A Reliable Wife

by Robert Goolrick

A Reliable Wife [Paperback]

Genres: Romance, Fiction

Paperback

Published January 1, 2010

About the author

I was born in a small university town in Virginia, a town in which, besides teaching, the chief preoccupations were drinking bourbon and telling complex anecdotes, stories about people who lived down the road, stories about ancestors who had died a hundred years before. For southerners, the past is as real as the present; it is not even past, as Faulkner said.

I went to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and then lived in Europe for several years, thinking that I would be an actor or a painter, two things for which I had a passion that outran my talent. I wrote an early novel, and then my parents disinherited me, so I moved to New York, which is where small-town people move to do and say the things they can't do or say at home, and I ended up working in advertising, a profession that feeds on young people who have an amorphous talent and no particular focus.

Fired in my early fifties, the way people are in advertising, I tried to figure out what to do with the rest of my life, and I came back around to the pastime that had filled the days and nights of my childhood: telling complex anecdotes about the living and the dead. I think, when we read, we relish and devour remarkable voices, but these are, in the end, stories we remember.

I live in a tiny town in Virginia in a great old farmhouse on a wide and serene river with my dog, whose name is Preacher. Since he has other interests besides listening to my stories, I tell them to you.

Reviews

[Julia Canales · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oof. That was my last reaction. The first one went more like uhhh. Second was hmmm okay. Third was no no no. But yeah. Oof.

A girl cheats on her husband with his son. Interesting. She poisons her husband and he let's her because he loves her. Interesting. Somehow these characters go from absolute moral blackness to a forgiveness that is truly remarkable.

Yes, I do like this book. I'm surprised too. I loved how the characters resolved everything. My interest was piqued the whole time. By logical standards this book was like a bad therapy session. The saddest part was bit with her sister.

Wouldn't recommend necessarily. Acquired taste.

[Cherie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a weird book. Every single character was an extremely bitter, troubled soul. I like the story line and was hoping for a good ending. I suppose there was at least for a couple of people. The rest died in their misery. Too much talk of sex but I suppose that is a real life escape for
the troubled. It was dark but interesting enough.

[Sheila Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was interesting. I am not sure why this was on my list to read as it was a bit different from my usual "go to" book. That being said I seem to be reading many different stories lately. It began feeling like a romance novel but as I got into the story it was not that at all. The book is about choice, appreciation for what you have, and recognizing what you value. I ended up enjoying the book .

[Kirstyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just didn't do it for me.

[wallowinbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite the detailed narration of Ralph Truitt's repressed addiction to sex which quite bothered me, the entire story was good.

| It was just a story of despair.

We can see the characters' misery of the situations they're in, their trauma, how others coveted hope and found it and others, just pure hopelessness.

I just have a tad issue of how women are represented in the book: lying, cunning, cheaters, murderers. It just doesn't seem quite right while Truitt, is the martyr who forgives a lot.

Nevertheless, I do admire Catherine's fondness for books which takes me to one of my favorite passage:

| She loved the smell of the books from the shelves, the type on the pages, the sense that the world was an infinite but knowable place. Every fact she learned seemed to open another question, and for every question there was another book.

And also, I thought this was going to be a psychological thriller, that's why I bought it. It was more like drama and tragedy.

[Kenneth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this read. It is really a story of a mail order bride by a Wisconsin business man in 1907 who lives in the country who turns out to really be a black widow looking to make a fortune from him. This story is not quite so simple, and none of the characters are simple either. Each one is complex and has various motives and redeeming qualities, and events in this novel. It does portray life in Wisconsin as an endless cold and dark winter with a lot of people that seem to go crazy with violence or depression. It does have a lot of descriptive sex scenes in the book if that is a bother for you. Otherwise quite a compelling read!.

