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The Marriage of True Minds
The story of a crossed love that is star to every wandering bark.
Together as husband and wife, Nick Ward and Lena Grant ran a successful boutique law firm in Minneapolis, vanquishing all their legal foes side by side. When Nick's charmingly erratic behavior finally became too much for Lena, the marriage and the partnership ended. But-like C. K. Dexter Haven and Tracy Lord-it seems that Lena and Nick just can't quite separate.
Lena works out fiercely, keeps her dates with the boring and conventional Preston Winter, and daily battles on against corporate greed. But Nick's not doing so well.
Still brilliant and devilishly clever, he is now also almost crazy. He is prone to fantasy and the big gesture, and he engages frantically in guerrilla activism for the sake of animals wild and domestic. Nick doesn't make plans; he has visions. And eventually his antics put him back into Lena's hands. While she tries to navigate the legal waters into which he's thrown them, Nick veers out of her wake and into the midst of a strange set of companions, including Oscar, his psychiatric attendant and Action Comics collector; Ralph and Alice Wilson, the rebellious managers of the city animal shelter; and an aging Russian hound named Wolfram.
Often laugh-out-loud funny, with bright wit and brilliant machine-gun dialogue, The Marriage of True Minds sweetly explores modern love, undying idealism, and one cracked partnership that can't be sundered-from without or from within.
If you like screwball comedies, like Bringing Up Baby and His Girl Friday, then you'll love The Marriage of True Minds!
Together as husband and wife, Nick Ward and Lena Grant ran a successful boutique law firm in Minneapolis, vanquishing all their legal foes side by side. When Nick's charmingly erratic behavior finally became too much for Lena, the marriage and the partnership ended. But-like C. K. Dexter Haven and Tracy Lord-it seems that Lena and Nick just can't quite separate.
Lena works out fiercely, keeps her dates with the boring and conventional Preston Winter, and daily battles on against corporate greed. But Nick's not doing so well.
Still brilliant and devilishly clever, he is now also almost crazy. He is prone to fantasy and the big gesture, and he engages frantically in guerrilla activism for the sake of animals wild and domestic. Nick doesn't make plans; he has visions. And eventually his antics put him back into Lena's hands. While she tries to navigate the legal waters into which he's thrown them, Nick veers out of her wake and into the midst of a strange set of companions, including Oscar, his psychiatric attendant and Action Comics collector; Ralph and Alice Wilson, the rebellious managers of the city animal shelter; and an aging Russian hound named Wolfram.
Often laugh-out-loud funny, with bright wit and brilliant machine-gun dialogue, The Marriage of True Minds sweetly explores modern love, undying idealism, and one cracked partnership that can't be sundered-from without or from within.
If you like screwball comedies, like Bringing Up Baby and His Girl Friday, then you'll love The Marriage of True Minds!
- GenresFiction
190 pages, ebook
First published May 1, 2008
82 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Evans
8 books6 followersStephen Evans is a playwright and the author The Marriage of True Minds (a novel) and A Transcendental Journey (which is not a novel).
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
April 9, 2013
I found out about this book after Stana Katic's production company optioned it for projects. I'm so glad she chose this book. It's a great read. I'm so in love with Lena's character. She's a strong woman who is torn between two men. I find Nick's character so interesting and love his passion for animals. It took me less than 24 hours to read this book and I am definitely going to read it again. It's one of my top 10 favorite books.
August 14, 2013
**For more reviews visit We Are Bound for Life**
The Marriage of True Minds may be one of the most beautiful books I've ever read. Evans sharp ear for dialogue and brilliant characterisation makes this novel an extremely witty and fun read.
The reader is immediately thrust into the magnetic and somewhat dysfucntional relationship between the clever Lena Grant and devishly brilliant/delusional Nick Ward.
Recently divorced, Lena is entrusted with the burden of baby sitting her eccentric ex-husband after he ends up in the psych ward for filling the mayor's pool with ice and live lobsters - making his getaway in a stretch limo. Lena battles the waters of keeping the very blasé Preston Winters happy whilst inevitably keeping Nick out of prison and confronting her feelings once and for all in regards to one extremely 'cracked partnership'.
This minimalist novel cleverly interlaces themes of love, mental health and animal rights into a scintillating narrative where ideals clash with reality.
