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Wife For Sale
Has any woman the right to sell her soul for security?
Even though she was more than half in love with handsome, wealthy David Howard, Norah Oliver had to admit that he no longer seemed interested in her. Stifling her heart-ache and driven by desperation, she did a fantastic thing. She inserted a want-ad in a newspaper asking for a husband-- and the ad was answered! It was an answer that brought Barry Dunsmuir, with his queer, bitter mind and his curious grin, into Norah's life. Marriage to Barry opened a new world to her--the world of his beautiful home, Faraway, where city-bred Norah had to face a strange life.
Kathleen Norris's intimate knowledge of a woman's soul is romantically revealed in this book. She shows all the anguish of thwarted love and uncertain waiting a woman is forced to undergo. Here is a compelling and absorbing novel of an unusual novel in today's world.
Even though she was more than half in love with handsome, wealthy David Howard, Norah Oliver had to admit that he no longer seemed interested in her. Stifling her heart-ache and driven by desperation, she did a fantastic thing. She inserted a want-ad in a newspaper asking for a husband-- and the ad was answered! It was an answer that brought Barry Dunsmuir, with his queer, bitter mind and his curious grin, into Norah's life. Marriage to Barry opened a new world to her--the world of his beautiful home, Faraway, where city-bred Norah had to face a strange life.
Kathleen Norris's intimate knowledge of a woman's soul is romantically revealed in this book. She shows all the anguish of thwarted love and uncertain waiting a woman is forced to undergo. Here is a compelling and absorbing novel of an unusual novel in today's world.
212 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 1933
67 people want to read
About the author
Kathleen Thompson Norris
226 books63 followersEducated at the University of California, Kathleen married Charles Gilman Norris, brother of the late Benjamin Franklin Norris, Junior, in 1909. She was a prolific author, producing over 80 novels in addition to numerous short stories and articles. Norris was a regular contributor to leading magazines such as Atlantic and Ladies' Home Journal. Her first novel, Lost Sunrise, appeared in 1909 and was immediately popular. By the end of her career her books had sold over ten million copies and made her the highest paid female author of her day.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 20, 2024
I don’t know why I liked this book so much I feel like I just got bookmatized 😵💫🤡
November 16, 2024
A gem! My favorite new author of 2024 is definitely Kathleen Norris. Her vintage romance novels are full of everything I love: cozy and descriptive details about home, clothing, food, and nature. There's always a bit of a twist in the story, too, which is fun—sometimes it's expected and sometimes not. But, I love that about her writing!
Wife for Sale was an interesting story (although a tad unbelievable in one or two aspects) and I enjoyed every minute of it. The only reason I didn't give it a higher rating was because I felt less connected to her main characters than I usually do. I still thought the novel was great, but it was missing a deeper element that Kathleen Norris' books are generally known for.
So glad I was able to buddy read this book with Andrea (@sorrythankyou79 on Instagram) and I can't wait to chat with her about it. So far, I've been in love with this author's books and I hope that streak continues!
NOTE: Wife for Sale has a wonderful Thanksgiving chapter and is the perfect read for November!
Wife for Sale was an interesting story (although a tad unbelievable in one or two aspects) and I enjoyed every minute of it. The only reason I didn't give it a higher rating was because I felt less connected to her main characters than I usually do. I still thought the novel was great, but it was missing a deeper element that Kathleen Norris' books are generally known for.
So glad I was able to buddy read this book with Andrea (@sorrythankyou79 on Instagram) and I can't wait to chat with her about it. So far, I've been in love with this author's books and I hope that streak continues!
NOTE: Wife for Sale has a wonderful Thanksgiving chapter and is the perfect read for November!
April 9, 2015
Such a breath of fresh air to my reading list. It was fun to read a book written from a woman's perspective who was actually writing and commenting on real issues and concerns that were relevant to people of her era.
I think sometimes we get so caught up in our "modern" third world problems that we forget what REALLY tough times are and how they make those they impact to stretch and to grow.
I loved this interesting premise for a book, and it was so well written.
I think sometimes we get so caught up in our "modern" third world problems that we forget what REALLY tough times are and how they make those they impact to stretch and to grow.
I loved this interesting premise for a book, and it was so well written.
December 26, 2015
Super cute, I got through it in a day. Would read again. It really showed to me that you can come to love someone and well... think them handsome once you get to know them, despite first impressions and appearances.
