life and relationships.

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was on board with Bialosky for the first 2/3 of the book.
I overlooked the cheesy characterization of her main character having two different color eyes, just so you know that she is 'of two minds.' I got quite tired of the descriptions of the different shades of her eyes in response to outside stimulus. People saw what they wanted to see in her.
I also had a hard time with the parallels of Eleanor's life with Anna Karenina. It was a stretch at best, I felt like I was being led and then pushed.

I loved how scholarly it was. I loved how Eleanor's 'awakening' happened while she is alone in Paris, working on her paper and herself. Her emails with another literary scholar re: Romanticism and poetry were some of my favorite parts. I enjoyed that the majority of the novel takes place in "the life room." Her tumultuous inner turmoil and betrayal does not match the quiet outside life she lives, (much like her eyes, see... see...). While her inner conflict is tearing her apart, she continues her duties - to pick the kids up from school, make dinner and pick up the dry cleaning.

I find Bialosky to be an interesting writer, and that is the only reason I made it through the whole book.
Would I recommend this book? No. It misses the mark and instead of being a story of self-discovery and growth, it comes off as privileged and impotent.

Oh poor Eleanor, she is beautiful and pained. The subject of paintings, married to a surgeon and mother to two lovely boys. But CAN'T YOU SEE HER PAIN?! HER HUSBAND DOESN'T GET HER!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written piece of fiction, with a protagonist I wanted to punch in the face.

[Megan H · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was hard for me to put this book down. Yes, the story line did jump around quite a bit but nonetheless, I throughly enjoyed it and would recommend.

[Kelly Waldron · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was conflicted about this book. It was depressing, complex, and real. The ending was something, I guess. Made me sad, and then relieved.

🫤

[T.J. Silverio · Rating 2 out of 5]

My reaction to this story is mixed. Jill Bialosky attempted to capture the story of conflicted passion and loss in Tolstoy's Anna Karenina but it becomes in my view too obvious and ultimately unsuccessful. Interestingly about a third of the way through the story, in section II, she switches the POV from third person past tense to first person present tense. As a writer myself, at first I found this unsettling, it knocked me out of the story and I had to go back and make sure what I had been reading was in fact past tense third person. Turns out this section was entries in a diary but there was no introduction of that change. However, this section for me was the best of the book. The references to art and literature were insightful and the character came alive. I wonder why the author did not write the entire book in that POV?
The ending was frustrating because Eleanor did not make a decision. While it seemed she intended to explore more deeply the strange bond she had with Stephen, he turns away and she returns to her previous life, there is no resolution of the conflicted emotions she had experienced.
On the bright side there were many passages of delightful prose, and observations of the creative process which I enjoyed. But it was hard to relate to the main character and why she would choose to stay connected to such uninteresting men as William and Stephen. Clearly the author invested a lot of energy and emotion in creating this story and bringing all the art and literature references to us, but the underlying story just didn't work for me.

[Lori · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the concept. I like any novel that explores art and literature because I find it intellectually stimulating. While I would recommend this book, I definitely don't consider it a well written novel or that great of a story.

I didn't like the character of Eleanor and I don't think she was truly developed or anything remotely like Anna Karenina despite the author's overblown attempts to make her comparable. If anything it is the men to whom Eleanor attaches herself that are tragic. The author takes you on this journey that you believe must end in tragedy and yet it doesn't. Basically, Eleanor is having a midlife crisis.

I especially disliked how the author switched out of narrative into journal entries for Eleanor's trip to Paris; however it is a novel that explores issues I find interesting- a woman's sexuality and romantic desires.

[Carelisle Jaenn Hermosada Cabalan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars!!!

Eleanor Cahn's blue and green eye are beautiful and somehow she is a twisted woman. She has four men in her life, Michael; her husband, Adam, the married artist she had encountered with, William, her teenage boyfriend and Stephen, her childhood friend.

This book actually made me realize how difficult it is to delimit your emotions especially if you're a married woman, This character (Eleanor) felt an urge to cheat on her husband due to her unfinished business with Stephen. She knows she'd lose everything if she'd abscond with Stephen... luckily, Stephen didn't want to ruin her family.

Okay, the first half was kind'a boring but the story of a Literature Professor was interesting, her past, the things she'd study in her trip in Paris, it made me think about reading Tolstoy's Anna Karenina.

It's a good book.

Thank you Ms. Bialosky for sharing this.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I may have read one too many stifled, married woman books lately. Or maybe too much "Anna Karenina" based stuff recently. Or both. But this one just didn't do it for me. Bialosky can write beautifully. But I didn't like any of the adults (although I'm not sure I was supposed to but I should at least care about what happens to them). And the last 100+ pages dragged for me. I would probably give it 2.5 stars if that were an option.

Reading it for a book club (and reading it well ahead of the rest of the group) led me to take notes so I could remember things I wanted to talk about (and there is a lot to talk about). That made it feel a little too much like homework which may have colored my take on the book.

[Jennifer Paisley Schuch · Rating 1 out of 5]

this is a frustrating book. I'm exhausted after reading just a few pages... I feel like the author is trying to make the main character deep, thought provoking, emotionally torn blah blah blah... but she just tries too hard. too much of a struggle, to the point it just seems over exaggerated. and I normally love the conflicted self type of book. I'l continue reading just because I can't stand to put yet another book down unfinished.

[Realmforgoth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book conjured memories I thought I've buried deep. Reading it made me feel like I can't get up in the morning. Bialosky's good at making things so real, yet unreal. It's dark - I felt morose, hopeless. Every line rarely means nothing. It's so good I don't want to finish it. I digested line by line, and if I miss anything I would go through it once again. Oh one thing that I don't agree is the ending - too simple.

[Leisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked things about this book, the way she weaving the literature themes into the life of her character. It is mostly a book about one women's internal life. However, I could never identify with the movtivation of the main character. Overall, not quite satisfying - it just seemed a "near miss" to be really good.

[Nancy · Rating 1 out of 5]

The writing is beautiful in this book, but the author doesn't have much for her main character to say. She's whiney, self-involved, and boring. It's too bad, because the books starts out strong. I couldn't read it all.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Interesting and intellectual. Has alot of art/scholarly references but it's relatable and entertaining and talks alot about interpersonal relationships. Not a totally happy story, but it read really quickly and easily. Good book to read while on vacation.

[Robin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Maybe i cannot judge this book, because i did not finish it. I disliked mostly all the characters so much that the thought of being with them any longer was more than i could take. I stopped reading it so all i can say, is that it was not for me.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I only made it about 1/3 of the way through and just couldn't finish it...wasn't horrible but wasn't good enough to continue reading, either.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

disappointingly self-indulgent and annoying.

[Roslyn Torella · Rating 2 out of 5]

I finished the book, but it was an effort. I couldn't connect with any of the characters. I kept reading it hoping I would like it better.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was deep but I loved every minute of it!

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very predictable. Wasn't something I was dying to pick up every day to see what happened next.

[Magsi Rover · Rating 3 out of 5]

Truthfully, the first time I grabbed hold of a copy of this book was sometime between 2007 and 2008. Yet, although it has been years. I've never forgotten the title of the book and most of the scenes that took place in the story. I remember the doll house that burned as her somewhat seemingly evolving romance with the Eleanor's childhood friend, the memorable vase and the list just goes on and on. I remember these scenes because they all felt raw, true and honest. These are my honest thoughts regarding the general aesthetics and impression of the whole novel.

However, if it was the old me back in the day. I must have been attracted to its character descriptions and the turmoil they face between choosing what is right versus what makes them truly happy.