The Marriage of True Minds may be one of the most beautiful books I've ever read. Evans sharp ear for dialogue and brilliant characterisation makes this novel an extremely witty and fun read.
The reader is immediately thrust into the magnetic and somewhat dysfucntional relationship between the clever Lena Grant and devishly brilliant/delusional Nick Ward.
Recently divorced, Lena is entrusted with the burden of baby sitting her eccentric ex-husband after he ends up in the psych ward for filling the mayor's pool with ice and live lobsters - making his getaway in a stretch limo. Lena battles the waters of keeping the very blasé Preston Winters happy whilst inevitably keeping Nick out of prison and confronting her feelings once and for all in regards to one extremely 'cracked partnership'.
This minimalist novel cleverly interlaces themes of love, mental health and animal rights into a scintillating narrative where ideals clash with reality.
August 19, 2014
This book deserves 4.5 stars. I've never read anything quite like it, but I mean that in a positive way. The author is a playwright and the comes out in the style. The characters are very quirky--if a little underdeveloped--and the plot mixes humor with mental illness and romance. It's an odd combination, but it works. A short, lighthearted little book worth the read.
May 24, 2008
This book is a bit of everything…funny, entertaining, thought provoking and drop dead serious. Covering topics such as love, marriage, mental competency and animal rights this book packs quite a punch in a mere 179 pages. Evans nails witty dialog and minimalist prose
June 2, 2008
Great writing about a relationship, mental health, and priorities. Favorite quote: "He was better at Saturday afternoons than anyone she had ever known." (Thanks to Amy for the recommendation)
October 14, 2013
Save the Lobsters, Save the World
(Full disclosure: I received a free copy of this book for review.)
In his debut novel, Stephen Evans has created a quirky – yet touching – story about love, loss and our moral responsibility to our fellow earthlings, human and non.
Lawyers Nick and Lena are the titular couple in THE MARRIAGE OF TRUE MINDS. On a whim, law school student Lena enrolled in Nick's environmental law course, and by term's end, the two had fallen head-over-heels in love. After they married, Lena joined Nick's law firm, and the two became crusaders for human and environmental rights. In time, Nick's seemingly tenuous grasp on reality unraveled, as did his marriage to Lena. When Nick's increasingly erratic behavior became too much for Lena to bear, the two divorced; she bought out his half of the house and firm, and set up a bank account for his living expenses…which he promptly squandered on a "guerilla activist" prank involving 144 lobsters, the mayor's swimming pool and the Minnesota Zoo.
In addition to costing him upwards of $250,000, Nick's latest eco-prank is also threatening his very freedom. Enter Lena, who agrees to defend him in court – against her new beau, one Preston Winter. (Awkward!) Without revealing too much of the plot, suffice to say that the brilliant Lena succeeds in saving Nick from both jail and psychiatric commitment – that is, if he can manage to complete his court-ordered community service and mandatory counseling without incident. Given that the volunteer work is to take place at the local animal shelter, Nick's chances don't look good.
Throughout it all, the long-suffering Lena is appointed Nick's supervisor/guardian by the court, further complicating their already complicated relationship. Since theirs is a marriage of true minds (and Preston is kind of a tool), you'll be rooting for Nick all the way.
Rounding out the cast of characters are Ralph and Alice, the grim-but-dedicated husband-and-wife team in charge of the animal shelter; Oscar, Nick's psychiatric attendant and sidekick; Sharon, Lena's personal assistant and sidekick; Wolfrum, a geriatric Irish Wolfhound slated for euthanasia at the shelter; and Sancho, Nick's sassy and anthropomorphized canine hand puppet.
In his press materials, Stephen Evans describes the inspiration behind THE MARRIAGE OF TRUE MINDS. When asked "How did this story start for you?", Evans replies:
When I learned about the issue of euthanasia in animal shelters. There are millions of dogs and cats every year who are perfectly healthy and don't have homes, and they are euthanized after just a few days of being there. I had no known about that problem, and I wanted to write something about it. I knew that if I wrote a non-fiction book about it, it would be a very difficult thing to read and wouldn't have the reach that it would have if I wrote it a different way, so that was the genesis of trying to imbed the issue within a different kind of story that would be a little more uplifting.
On the book's website, he offers this "Note to Readers":
I don’t think anyone knows exactly how many animals are euthanized in shelters each year. I have seen estimates of anywhere from four to twenty million annually, or almost one per second.
This horrific problem requires not one but many solutions, I’m sure. Those solutions start with awareness, will, creativity, and money.
As I hope you can tell from the book, I have deep admiration for anyone who chooses a life of helping animals, whether they work in shelters or otherwise. There are hundreds of animal welfare and rescue organizations across the country that deserve our support. You can find many of them through online sites like Just Give. A portion of the income from the sale of this book will be donated to The Best Friends Animal Society and other animal rescue and welfare organizations.
Until we find solutions, our animal friends will sometimes need a good lawyer. I feel sure that Nick would fit right in at the Defenders of Wildlife and EarthJustice.
For more information on the problem of animal euthanasia, I suggest contacting the American Humane Association or the National Council on Pet Population and Study.
Especially if you believe in reincarnation.
The soul you save may be your own.
Evans has succeeded in presenting the problem of companion animal overpopulation as part of a lighter, more uplifting story. THE MARRIAGE OF TRUE MINDS never comes across as heavy-handed. (Though one animal shelter scene did bring tears to my eyes; rather than continue reading, I retired to bed early so that I could cuddle with my own five rescued dogs.) Overall, it's a nice summer read – the kind of book you breeze through during a weekend on the beach. The "meaning of life" ponderings are an added bonus, as is the portion of sales that Evans has pledged to donate to Best Friends Animal Society.
While much of the book hinges on Nick's mental health – or lack thereof – this is the only point in which I felt Evans faltered. Nick receives a diagnosis of delusional disorder from his psychiatrist, yet we don't really get a glimpse of any actual delusions. Nick acts erratically at times, wasting his money and committing property crimes such as the theft of the lobsters, but aside from conversations with Sancho the hand puppet (which he may or may not actually believe are "real"), his beliefs aren't crazy, just unpopular. Then again, perhaps that's the point: a respect for the welfare of fellow sentient beings isn't crazy at all, but perfectly rational, moral and sane. Maybe I didn't see the supposed "disorder" in Nick's behavior because I'm crazy, too.
Finally, I just wanted to make a note. Nick isn't what I'd call an "animal rights activist". Rather, he starts out as an environmental advocate (of the legal subset), and later on he also shows a concern for animal welfare issues. He never explicitly advocates for animal rights, in fact, he only goes veg (vegetarian) near the end of the book. (During dinner at Ralph and Alice's place, he refuses a serving of meat. When asked how long he's been a vegetarian, Nick replies "Five hours.") The publisher, who found me through Library Thing, asked me to review the book, in part because I write about environmental and animal rights issues on my blog. While it is a very animal-friendly book - one I highly recommend, since animal-friendly fiction is hard to come by - it's not an animal rights book per se. Even so, I think it's a great pick for animal advocates. It's also a novel that meat-eaters can enjoy, since the "preaching" is both lighthearted and focused on the plight of homeless dogs and cats (and who doesn't like dogs and cats?).
http://www.easyvegan.info/2008/06/03/...
(Full disclosure: I received a free copy of this book for review.)
In his debut novel, Stephen Evans has created a quirky – yet touching – story about love, loss and our moral responsibility to our fellow earthlings, human and non.
Lawyers Nick and Lena are the titular couple in THE MARRIAGE OF TRUE MINDS. On a whim, law school student Lena enrolled in Nick's environmental law course, and by term's end, the two had fallen head-over-heels in love. After they married, Lena joined Nick's law firm, and the two became crusaders for human and environmental rights. In time, Nick's seemingly tenuous grasp on reality unraveled, as did his marriage to Lena. When Nick's increasingly erratic behavior became too much for Lena to bear, the two divorced; she bought out his half of the house and firm, and set up a bank account for his living expenses…which he promptly squandered on a "guerilla activist" prank involving 144 lobsters, the mayor's swimming pool and the Minnesota Zoo.
