A Memoir of Grief

by Jennifer Weiner

When Eleanor Goode meets Gerald King, she's a senior at Wellesley who's won all the writing prizes. He's just published his first novel, Dirty Blond, and is well on his way to becoming one of the literary lions of his day. Gerry seduces Ellie, spinning her a fantasy of working with him, two writers, side by side. How could she have known that, in their years together, it would be one typewriter, not two; his words, not hers? How she would become the fetcher of coffee, the holder of trinkets fans would press into his hands after readings, the keeper of his legacy.

A Memoir of Grief (Continued) begins with Gerald’s death. Ellie, who hasn't written more than a grocery list in decades of marriage, had no intention of writing a memoir. It's not until she realizes how broke he left her that she decides to write a whitewashed account of her life with the Great Man of Letters. Widow's Walk spends over a year on the New York Times bestseller list. Critics hail Ellie's talent, the revelatory way she writes about grief, and how to live through it.

Genres: Short Stories, Chick Lit, Fiction, Audiobook, Contemporary, Summer Reads, Ebooks

44 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 30, 2012

About the author

Jennifer Weiner is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of eighteen books, including Good in Bed, In Her Shoes, and, most recently, That Summer. A graduate of Princeton University, she lives with her family in Philadelphia. Visit her online at JenniferWeiner.com.

Reviews

[Sarah Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent read.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book begins with the death of Gerald, the husband of Ellie, the protagonist. Ellie, who has no writing experience, has no intention of writing a memoir of her marriage to Gerald until she realizes how completely broke he left her. She decides to write a memoir of her life with the great writer and how it was far from the fairy-tale marriage she thought it would be when she married him. Her husband was a completely reprehensible man who seduced her and spun her a web of lies in order to get her to be with him. She suffered a difficult life with him, being the fetcher of coffee and the women that waited on and for him while he did what he pleased, continuing to have affairs with other women and just expecting Ellie to bite her tongue and keep a stiff upper lip, which she did.
I did not enjoy this story at all, which was kindof disappointing since I usually really enjoy Jennifer Weiner’s writing. It was not written well and felt very under-developed. Not to mention, it was extremely depressing with no redeemable qualities. There weren’t even any characters for the reader to relate to or like. I felt this story was definitely a flop.

[Kirstin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was not one of Jennifer's best...I was really bored with the beginning but by the end it became slightly more interesting. It was not an uplifting story at all though- her cheating husband dies and she has to clean up the mess he left behind. It was disappointing to read about how she put up with his infidelity for so many years.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have now read all of Jennifer Weiner's Kindle e-book short stories and this one is my favorite. Now I'm waiting patiently for her next novel to be published. I hope it is as good as this one.

[✨ Anna ✨ | ReadAllNight · Rating 1 out of 5]

Rambling, all been told before but much better by others. One to skip. Banal.

The description isn’t really accurate either, although I read it only after reading. It was not “haunting” unless that means boring and the protagonist is completely calculating as opposed to unknowing. Tired.

Most of these singles have been a bit of fun but not here, although I wasn’t expecting “fun” given the title; however, grief is not really explored in the usual sense. It is more aftermath than grief.

[Lucy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Al the while I was reading/listening to this novella I kept comparing it to Meg Wollitzer's The Wife. t. In A Memoir Eleanor marries an older charismatic novelist but unlike The Wife she doesn't write along with him she becomes his personal assistant. Like The Wife this husband is also a womanizer. I am a fan of Weiner's but this novel fell short for me.

[Eunice Coorlas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Susan Bennett’s narration of this book is spot on. In her reading you feel the anticipation, the love, the ambiguity, the pain and frustration the wife of this one’s themed author experiences. It is after her husband’s death that she begins to come into her own after serving and fulfilling her husbands every need. This is a short“read” and Jennifer Weiner has put all the feeling into this that she does in her full length novels. Don’t miss it. I listened to it once and then listened to it once again. A definite five star review.

[Monique Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just the right amount of darkness to drive this story into an unexpected direction. I love the addition of the quotes regarding Ms. Weiner, but coming from our "great writer" in his misogynistic opinions.

[Anneliese Grassi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, it is safe to say that I enjoy Ms. Weiner's full length books much better than her short story books. Although this wasn't a terrible read, it was a little odd. It was definitely better than some of her other short stories, but I think I much prefer her novels.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Jennifer Weiner but this just wasn’t a story to love for me.

[Bronwen L · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story. Detail galore. glides along.

[Linda Knight Crane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Short novel of despicable characters. There’s always usually one in a book but this was all of them. A decent story but no one was decent. For those who are sick of saccharine.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe 3 stars. It was a fun fiction read, but not really dealing with grief.

[Michelle Jerome · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always like an overcoming story.

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Weiner is actually one of my favorite authors. I met her in st Louis in July of 2012 and remember her mentioning this short.
This isn't her usual genre and neither was "recalculating" but I understand what she is trying to do. Both shorts have been panned by reviewers and I think they are grading Weiner on previous Weiner work. The shorts are not like her usual. Remember folks, writing is her job. You ever get bored in your job? Want to do something a bit different? She has agents, editors, fans etc breathing down her neck asking for her usual work and for awhile she was writing a novel a year. I respect and totally dig that maybe she wanted to take a break and try something different and not having enough time to page through long novels anymore, I'm enjoying her short stories and hope she continues.

[Kourtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Not sure this should count toward my goal since it is so short and I didn't really "read" it but played it while I ran) I liked the idea of this book and feel that it could have had the potential to be a great true novel. However, I felt that she was really trying to go out of her way to show a different writing style. There was vulgar language with out a purpose, character development was rushed and jumpy, and I just didn't buy into it as much as I have with other books. I still gave it a 3 because I was worried I was being harsh due to not liking the narrator. I would like the author to stay true to the style of hers that I have grown to love.

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this on my tablet on the flight from Dallas to Charlotte today. A light and pleasant read, not one that will stick with me for a length of time. I did like how the story jabbed at some of the current literary debates, but I think it lacked teeth. I still don't really know the motivations of the main character, but if you're not going to deconstruct the story in a lit class, then I guess that doesn't matter. It had a fun little twist, and felt, to me, like the outlines of a much larger, meatier story, and I'm rather sorry I don't get to read that.

[Jennifer Gibbons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly enjoyed this JW short short.It tells the story of a longtime married couple Ellie and Gerald. Gerald was a golden boy novelist; Ellie was his muse and took care of him. When Gerald dies, Ellie finds out the things that she turned the other way when it came to her husband cannot now be ignored. With the help of Gerald's editor and her drug addicted son, Ellie tries to find her own voice while still protecting her husband's legacy. Shades of Norman and Norris Church Mailer, Weiner excels at details and twists and turns.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy Jennifer Weiner's e-short stories, and this one was a nice change of pace from the previous 2 I had read (Disconnected and Recalculating). Jennifer has a great gift for pulling you into complicated relationships, but this story was too short to delve into WHY the woman put up with so much from (and sacrificed so much of herself for) her horrible husband. I almost wish this story were a full-length book to unpack the layers a bit more!

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finished 7/2016. This was a cute short story. I liked the relationships and how in such a short story, she was able to give so much background that I felt like I understood many of the relationship (husband and wife, publicist and family, and other characters). The plot was not exactly expected, though I think some of it was a cop out of action instead of explanation. All in all, I liked it, but I could see it better as a longer story with more development to make it feel less abrupt.

[Judy Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another mystery quirky e-short story from Jennifer about Gerald’s death and Ellie who has not written in forever and then after her husband’s death she decides to write a memoir—(she lived a miserable life with this man). Pay back is heck…Lots of twists and turns --a little on the dark side and a little haunting. (great for Halloween).

[Tina (A Novel Time With Tina) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didnt understand the motives of the main character. She lists her husbands flaws, which were so self serving and egotistical, and yet she devoted her entire life to him excluding all others, even her son. Even in death her life is tied up in him. odd.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good fast paced read that I read in one sitting.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read..fun for the Halloween season!

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jennifer Weiner's short stories (even those I haven't been crazy about) always seem to feel complete, both the plot and the characters. And I do so enjoy a silent type revenge!

[Laura Slapikoff · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not too elegantly written but I liked the power struggle between old and young. Overall, pretty cheesy.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quick read. I am glad it was a short story because I would want to read an entire book about Ellie.

[susieqlaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cleverly written story...read it! Warning: the story contains a few curse words. I would recommend this story for adults.

[Christy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Characters were not engaging, story was predictable. Overall, not a great effort by Weiner. How can her books be so great and her short stories be mediocre?