[Cassidy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such a fascinating tale set in 1907. Slightly boring, but in a way that preceded the modern day so it works with the story. Secrets and truths and love and hate all mingle beautifully. I truly never knew what would be said or done next, and the end was perfect for what the book had been. That’s rare. I liked how there was redemption but also a continuation of heartbreak. It felt relatable but easy to judge each character and their choices. I liked it but wouldn’t recommend for it feels like a specific taste. Especially with all the talk of the sins of flesh but the need nonetheless.

[Eponine · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not enjoy reading this book, so it took me a while to finish it. The author's writing style was off putting to me. He seemed to describe every detail of things that don't matter and go on and on about things that had nothing to do with the story. The story itself could have been interesting I think but the execution of it was hard to keep my attention. It was filled with sexual themes that were just odd. The odd part mostly being how much of it was in there. I just didn't enjoy it at all.

[gwace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is CAPTIVATING. Twists like you cannot imagine. The author makes you pull for every character even though no character is perfect (or even close). This is a book about forgiveness, hardship, despair, and the cruelty of life. I’ll think about it for awhile. Trigger warning the book does contain sexual assault.

[Destiny Harbaugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very intriguing and well written...however there were a LOT of sexual scenes that I was not prepared for. Had to skip a good majority of this Book due to those 😅. I enjoyed everything else, had great mystery and plot progression and the dialog was entertaining. I loved the twists and turns as well. Definitley recommend for those over 18.

[Erika · Rating 2 out of 5]

The flowery language and vivid descriptions of nature will appeal to some, but it was too much for me. The best part of this book was when the reader discovers that Antonio and Catherine concocted the scheme together before Catherine met Ralph. The rest of the time, I was just speed reading to finish.

[Robin Shaffer]

On the back of the book, it states what Catherines plans are and says that Ralph had "a plan of his own." I expected more from his plan. I liked the book, but there was never a hold your breath, didn't see that coming kind of moment that I really enjoy in a book.

[Betsy Baltzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

100% Suspenseful to the very last page and packed with twists & turns from beginning to end. What sort of woman answers a wanted add in a paper for “a reliable wife?” Catherine & Ralph’s story is full of dark secrets, passion, redemption and survival. A thrilling read for sure!

[Colette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting storyline which captured my attention right away. I listened to half of it before turning it back in to the library because of the detailed descriptions and objectification of women.

[Kathryn Sanchez · Rating 2 out of 5]

I strongly dislike the way this book is written. It's very descriptive with abstract thoughts. The storyline is quite short but all the descriptions make the book long. I was surprised by the ending which I fully expected not to be. This story reads like a warm spring day spent watching the clouds.

[Stacey Byrne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story about a rich man writing for a wife who tries to poison him in cohorts with his estranged son

[Keniesha Merritt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story full of terrible people. Not what I expected at all. Loved it!

[Ashley Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so poetically written and so poignant. I cried on an airplane when I finished it.

[Siobhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing book. Twisty and it was a great journey to see where the characters go.

[glad reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not enjoy it 😭 sorry.

[Jennifer Senne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could not put this one down!

[McKenzie Murray · Rating 1 out of 5]

idk how this ended up on my book shelf but it was painful to get through. So descriptive for no reason, didn’t love the writing style and i kept counting down the pages till i was done :)

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was drawn through this book quickly, but didn’t like how much sex there was like it was as important as the main story line.

[Emily Mouyard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not at all what I was expecting. There are all kinds of twists and turns. You will change what characters you like and support several times.

[Carrie Z · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could tell a man wrote it. Different, kept my interest, but would say it’s a must read.

[rosemary hagemeier · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story about wrong doing & seeking redemption. It shows shallow lives, deception, greed & what hate or love does to people.

[Marylynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really for me. Pretty dark.

[BJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book over a few days so the dates listed are not accurate.

There were surprises about the characters which I liked.
Happy and very sad moments throughout the story.

[Judy · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

[Laurie Risi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would say it’s a 3.5+. Interesting characters and story with good twists and turns. Slightly disappointed with the ending but still enjoyable