Holding Out

by Anne O. Faulk

Anne O. Faulk's first novel, Holding Out, suggests that despite the many advances as women have made in the last few decades, sometimes the best path to achieving equality is to look back centuries and add a modern twist.

Holding Out begins when the wife of Lawrence Underwood, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, commits suicide as a result of 16 years of physical abuse at the hands of her own husband. The male-dominated Congress refuses to impeach the Chief Justice over the charges, and women across the country are outraged.

Lauren Fontaine, a 36-year-old high-powered executive and single mom, has always felt strongly about women's rights, but like many women, she has chosen to participate in the movement from the sidelines. But when Lauren hears of a march on Washington, she surprises her 16-year-old son, Razz, her longtime housekeeper, Elizabeth, and even herself, and chooses to join the ranks of those women willing to take action.

When Lauren arrives in Washington, she finds herself meeting with a group of feminist leaders who are clamoring for a radical idea that will rally the forces. Taking a cue from Lysistrata, Lauren half-jokingly suggests the solution found in Aristophanes' play, which she coincidentally heard only a few days before - withhold sex from all men until they give in to women's demands.

The sex strike makes Lauren an instant celebrity, forcing her to come to terms with the reactions of those she cares about and those she doesn't know, all the while watching the business she's worked so hard to build unravel in front of her eyes.

In Holding Out, Faulk draws on her own experiences as a single mother and a high-powered executive and consultant and is able to keep a realistic perspective as well as a wry sense of humor as she addresses real issues that can easily be blown out of proportion in today's complicated world. Faulk's lead character confronts spousal abuse, gender inequality, and media exploitation, and the resolutions are not pat and simplistic, but inspiring and powerful.

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit

528 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Joanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just found this at my house and realized I never added it here. This is chick lit with a bit more substance. After a politician is cleared of blame for his wife's suicide even though he had been abusing her for years a woman suggests that all women refuse to have sex with their partners until justice is served. Women actually listen to the main character and go along with the sex protest (based on the Lysistrata myth) and she becomes the target of many angry men. There were some funny things here but overall the book was a lot heavier than expected but in a good way.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh...Holding Out doesn't stand out much at all in my head. I think it was disappointingly slow and probably involved politics a lot more than I was expecting. Kind of a let down.

[Karen Hertel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good. Funny, witty, somewhat risque in language and one sex scene

[CLM · Rating 4 out of 5]

I lent my copy to a co-worker in Chicago, and of course never got it back, so it took me years to remember the title. I found this extremely fun and entertaining.

When a (imaginary) Supreme Court Justice is cleared of any involvement in his wife's suicide, women who knew he was a wife abuser are furious. High powered Atlanta businesswoman Lauren Fontaine, much to her surprise, finds herself heading to DC to organize a national protest.

Some readers found Lauren an unlikeable character but I don't recall that bothering me. I loved the modern day version of Lysistrata, and recommend it.

[Nicole]

I am reading this book for research for an upcoming interview about my blog, http://gunsgetnone.wordpress.com.

So far, I think the author just lost me on page 50 when she describes the introduction of the "mammified" housekeeper character Elizabeth. *Sigh!* Is there any chance at ALL that a housekeeper could be something OTHER than female, black, and overweight with a Southern-country type vernacular? I guess it's supposed to be a comforting kind of image or something but I just found it disappointingly typical. That said, I'll keep on reading!

[Krista · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting concept, witholding sex to get the world to do what you want; just hasn't ever really worked for me, which is why I find the story a little far-fetched. And the writing did little to enhance my belief.

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Modern farce about withholding sex until a Supreme Court Justice who beat his wife is removed from office.
A stock broker brings together the women's movement and what consequences she has in her life.
Good.

[Tracy Thiede · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second time reading this book and I enjoyed it even more the second time. I love strong female characters.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't typically read chic lit, but I was given this book for free. If you like chic lit, I bet you'd like this more than I did. The story was pretty amusing and had some real content and drama.

[Mel Ance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bought this book at the second hand book sale.. It wasnt everything I expected it to be.. But i fell in love with the characters in the book.. the story line drags a bit but a good read :)

[Amy]

"I felt like a thermos that had been dropped on a concrete driveway, unblemished on the surface and shattered inside."

[Dh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun romp.

[Bonnie]

BC