In addition to costing him upwards of $250,000, Nick's latest eco-prank is also threatening his very freedom. Enter Lena, who agrees to defend him in court – against her new beau, one Preston Winter. (Awkward!) Without revealing too much of the plot, suffice to say that the brilliant Lena succeeds in saving Nick from both jail and psychiatric commitment – that is, if he can manage to complete his court-ordered community service and mandatory counseling without incident. Given that the volunteer work is to take place at the local animal shelter, Nick's chances don't look good.
Throughout it all, the long-suffering Lena is appointed Nick's supervisor/guardian by the court, further complicating their already complicated relationship. Since theirs is a marriage of true minds (and Preston is kind of a tool), you'll be rooting for Nick all the way.
Rounding out the cast of characters are Ralph and Alice, the grim-but-dedicated husband-and-wife team in charge of the animal shelter; Oscar, Nick's psychiatric attendant and sidekick; Sharon, Lena's personal assistant and sidekick; Wolfrum, a geriatric Irish Wolfhound slated for euthanasia at the shelter; and Sancho, Nick's sassy and anthropomorphized canine hand puppet.
In his press materials, Stephen Evans describes the inspiration behind THE MARRIAGE OF TRUE MINDS. When asked "How did this story start for you?", Evans replies:
When I learned about the issue of euthanasia in animal shelters. There are millions of dogs and cats every year who are perfectly healthy and don't have homes, and they are euthanized after just a few days of being there. I had no known about that problem, and I wanted to write something about it. I knew that if I wrote a non-fiction book about it, it would be a very difficult thing to read and wouldn't have the reach that it would have if I wrote it a different way, so that was the genesis of trying to imbed the issue within a different kind of story that would be a little more uplifting.
On the book's website, he offers this "Note to Readers":
I don’t think anyone knows exactly how many animals are euthanized in shelters each year. I have seen estimates of anywhere from four to twenty million annually, or almost one per second.
This horrific problem requires not one but many solutions, I’m sure. Those solutions start with awareness, will, creativity, and money.
As I hope you can tell from the book, I have deep admiration for anyone who chooses a life of helping animals, whether they work in shelters or otherwise. There are hundreds of animal welfare and rescue organizations across the country that deserve our support. You can find many of them through online sites like Just Give. A portion of the income from the sale of this book will be donated to The Best Friends Animal Society and other animal rescue and welfare organizations.
Until we find solutions, our animal friends will sometimes need a good lawyer. I feel sure that Nick would fit right in at the Defenders of Wildlife and EarthJustice.
For more information on the problem of animal euthanasia, I suggest contacting the American Humane Association or the National Council on Pet Population and Study.
Especially if you believe in reincarnation.
The soul you save may be your own.
Evans has succeeded in presenting the problem of companion animal overpopulation as part of a lighter, more uplifting story. THE MARRIAGE OF TRUE MINDS never comes across as heavy-handed. (Though one animal shelter scene did bring tears to my eyes; rather than continue reading, I retired to bed early so that I could cuddle with my own five rescued dogs.) Overall, it's a nice summer read – the kind of book you breeze through during a weekend on the beach. The "meaning of life" ponderings are an added bonus, as is the portion of sales that Evans has pledged to donate to Best Friends Animal Society.
While much of the book hinges on Nick's mental health – or lack thereof – this is the only point in which I felt Evans faltered. Nick receives a diagnosis of delusional disorder from his psychiatrist, yet we don't really get a glimpse of any actual delusions. Nick acts erratically at times, wasting his money and committing property crimes such as the theft of the lobsters, but aside from conversations with Sancho the hand puppet (which he may or may not actually believe are "real"), his beliefs aren't crazy, just unpopular. Then again, perhaps that's the point: a respect for the welfare of fellow sentient beings isn't crazy at all, but perfectly rational, moral and sane. Maybe I didn't see the supposed "disorder" in Nick's behavior because I'm crazy, too.
Finally, I just wanted to make a note. Nick isn't what I'd call an "animal rights activist". Rather, he starts out as an environmental advocate (of the legal subset), and later on he also shows a concern for animal welfare issues. He never explicitly advocates for animal rights, in fact, he only goes veg (vegetarian) near the end of the book. (During dinner at Ralph and Alice's place, he refuses a serving of meat. When asked how long he's been a vegetarian, Nick replies "Five hours.") The publisher, who found me through Library Thing, asked me to review the book, in part because I write about environmental and animal rights issues on my blog. While it is a very animal-friendly book - one I highly recommend, since animal-friendly fiction is hard to come by - it's not an animal rights book per se. Even so, I think it's a great pick for animal advocates. It's also a novel that meat-eaters can enjoy, since the "preaching" is both lighthearted and focused on the plight of homeless dogs and cats (and who doesn't like dogs and cats?).
http://www.easyvegan.info/2008/06/03/...