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May 2, 2010This book can only be described as delightful
July 9, 2008
started this book but couldn't get thru it. the style of writing is too old fashioned and i could not relate. i think it was written in the 30's.
August 6, 2016
This is a really cute book, written in the 1930s. It's not very fast-paced, so you have to enjoy it for what is; an old-fashioned picturesque love story.
January 18, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. The story was interesting with an unusual plot related to life experiences during the great depression. I liked the simple, straightforward writing style.
March 7, 2021
My copy was a HARDBACK dated 1932; NOT a Paperback!
When I found this book, and saw the year of copyright, I realized that the author [Kathleen Norris, a prolific writer] wrote the story at the relative beginning of the Depression. I wondered if she realized what the current state of the Depression was at the time she was writing, and wondered what she would think as to how bad the Depression would become. I wasn't going to find the answer to that question by reading this book, but as Norris continued to write many more books, she obviously found her niche and successfully survived the distressing times.
The plot involves a Depression family: the father has died leaving the family in financial ruin, the mother is sickly, one daughter has married a divorced man whom the family dislikes, a daughter, Norah, has lost her job as the story begins, her brother, Keith, who has been given notice that he will be losing his job soon, and another younger daughter, Eve, whose wages are minimal. How will they survive? I remember the word 'disconsolate' being referenced a number of times and it was appropriate. Yes, the situation was dire.
Norah decides to write an anonymous letter to the Editor of the newspaper, offering to marry a man who can pay twenty thousand dollars to help support her family. She changes some of the facts such as writing that it is her father who is ill, and supplements the unsupportable specifics. Thus begins the story which Norris fleshed out with other characters and interesting locales and weather.
I totally enjoyed the book as I had wondered from the beginning how the situation would work out, and felt that the author did a good job.
When I found this book, and saw the year of copyright, I realized that the author [Kathleen Norris, a prolific writer] wrote the story at the relative beginning of the Depression. I wondered if she realized what the current state of the Depression was at the time she was writing, and wondered what she would think as to how bad the Depression would become. I wasn't going to find the answer to that question by reading this book, but as Norris continued to write many more books, she obviously found her niche and successfully survived the distressing times.
The plot involves a Depression family: the father has died leaving the family in financial ruin, the mother is sickly, one daughter has married a divorced man whom the family dislikes, a daughter, Norah, has lost her job as the story begins, her brother, Keith, who has been given notice that he will be losing his job soon, and another younger daughter, Eve, whose wages are minimal. How will they survive? I remember the word 'disconsolate' being referenced a number of times and it was appropriate. Yes, the situation was dire.
Norah decides to write an anonymous letter to the Editor of the newspaper, offering to marry a man who can pay twenty thousand dollars to help support her family. She changes some of the facts such as writing that it is her father who is ill, and supplements the unsupportable specifics. Thus begins the story which Norris fleshed out with other characters and interesting locales and weather.
I totally enjoyed the book as I had wondered from the beginning how the situation would work out, and felt that the author did a good job.
October 6, 2025
Norah and her family are selfish, and her family depends on her way too much. They’re all controlling, especially her mother and sister. The events happen so fast! How did David suddenly start loving Norah more than she loved him, especially after he treated her badly and ignored her notes and calls? There are zero emotions here. Out of nowhere, her sister loves David, her boyfriend Larry just disappears, and her brother Keith doesn’t even care when his girl marries someone else.
Honestly, the writer doesn’t seem to know how to write a proper story. I didn’t feel a thing. There’s way too much description about the garden, the farm, the food, and how much Norah loves the farm, but almost nothing about the characters, their emotions, or the important scenes. Even when Norah finds Barry’s letters and journals, it’s flat because the author is too busy admiring the sunset, the rain, and the oatmeal.
I can’t get over how characters just vanish and reappear out of nowhere, and how so many events happen in one single day. And in the end, Norah stays with Barry only because of the farm. She just wants the farm, that’s it. :)
Honestly, the writer doesn’t seem to know how to write a proper story. I didn’t feel a thing. There’s way too much description about the garden, the farm, the food, and how much Norah loves the farm, but almost nothing about the characters, their emotions, or the important scenes. Even when Norah finds Barry’s letters and journals, it’s flat because the author is too busy admiring the sunset, the rain, and the oatmeal.
I can’t get over how characters just vanish and reappear out of nowhere, and how so many events happen in one single day. And in the end, Norah stays with Barry only because of the farm. She just wants the farm, that’s it. :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews