The Paper Anniversary

by Joan Wickersham

Newly married and miserable, Jack and Maisie find that their commuter marriage--he working in Maine, she in Manhattan--is taking a toll on their relationship. A first novel. 25,000 first printing. $20,000 ad/promo.

Genres: Fiction

368 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1993

About the author

Joan Wickersham was born in New York City. She is the author of two previous books, most recently The Suicide Index, a National Book Award finalist. Her fiction has appeared in The Best American Short Stories and The Best American Nonrequired Reading. Her op-ed column appears regularly in The Boston Globe; she has published essays and reviews in the Los Angeles Times and the International Herald Tribune; and she has contributed on-air essays to National Public Radio. She has received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the MacDowell Colony, and Yaddo. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with her husband and two sons.

Reviews

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5, with a disclaimer: I used to recommend this book to everyone I know as my all-time favorite, and I was usually disappointed by their lukewarm reactions. I still think Wickersham is an amazing writer and I re-read the book regularly, but now I recognize that my feelings for the book have more to do with they way I relate to it (and how that's changed over the years) than for its literary merits. For what it's worth...

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great beach read--the story kept me very engaged. I was uncertain at the halfway mark, because I have a low tolerance for novels that celebrate adultery and this is a novel about a troubled marriage. There was more explicit sex than I prefer in my fiction. But the ending was deeply moving. Ultimately a very satisfying read.

[jackie · Rating 2 out of 5]

the hospital's book selection was exclusively composed of little-known novels written by white people at least 25 years ago

[Sarah McCraw Crow]

Joan Wickersham's debut novel. The story of a young couple, and whether they'll stay married. Reminiscent of Laurie Colwin and Meg Wolitzer. Full review to come!

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a real weakness for books that have a marriage as a central character, so it's no surprise that I loved this one. The first 50 pages, maybe 100, were a near-constant cringe: Had there ever been two people less well suited to each other? The slow evolution of Jack and Maisie, the ways they grew and changed together and apart, was exquisite and excruciating in nearly equal measure.. At the end I closed the cover and thanked the Universe for Joan Wickersham's talent.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story of a troubled marriage. Well written.

[Linden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this on a camping trip--maybe that's why I enjoyed it so much?

[Sari · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked up this book after loving the author's recent The News From Spain. She is a wonderful writer, but I couldn't get into this train wreck.

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hated it!

[Esther Bradley-detally · Rating 5 out of 5]

A surprise read; found i became more interested as the book went on; now am reading everything by Joan Wickersham