February 9, 2019
Quirky and enjoyable
July 6, 2014
"How do you love someone that dances the dark line between genius and insanity?"
"Do you know the definition of insanity?
Yes. It starts with an L."
Stephen Evans just wowed me with this - his debut novel, yet already a cunning masterpiece! A 179-paged minimalist prose that tackles with remarkably polished subtlety themes on love and relationship, mental health and behavior, in the context of law, marriage and environmental protection. It is ingeniously crafted with idiosyncratic characters, delicious humor, quirky sophism, crazy brilliant wit, sharp dialogue and stirring emotion. This was a highly thought-provoking, engaging and entertaining read for me such that I was literally laughing out loud and crying with real tears! It also throws in interesting references from other artists and literary pieces like Shakespeare. It leaves plenty space for imagination. In my honest opinion, I think this novel is good material for book discussion for reasons already mentioned above and by virtue of its relevance. And for that, Evans now becomes my favorite modern-day writer.
Sine Timore, Stana Katic's production company, has optioned this novel as well as its feature-length screenplay for film adaptation. The project is currently in development, and I am already so looking forward to it. I hope Stana plays Elena Grant - the lead female character.
"Do you know the definition of insanity?
Yes. It starts with an L."
Stephen Evans just wowed me with this - his debut novel, yet already a cunning masterpiece! A 179-paged minimalist prose that tackles with remarkably polished subtlety themes on love and relationship, mental health and behavior, in the context of law, marriage and environmental protection. It is ingeniously crafted with idiosyncratic characters, delicious humor, quirky sophism, crazy brilliant wit, sharp dialogue and stirring emotion. This was a highly thought-provoking, engaging and entertaining read for me such that I was literally laughing out loud and crying with real tears! It also throws in interesting references from other artists and literary pieces like Shakespeare. It leaves plenty space for imagination. In my honest opinion, I think this novel is good material for book discussion for reasons already mentioned above and by virtue of its relevance. And for that, Evans now becomes my favorite modern-day writer.
Sine Timore, Stana Katic's production company, has optioned this novel as well as its feature-length screenplay for film adaptation. The project is currently in development, and I am already so looking forward to it. I hope Stana plays Elena Grant - the lead female character.
August 3, 2008
This is the second book I've read in the last two weeks that takes place in Minneapolis, and specifically in the Uptown area. Like the neighborhood, this book is a bit quirky. Nick Ward is delusional - or is he just a man with a lot of imagination and a true dedication to animal rights? Probably all three, and this makes him a very hard man to live with - just ask his ex-wife and ex-law partner Lena Grant.
The slightly wacky animal-rights theme is Hiaasen-esque and downright implausible, which detracts from the wistful partly sad/partly giddy tone of the book. Nick and Lena's relationship is frustrating and absolutely on target - Nick's responses to Lena and to life are always skewed. When it comes to doing the impossible because it needs to be done, a person like Nick is either called crazy or a hero, but trying to love him is bound to make a person go insane herself.
The two moods - contemplative, sweet/sad whimsy and ballsy take-charge action - didn't mesh for me. However, a fairly great dog puppet named Sancho redeemed much of the book. Worth a try - it's a quick and breezy book, with a unique tone.
The slightly wacky animal-rights theme is Hiaasen-esque and downright implausible, which detracts from the wistful partly sad/partly giddy tone of the book. Nick and Lena's relationship is frustrating and absolutely on target - Nick's responses to Lena and to life are always skewed. When it comes to doing the impossible because it needs to be done, a person like Nick is either called crazy or a hero, but trying to love him is bound to make a person go insane herself.
The two moods - contemplative, sweet/sad whimsy and ballsy take-charge action - didn't mesh for me. However, a fairly great dog puppet named Sancho redeemed much of the book. Worth a try - it's a quick and breezy book, with a unique tone.
March 19, 2009
This book revolves around the magnetic relationship of a savvy lawyer, Lena, and her eccentric, and delusional ex-husband, Nick. At first, Nick seems like a constant burden on Lena, making it hard to understand or sympathize with his character. However, as more of the story is revealed, his beautiful idealism emerges, making the reader question what would be better....understanding the world as it is or imagining the world as it could be.
I really enjoyed reading this book. The writing is readable, the characters are genuine, and the story is poetic. Hopefully, you will get as much out of it as I did.
I really enjoyed reading this book. The writing is readable, the characters are genuine, and the story is poetic. Hopefully, you will get as much out of it as I did.
Read
January 21, 2011An environmental attorney fills the mayor’s pool with ice and live lobsters, then makes his getaway in a stretch limo accompanied by his sock puppet, Sancho. For this stunt, Nick Ward ends up in the psych ward. His ex-wife and law partner, Lena Grant, comes to his rescue for, what she says, will be the last time. Playwright Evans’ first novel interlaces sharp-witted humor, enduring idealism, animal rights, and an unexpectedly moving love story. Favorite line: “memory is imagination in reverse.”
January 25, 2017
Here are the good things about this book: 1.) It's short 2.) Great witty dialogue.
Other than that, it doesn't have much going for it. Nick, the animal rights extremist, is supposed to be appealing, sort of a manic pixie dream boy, but he's just insane, full of himself and irksome. The fact that Lena is at all attracted to him makes me think Nick is not the only character in this book suffering from mental illness.
Other than that, it doesn't have much going for it. Nick, the animal rights extremist, is supposed to be appealing, sort of a manic pixie dream boy, but he's just insane, full of himself and irksome. The fact that Lena is at all attracted to him makes me think Nick is not the only character in this book suffering from mental illness.
September 3, 2008
This was a quick, enjoyable read about the relationship between two likable and somewhat wacky characters. It has a combination of emotions that run the gamut--whimsical to poignant to serious to optimistic and funny. Some of Nick's lines are priceless! I'd recommend this as a book you pick up when you don't have loads of time to invest--it's clever and satisfying.
June 30, 2008
Very easy read about two engaging live characters, Nicjk & Lena and very clever hand puppet - Sancho. Great book for a summer read, funny and poignant. It will tug at the heart strings of animal lovers everywhere.
Read
August 11, 2011Stephen Evans is primarily a playwright,and it shows.He has a great ear for sharp dialogue,which lifts this novel above the ordinary.The characters seem rather thinly drawn though.If you enjoyed this you might enjoy Kyle Smith's Love Monkey,and Matt Ruff's Fool on the Hill.
January 14, 2016
I found this guy on the Redroom (http://redroom.com) and had no idea what his longer prose would be like. At $3.99 for the Kindle edition, I took a flier on his novel, and really enjoyed it.
It was a quick read, very funny in parts, and clipped along at breakneck pace.
It was a quick read, very funny in parts, and clipped along at breakneck pace.
September 28, 2008
fun, "Thin Man"-ish repartee. You'll love the puppet!
November 19, 2008
I have viewed a many screwball comedies on screen, but this is the first one I have read. It's a little 'His Girl Friday'and Adam's Rib with just a dash of Philadelphia Story. A fun and quick read.
March 18, 2009
Set in my home state so that was kind of cool. The story itself is cute and kind of funny. Again, an improbable "Hollywood ending" given the story but oh, well.
March 21, 2009
I need to read more funny books like this!
March 28, 2009
A really familiar story for anyone who's dated someone...not NOT crazy.
August 7, 2009
Odd characters but I liked them. They were a little crazy but they were in love.
September 2, 2011
There are funny parts, there are some interesting parts, and there are parts where I just don't get. It's alright.
October 11, 2011
Hilarious, rip roaring fun.
Tragic and funny all rolled into one. He's quixotic, she's long suffering.
It's a great match, with their 'partner' Sancho.
Tragic and funny all rolled into one. He's quixotic, she's long suffering.
It's a great match, with their 'partner' Sancho.
May 26, 2013
It's one of the best book I ever read!!!!!!! And I'm love with Sacho
February 5, 2009
Agree with Kinky Friedman, this is a fun read!
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews