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The Professors' Wives' Club
A debut novel about the intertwining lives of college faculty wives.
Nestled among Manhattan University's faculty housing, there is a garden where four women will meet each with a scandalous secret that could upset their lives, destroy their families, and rock the prestigious university to its very core.
With its maple trees, iron gate, and fence laced with honeysuckle, Manhattan U's garden offers faculty wives Mary, Sofia, Ashleigh, and Hannah much needed refuge from their problems. But as Mary's husband, the power-hungry dean, plans to demolish their beloved garden, these four women will discover a surprising secret about a lost Edgar Allan Poe manuscript and realize they must find the courage to stand up for their passions, dreams, and desires.
Nestled among Manhattan University's faculty housing, there is a garden where four women will meet each with a scandalous secret that could upset their lives, destroy their families, and rock the prestigious university to its very core.
With its maple trees, iron gate, and fence laced with honeysuckle, Manhattan U's garden offers faculty wives Mary, Sofia, Ashleigh, and Hannah much needed refuge from their problems. But as Mary's husband, the power-hungry dean, plans to demolish their beloved garden, these four women will discover a surprising secret about a lost Edgar Allan Poe manuscript and realize they must find the courage to stand up for their passions, dreams, and desires.
352 pages, Paperback
First published August 23, 2008
9 people are currently reading
529 people want to read
About the author
Joanne Rendell
9 books181 followersJoanne Rendell was born and raised in the UK. After completing a PhD in English Literature (at the University of Sheffield), she moved to New York to be with her husband, a professor at NYU. Her debut novel "The Professors' Wives' Club" will be released this September ('08) by New American Library/Penguin. Her second novel comes out in 2009.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
June 20, 2011
Women in abusive relationships find courage and make changes for the better. Women help each other. It’s a feel-good ending.
STORY BRIEF:
Four women live in faculty housing at (fictional) Manhattan University. In the middle of the housing complex is a garden they enjoy. The History Dept. Dean wants to replace the garden with a parking lot. These women met in the garden and now take steps to try to stop the construction. Each woman has a relationship problem described below. By the end, each woman has taken action and made a change in her life for the better.
Mary is an English Professor. She previously wrote a Pulitzer Prize winning novel. He husband is Jack who is Dean of the History Dept. Jack is physically and verbally abusive to Mary. She is frightened when around him. She is always trying to avoid getting him angry. When in a group she doesn’t speak her mind. She only says things she thinks he wants her to say.
Hannah used to be a model. Now she is an art student working on a Masters in Fine Art. Five years ago she married Michael, a computer science professor. He loved that she was a model. He doesn’t like that she quit modeling and in now interested in art. He has no interest in her interests. He never listens to her. He is impatient, condescending, and devalues her. She has self-doubt and tries to please him.
Ashleigh is a smart, hardworking attorney working in her uncle’s law firm. Her father is a Senator from Ohio. He’s a bully to her and to her uncle. Ashleigh is afraid to tell her parents that she is a lesbian and lives with Sam, a black woman who is a professor at Manhattan U. Ashleigh is white.
Sofia was a successful talent agent who quit work to have babies and be a full time mother. She married Tom who is an English professor and an expert in Edgar Allen Poe. Tom’s brother Hayden was one of her former acting clients. She brought him from obscurity to become an A-list star. Then he left her for another agent. She’s not willing to forgive him. Also she’s mistreating her husband. She’s bitchy, partly due to having just given birth. Then she suspects her husband may be having an affair with a grad student.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
This was a thoughtful and worthwhile read. The author did a wonderful job showing types of verbal abuse in a marriage. I’ve read a number of books where a woman is beaten or hurt by her husband and then escapes. But this book is different. It shows subtle forms of abuse: contempt, insulting, devaluing, anger, and silence. It does a good job showing why an intelligent woman would stay with an abuser. For example, Mary planned her escape to get away, but she chose to wait for certain reasons (which I could agree with): to finish her current job, to start her next job, and to see her daughter married without embarrassment. Yet I liked how this was resolved. I was surprised to see what happened and how she didn’t need to wait.
In an interview at the end of the book the author states “When people hear the title ‘The Professors’ Wives Club,’ the last thing they would probably expect is a story about a professor’s wife and her abusive husband. After all, aren’t male professors a smart and gentlemanly crew who would never abuse their wives? For the most part, of course, they are. But domestic violence goes on in all walks of life – including behind the closed doors of faculty marriages – and I wanted to show this. I wanted to show that smart women, strong women, and accomplished women can be abused by their supposedly smart and accomplished husbands. There aren’t many portrayals of domestic violence in popular culture – especially few in middle- or upper-class setting. Yet, in spite of this, the Family Violence Prevention Fund reports that nearly one-third of American women report being physically or sexually abused by a husband or boyfriend at some point in their lives.”
Some books showing abuse could be depressing (which I would avoid), but this book was not. It was comforting and uplifting in the way these women found strength and courage to make changes in their lives for the better. I enjoyed how they met, became friends, and supported each other. The ending was comforting and pleasant.
I love reading about romantic relationship development. “That” is not to be found here, but at the end of the book there is the hint of future romances to come. Although I list two genres below, the chick lit label feels too frivolous for this book. Women’s relationship fiction fits better – it’s a little more serious sounding. My only negative was that the author switched back and forth among the four women’s stories. Sometimes I felt the stories were being interrupted. On balance I can accept it, but occasionally I was slightly annoyed with it.
DATA:
Story length: 321 pages. Swearing language: moderate, including religious swear words. Sexual content: none. Setting: current day New York City area, NY. Copyright: 2008. Genres: Women’s Relationship Fiction, Chick Lit.
STORY BRIEF:
Four women live in faculty housing at (fictional) Manhattan University. In the middle of the housing complex is a garden they enjoy. The History Dept. Dean wants to replace the garden with a parking lot. These women met in the garden and now take steps to try to stop the construction. Each woman has a relationship problem described below. By the end, each woman has taken action and made a change in her life for the better.
Mary is an English Professor. She previously wrote a Pulitzer Prize winning novel. He husband is Jack who is Dean of the History Dept. Jack is physically and verbally abusive to Mary. She is frightened when around him. She is always trying to avoid getting him angry. When in a group she doesn’t speak her mind. She only says things she thinks he wants her to say.
Hannah used to be a model. Now she is an art student working on a Masters in Fine Art. Five years ago she married Michael, a computer science professor. He loved that she was a model. He doesn’t like that she quit modeling and in now interested in art. He has no interest in her interests. He never listens to her. He is impatient, condescending, and devalues her. She has self-doubt and tries to please him.
Ashleigh is a smart, hardworking attorney working in her uncle’s law firm. Her father is a Senator from Ohio. He’s a bully to her and to her uncle. Ashleigh is afraid to tell her parents that she is a lesbian and lives with Sam, a black woman who is a professor at Manhattan U. Ashleigh is white.
Sofia was a successful talent agent who quit work to have babies and be a full time mother. She married Tom who is an English professor and an expert in Edgar Allen Poe. Tom’s brother Hayden was one of her former acting clients. She brought him from obscurity to become an A-list star. Then he left her for another agent. She’s not willing to forgive him. Also she’s mistreating her husband. She’s bitchy, partly due to having just given birth. Then she suspects her husband may be having an affair with a grad student.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
This was a thoughtful and worthwhile read. The author did a wonderful job showing types of verbal abuse in a marriage. I’ve read a number of books where a woman is beaten or hurt by her husband and then escapes. But this book is different. It shows subtle forms of abuse: contempt, insulting, devaluing, anger, and silence. It does a good job showing why an intelligent woman would stay with an abuser. For example, Mary planned her escape to get away, but she chose to wait for certain reasons (which I could agree with): to finish her current job, to start her next job, and to see her daughter married without embarrassment. Yet I liked how this was resolved. I was surprised to see what happened and how she didn’t need to wait.
In an interview at the end of the book the author states “When people hear the title ‘The Professors’ Wives Club,’ the last thing they would probably expect is a story about a professor’s wife and her abusive husband. After all, aren’t male professors a smart and gentlemanly crew who would never abuse their wives? For the most part, of course, they are. But domestic violence goes on in all walks of life – including behind the closed doors of faculty marriages – and I wanted to show this. I wanted to show that smart women, strong women, and accomplished women can be abused by their supposedly smart and accomplished husbands. There aren’t many portrayals of domestic violence in popular culture – especially few in middle- or upper-class setting. Yet, in spite of this, the Family Violence Prevention Fund reports that nearly one-third of American women report being physically or sexually abused by a husband or boyfriend at some point in their lives.”
Some books showing abuse could be depressing (which I would avoid), but this book was not. It was comforting and uplifting in the way these women found strength and courage to make changes in their lives for the better. I enjoyed how they met, became friends, and supported each other. The ending was comforting and pleasant.
I love reading about romantic relationship development. “That” is not to be found here, but at the end of the book there is the hint of future romances to come. Although I list two genres below, the chick lit label feels too frivolous for this book. Women’s relationship fiction fits better – it’s a little more serious sounding. My only negative was that the author switched back and forth among the four women’s stories. Sometimes I felt the stories were being interrupted. On balance I can accept it, but occasionally I was slightly annoyed with it.
DATA:
Story length: 321 pages. Swearing language: moderate, including religious swear words. Sexual content: none. Setting: current day New York City area, NY. Copyright: 2008. Genres: Women’s Relationship Fiction, Chick Lit.
July 16, 2017
This book was super easy to predict, but I enjoyed it. It was just a nice easy beach read and I would recommend it.
July 20, 2018
Me ha gustado bastante, aunque no llega a las cuatro estrellas, más bien serían 3,75.
La novela está dividida en veintiséis capítulos y cada uno de ellos tiene por protagonista a una de las amigas. De esta forma, la autora nos relata el desarrollo de la historia de cada una de ellas sin que se entremezclen los acontecimientos.
En general, se trata de una lectura fresca y dinámica en la que no encontramos grandes reflexiones ni historias, pero sí que ensalza en valor de la amistad y la importancia de atrevernos a romper con lo que no nos hace felices para emprender nuevos itinerarios.
En relación con la portada, no me termina de convencer por el simple hecho de que aparecen las piernas de tres mujeres y, en cambio, las protagonistas de la novela son cuatro. Al no haber leído la sinopsis, esto hizo que al principio me sintiese algo desconcertada.
La novela está dividida en veintiséis capítulos y cada uno de ellos tiene por protagonista a una de las amigas. De esta forma, la autora nos relata el desarrollo de la historia de cada una de ellas sin que se entremezclen los acontecimientos.
En general, se trata de una lectura fresca y dinámica en la que no encontramos grandes reflexiones ni historias, pero sí que ensalza en valor de la amistad y la importancia de atrevernos a romper con lo que no nos hace felices para emprender nuevos itinerarios.
En relación con la portada, no me termina de convencer por el simple hecho de que aparecen las piernas de tres mujeres y, en cambio, las protagonistas de la novela son cuatro. Al no haber leído la sinopsis, esto hizo que al principio me sintiese algo desconcertada.
July 15, 2019
This was a story of several women who are all connected because of a garden on the college campus where they live. They come together because of the garden and the need to preserve it. In the meantime, they learn much about themselves and others.
I liked that the characters had "problems" and that life wasn't easy. This was a good, quick read.
I liked that the characters had "problems" and that life wasn't easy. This was a good, quick read.
June 9, 2018
Good read for vacation. Got it for $.50 at library and read it on the plane. No surprises but perfect for my purpose. Story of 4 women who come together and share their secrets. Working together, they solve each of their issues and have a good outcome on their shared goal.
April 15, 2021
I feel bad only giving this 3 stars because it’s not a bad book. It’s written well. I found the story to be too fluffy for the content. I won’t go into any spoilers, but it seemed like it lacked a lot of depth for what was actually happening to these women.
January 12, 2018
Enjoyed each of these characters &!their challenges....collective & individual!
July 16, 2020
I actually had trouble remembering who was married, dating etc. whom. Could be me, although it isn't typically a problem.
July 26, 2020
Lovely book allowing for each character a chapter at a time to shine!
October 13, 2021
The story of four women who finally stand up for what they want and believe in. It had its moments and not a bad read. Not one of my favorites but a good one for a first time novel.
March 15, 2024
A fast interesting good read
October 14, 2008
I had seen a few good reviews for this novel and I was anxious to read it. I was not disappointed in the least -it is a fantastic debut novel by Joanne Rendell. I read it in two sittings and that's only because life got in the way on the first one. This novel grabbed me from the first chapter and it's not often a novel can do that.
For me, this book was a wonderful testament to the power of the friendship women share. The story revolves around four women: Sofia, Mary, Ashleigh, and Hannah. They meet because of a garden that is enclosed between the buildings of the Manhattan U's that houses faculty members. It's a beautiful and peaceful garden with Maple trees and honeysuckle and it offers each of these women something different as they are all battling with their own issues. However, doom is looming. Mary's husband, Dean Havemeyer (Jack) is campaigning to have the garden demolished and a parking garage built instead. He is doing this for secret reasons of his own that have little to do with a parking garage but more to do with a mystery surrounding an Edgar Allan Poe manuscript; which turns out to be a really interesting twist to this novel that I enjoyed.
Joanne Rendell has a talent for drawing us into her character's lives and making them seem so real. I was surprised to find myself liking all of the women and caring about what was going to happen to them. She addressed issues of domestic abuse among the more affluent where most believe it can't possibly exist. She tackles motherhood, marriage and even sexual orientation in a classy way.
For me, my favorite character would have to be Sofia. She used to be a hot shot Hollywood agent but gave it up to be a stay at home mom to her two children but she's struggling with whether she's done the right thing. Should she go back to being the hot shot business woman? I loved her spunk and go-getter attitude. Next was Mary, Jack's wife. She is battling a huge wall of emotions as she is struggling with an abusive relationship and counting the days until she can leave. She's gotten trapped in a life that so often creeps up in small bits until it's a huge mountain and in you're in it so deep that it seems impossible to leave. She is determined to start a new life without Jack-will she be able to do it? Then there is Hannah, an ex-model turned artist who is struggling in her marriage. To cheat or not to cheat? To stay in a marriage that is now two strangers or move on and start over. Last we have Ashleigh, she is struggling with her personal life in general. Does she reveal to her father that she is in a relationship with a woman or give it all up and lose the love of her life?
These four women are all strong in their own ways but they are most definitely strong together. Their love for each other and the strong ties of friendship that develop shine through in this novel-so much so you will find yourself wishing they were your friends. They share their hopes, dreams and failures with each other. They fight for what is right and what they believe in together. I'm already missing these women and this story. I would definitely recommend this novel!
Joanne Rendell has another novel coming out in 2009 and I really look forward to it. It's going to be about two female professors working in the English Department at Manhattan U-the same setting as for this novel. I really look forward to reading it.
http://peekingbetweenthepages.blogspo...
For me, this book was a wonderful testament to the power of the friendship women share. The story revolves around four women: Sofia, Mary, Ashleigh, and Hannah. They meet because of a garden that is enclosed between the buildings of the Manhattan U's that houses faculty members. It's a beautiful and peaceful garden with Maple trees and honeysuckle and it offers each of these women something different as they are all battling with their own issues. However, doom is looming. Mary's husband, Dean Havemeyer (Jack) is campaigning to have the garden demolished and a parking garage built instead. He is doing this for secret reasons of his own that have little to do with a parking garage but more to do with a mystery surrounding an Edgar Allan Poe manuscript; which turns out to be a really interesting twist to this novel that I enjoyed.
Joanne Rendell has a talent for drawing us into her character's lives and making them seem so real. I was surprised to find myself liking all of the women and caring about what was going to happen to them. She addressed issues of domestic abuse among the more affluent where most believe it can't possibly exist. She tackles motherhood, marriage and even sexual orientation in a classy way.
For me, my favorite character would have to be Sofia. She used to be a hot shot Hollywood agent but gave it up to be a stay at home mom to her two children but she's struggling with whether she's done the right thing. Should she go back to being the hot shot business woman? I loved her spunk and go-getter attitude. Next was Mary, Jack's wife. She is battling a huge wall of emotions as she is struggling with an abusive relationship and counting the days until she can leave. She's gotten trapped in a life that so often creeps up in small bits until it's a huge mountain and in you're in it so deep that it seems impossible to leave. She is determined to start a new life without Jack-will she be able to do it? Then there is Hannah, an ex-model turned artist who is struggling in her marriage. To cheat or not to cheat? To stay in a marriage that is now two strangers or move on and start over. Last we have Ashleigh, she is struggling with her personal life in general. Does she reveal to her father that she is in a relationship with a woman or give it all up and lose the love of her life?
These four women are all strong in their own ways but they are most definitely strong together. Their love for each other and the strong ties of friendship that develop shine through in this novel-so much so you will find yourself wishing they were your friends. They share their hopes, dreams and failures with each other. They fight for what is right and what they believe in together. I'm already missing these women and this story. I would definitely recommend this novel!
Joanne Rendell has another novel coming out in 2009 and I really look forward to it. It's going to be about two female professors working in the English Department at Manhattan U-the same setting as for this novel. I really look forward to reading it.
http://peekingbetweenthepages.blogspo...
June 4, 2023
Nice book…writing is easy to read and enjoy. Story was predictable and character development a little shallow. Being wrapped all the storylines up in a neat little bow.
February 2, 2009
I found out about Joanne Rendell through the amazing website/blog called
Free Book Friday
, that is founded by author Jessica Brody. I'm so glad that I read and even heard the wonderful podcast interview of Jessica and Joanne talking about her debut novel,
The Professors' Wives' Club
. Listening to the podcast about how Joanne Rendel came to write her first published novel was so much fun because she has a BA in English Literature and that I'm majoring in English right now. I had to find out more about this novel and to get it immediately so I can read it as soon as possible and write up a review. I also recommend that you all listen to it also so you can decide for yourselves if you agree with me about this wonderfully written debute novel by Joanne Rendell. I'm glad that I bought this book as soon as I heard about it because I just finished reading it and I want more of Joanne's novel to read. I heard that she will be releasing a new novel that has to do with the university that she wrote about in her first book and it's coming out this Summer or Fall and I can't wait.
I knew a bit of what to expect when I finally got my copy of Joanne Rendell's novel The Professors' Wives' Club but that changed when I started reading the novel. Each chapter of the novel is read through the prospective of one of the professors' wives' such as Mary, Sofia, Ashleigh, and Hannah. This is very different from the other novels I've read but I actually liked it and wasn't at all disappointed or put off by this way of writing a novel. Nestled among Manhattan U’s faculty housing, there is a garden where four women will meet—each with a scandalous secret that could upset their lives, destroy their families, and rock the prestigious university to its very core. In the interview podcast I listen to Joanne Rendell say that she is married to a professor who works at NYU and she lives at their faculty resident with her family. So Manhattan U is just a bit based on NYU but not completely because she said she didn't want to get her husband fired. I've never been to any of the NYU campus in Manhattan before so this was a new scene setting for me even though I've lived in NYC all my life. With its shady maple trees, elegant iron gate, and high fence laced with honeysuckle, Manhattan U's garden offers faculty wives Mary, Sofia, Ashleigh, and Hannah a much-needed refuge.
Read rest of Review...
I knew a bit of what to expect when I finally got my copy of Joanne Rendell's novel The Professors' Wives' Club but that changed when I started reading the novel. Each chapter of the novel is read through the prospective of one of the professors' wives' such as Mary, Sofia, Ashleigh, and Hannah. This is very different from the other novels I've read but I actually liked it and wasn't at all disappointed or put off by this way of writing a novel. Nestled among Manhattan U’s faculty housing, there is a garden where four women will meet—each with a scandalous secret that could upset their lives, destroy their families, and rock the prestigious university to its very core. In the interview podcast I listen to Joanne Rendell say that she is married to a professor who works at NYU and she lives at their faculty resident with her family. So Manhattan U is just a bit based on NYU but not completely because she said she didn't want to get her husband fired. I've never been to any of the NYU campus in Manhattan before so this was a new scene setting for me even though I've lived in NYC all my life. With its shady maple trees, elegant iron gate, and high fence laced with honeysuckle, Manhattan U's garden offers faculty wives Mary, Sofia, Ashleigh, and Hannah a much-needed refuge.
Read rest of Review...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2016
2.5 stars, rounded up to 3
A few random thoughts:
1. I didn't feel a connection to many of any of these four characters at all; many of them were too shy and afraid of rocking the boat for my tastes:
-Mary is afraid to leave her husband, the Dean of Manhattan University for years, though he's been abusing her verbally and physically since his father died.
-Ashleigh is afraid to tell her button-down Republican father that she's living with her significant other
-Hannah is afraid her marriage is over and she can't tell her husband that she's frustrated by him not talking to her.
-Sophia, despite being a live-wire in all other areas of her life, can't talk to her husband, despite how sweet and thoughtful he is, about how harried she's feeling after giving birth to child #2.
A few random thoughts:
1. I didn't feel a connection to many of any of these four characters at all; many of them were too shy and afraid of rocking the boat for my tastes:
-Mary is afraid to leave her husband, the Dean of Manhattan University for years, though he's been abusing her verbally and physically since his father died.
-Ashleigh is afraid to tell her button-down Republican father that she's living with her significant other
-Hannah is afraid her marriage is over and she can't tell her husband that she's frustrated by him not talking to her.
-Sophia, despite being a live-wire in all other areas of her life, can't talk to her husband, despite how sweet and thoughtful he is, about how harried she's feeling after giving birth to child #2.
February 14, 2010
The Professors’ Wives’ Club takes place on the fictitious campus of Manhattan University. The reader is introduced to four women, in different stages of their lives, who meet and eventually form a treasured friendship. First there’s Mary. She’s married to Jack, the dean of Manhattan U and is also an English professor. She visits the garden as an escape from Jack’s verbal and physical abuse. Next is Sofia. She’s mother to Gracie and soon gives birth to Edgar. She’s wife to Tom, an English Professor and a colleague of Mary’s. Prior to getting married, Sofia was a top Hollywood agent. Third is Ashleigh. She’s a lawyer in her family’s law firm. She works hard and doesn’t want any special treatment as her favorite uncle is one of the partners of the firm. She has a difficult relationship with her father, never feeling she’s good enough for him. She’s hiding a big secret from her parents and wants to come clean, however when he suffers a heart attack, she thinks remaining silent will be for the best…for him anyway. And finally there’s Hannah. A beautiful model turned MFA grad student. Hannah is married to Michael but realizes she loves her in-laws more. Hannah does the one thing she never thought she’d ever do which causes her to rethink her marriage.
The story centers around the friendship that is formed by these four women. They learn to trust and depend on each other to survive their current situation. Together they protest against the destruction of the garden. Jack wants to tear it down in order to build a parking lot. But when the ladies discover the true motivation for tearing down the garden, they will stop at nothing to make sure it doesn’t happen. As they come together to stop Jack, they find the strength to deal with their own problems.
The author’s second book, Crossing Washington Square also takes place at Manhattan University. I’m looking forward to reading this novel as well. I wouldn’t mind if the author brings back these four characters in this or future novels.
The story centers around the friendship that is formed by these four women. They learn to trust and depend on each other to survive their current situation. Together they protest against the destruction of the garden. Jack wants to tear it down in order to build a parking lot. But when the ladies discover the true motivation for tearing down the garden, they will stop at nothing to make sure it doesn’t happen. As they come together to stop Jack, they find the strength to deal with their own problems.
The author’s second book, Crossing Washington Square also takes place at Manhattan University. I’m looking forward to reading this novel as well. I wouldn’t mind if the author brings back these four characters in this or future novels.
September 15, 2008
Friendship Garden
This is the story of four women with a common goal--saving the garden adjacent to the university housing where they live from demolition by the evil, self-serving Dean Havemeyer. Three of the four meet for the first time in the garden, and their relationship/s become tied with an intriguing subplot about Edgar Allan Poe. I'd say this story is primarily character-driven and I found it hard to put down.
Mary is the tragic, beaten wife of the evil Dean Havemeyer. On faculty at Manhattan U (a fictionalized version of NYU), she has made a name for herself as a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, however, she's stressed and preoccupied with the personality changes in her husband, her daughter's upcoming wedding and her plan to move to San Francisco.
Hannah is a former model whose husband, a professor of computer science, is obsessed with her looks. When we meet her she's steeped in guilt over her recent affair with one of her professors in the MFA program. She claims her husband is a sweet, wonderful man, but as his character develops there's all evidence to the contrary.
Sophia is a feisty former Hollywood agent to the stars. She married her movie star client's brother, an egghead expert on Edgar Allan Poe, and gave it all up to have babies.
Ashleigh is an in-the-closet lesbian, afraid to admit her sexual preference to her parents, particularly her right-wing conservative father the senator. She works as an attorney for the family law firm and is the only member of the "club" who isn't married to a Manhattan U professor.
Each character is given equal time to develop her role within the plot and her relationship/s with the other women. This well written story doesn't lapse into gossipy accounts of lifestyles and decisions, but instead progresses through believable dialogue and very real characters. It left me satisfied and reassured that when women get together, they can accomplish amazing things. Well done.
This is the story of four women with a common goal--saving the garden adjacent to the university housing where they live from demolition by the evil, self-serving Dean Havemeyer. Three of the four meet for the first time in the garden, and their relationship/s become tied with an intriguing subplot about Edgar Allan Poe. I'd say this story is primarily character-driven and I found it hard to put down.
Mary is the tragic, beaten wife of the evil Dean Havemeyer. On faculty at Manhattan U (a fictionalized version of NYU), she has made a name for herself as a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, however, she's stressed and preoccupied with the personality changes in her husband, her daughter's upcoming wedding and her plan to move to San Francisco.
Hannah is a former model whose husband, a professor of computer science, is obsessed with her looks. When we meet her she's steeped in guilt over her recent affair with one of her professors in the MFA program. She claims her husband is a sweet, wonderful man, but as his character develops there's all evidence to the contrary.
Sophia is a feisty former Hollywood agent to the stars. She married her movie star client's brother, an egghead expert on Edgar Allan Poe, and gave it all up to have babies.
Ashleigh is an in-the-closet lesbian, afraid to admit her sexual preference to her parents, particularly her right-wing conservative father the senator. She works as an attorney for the family law firm and is the only member of the "club" who isn't married to a Manhattan U professor.
Each character is given equal time to develop her role within the plot and her relationship/s with the other women. This well written story doesn't lapse into gossipy accounts of lifestyles and decisions, but instead progresses through believable dialogue and very real characters. It left me satisfied and reassured that when women get together, they can accomplish amazing things. Well done.
August 11, 2011
I love academic novels, so I tried this one out. It was ok. The writing reasonably good, and the story is reasonably interesting.
But the characters are quite flat and generally unimaginatively created -- they're not 1 dimensional, but they're only 2 dimensional.
For example, Mary used to be a Pulitzer prize winning writer, but now she's a deferential (abused) housewife; Hannah used to be a fashion model but now she's an aspiring artist.
The male characters are even more generically flat. Jack used to be a typical academic (kind, soft-spoken, etc) but is now a hardened, abusive, careerist. Michael seemed to be an attentive doting boyfriend but is now a superficial, adolescent nerd.
There is no attempt to suggest how all of these people changed so much. And there's practically no nuance. Characters are either good people or bad people (or good people become bad people).
All of the women appear to have no character flaws (except some which are overly dependent and deferential to their men). Indeed, one character, Sam, appears to have no sin and the patience of Buddha.
The flow of the plot is a bit Sex in the Cityish ... and the short, visual, episodic chapters would appear to be designed to be adapted into a movie.
The end is as simplistic as the characters ... all the good people are rewarded and all the bad people are punished, and, presumably, everyone we care about will live happily ever after ...
But the characters are quite flat and generally unimaginatively created -- they're not 1 dimensional, but they're only 2 dimensional.
For example, Mary used to be a Pulitzer prize winning writer, but now she's a deferential (abused) housewife; Hannah used to be a fashion model but now she's an aspiring artist.
The male characters are even more generically flat. Jack used to be a typical academic (kind, soft-spoken, etc) but is now a hardened, abusive, careerist. Michael seemed to be an attentive doting boyfriend but is now a superficial, adolescent nerd.
There is no attempt to suggest how all of these people changed so much. And there's practically no nuance. Characters are either good people or bad people (or good people become bad people).
All of the women appear to have no character flaws (except some which are overly dependent and deferential to their men). Indeed, one character, Sam, appears to have no sin and the patience of Buddha.
The flow of the plot is a bit Sex in the Cityish ... and the short, visual, episodic chapters would appear to be designed to be adapted into a movie.
The end is as simplistic as the characters ... all the good people are rewarded and all the bad people are punished, and, presumably, everyone we care about will live happily ever after ...
June 4, 2021
This book is kind of the "Sex in the City" for Professor's wives. There is Mary, the Dean's wife, who is trapped in an abusive marriage. Then there is Sofia, who has a baby and is now doubting her husband, Tom. Also, Hanna, a former model who is beginning to realize that Michael is shallow. And finally, Ashleigh, a lesbian lawyer who has lived with Sam for a while, but has not come out to her family. All the women unite to save a garden, but their underlying themes are far more intriguing and drive the plot far more than anything else.
The concept of the book and the major theme of saving the garden are good, but the subplot about Edgar Allen Poe seemed forced and inserted only to lend credence to the "college" setting. I was far more interested in Hanna's affair with Patrick or whether Mary would go to CA than whether any EAP relics would be unearthed when gutting the garden. While the women were 3-D characters, the men seemed either stereotypical villains or highly under-developed. In 320 pages, a lot more could have been done.
The concept of the book and the major theme of saving the garden are good, but the subplot about Edgar Allen Poe seemed forced and inserted only to lend credence to the "college" setting. I was far more interested in Hanna's affair with Patrick or whether Mary would go to CA than whether any EAP relics would be unearthed when gutting the garden. While the women were 3-D characters, the men seemed either stereotypical villains or highly under-developed. In 320 pages, a lot more could have been done.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2009
Four seemingly different women's lives intersect against the backdrop of the fictional university "Manhattan U," clearly modeled after my alma mater NYU. I found myself feeling empathy for some of the characters more than others, but in the end it was heartwarming to see each one of them overcome some kind of individual obstacle as they united to fight a cause bigger than any of them. In the end, the reader comes to a realization that the four women, despite their contrasting ages, professions and backgrounds, are all just seeking some sort of peace with themselves and the world around them. It made me question what it truly means to be happy in an environment full of external pressures and expectations, especially true for the modern and urban woman. It also made me long for Washington Square Park and its vast array of people all just looking for some solace and perhaps entertainments away from the hustle and bustle of the surrounding city streets.
July 24, 2010
Cute, chick lit read; would be perfect for the beach.
"The Professors' Wives' Club" tells the story of four women who become friends. Obviosuly, thier husbands are all professors at Manhattan U (modeled after NYU). Sofia is a stay-at-home mom who used to be a Hollywood agent, Hannah is a former model turned art student, Ashleigh is an attorney with a secret relationship, and Mary is trapped in an abusive relationship with her husband, dean of Manhattan U.
They meet in the garden of the Manhattan U's faculty housing and form a frienship. I think Rendell did a really nice job of creating complex, yet believable, and ultimately, likeable characters. In addition to the storyline of the characters' various personal struggles, the garden is slated to be demolished and turned into a parking lot for Manhattan U by Mary's husband. Edgar Allan Poe's poem "The Raven" has a starring role, as well.
Overall, a pretty good read that I enjoyed.
"The Professors' Wives' Club" tells the story of four women who become friends. Obviosuly, thier husbands are all professors at Manhattan U (modeled after NYU). Sofia is a stay-at-home mom who used to be a Hollywood agent, Hannah is a former model turned art student, Ashleigh is an attorney with a secret relationship, and Mary is trapped in an abusive relationship with her husband, dean of Manhattan U.
They meet in the garden of the Manhattan U's faculty housing and form a frienship. I think Rendell did a really nice job of creating complex, yet believable, and ultimately, likeable characters. In addition to the storyline of the characters' various personal struggles, the garden is slated to be demolished and turned into a parking lot for Manhattan U by Mary's husband. Edgar Allan Poe's poem "The Raven" has a starring role, as well.
Overall, a pretty good read that I enjoyed.
October 10, 2009
This is the debut novel by this author which can always be a scary thing for both the author as well as the reader. It was a very quick read...but covered many issues that have faced women for years...infidelity, childrearing issues, and mental/physical abuse. The fact that each woman in the book was experiencing one of these helped them form the unlikely bond they formed while going to the garden retreat near them. Not only did they find new friends, they each shared in the common goal to save this special place from being turned into a parking lot. A plan that was being spearheaded by the Dean of Manhatten University. To make matters worse, he is the husband of Mary, one of the women trying to save the garden.
Rendell threw in a mystery regarding some lost documents belonging to Edgar Allen Poe who apparently lived in New York around the time this garden was established.
If you like modern chick lit...you might enjoy this book.
Rendell threw in a mystery regarding some lost documents belonging to Edgar Allen Poe who apparently lived in New York around the time this garden was established.
If you like modern chick lit...you might enjoy this book.
June 22, 2014
Reading the back of this book, I thought, "This is way too much. This is going to be incredibly dramatic and over the top. Here we go."
Boy, was I wrong.
The Professors' Wives' Club was a very easy and smooth read--you get insight from each of the ladies' point of view, and the content doesn't overwhelm the reader at all. It hits the main points it states on the back cover with style and flow that moves easily from chapter to chapter.
Each point of view is done masterfully: the style stays the same but the voices are all still very different.
Overall: The Professors' Wives' Club was a fun, easy read that was very well done.
Boy, was I wrong.
The Professors' Wives' Club was a very easy and smooth read--you get insight from each of the ladies' point of view, and the content doesn't overwhelm the reader at all. It hits the main points it states on the back cover with style and flow that moves easily from chapter to chapter.
Each point of view is done masterfully: the style stays the same but the voices are all still very different.
Overall: The Professors' Wives' Club was a fun, easy read that was very well done.
November 8, 2011
I enjoyed reading The Professor's Wives' Club. The character's were somewhat likable. I just don't understand how anyone would put up with someone like Jack, especially Mary, a Pulitzer prizewinning, professor's wife. I guess everyone has their reasons for staying...
On to the food:
"Sofia pulled the leg of lamb from the oven. The air filled with the scent of orange, white wine, and rosemary as the marinade sizzled and gleamed. Although she was sweating from the heat, too brown, crisp but not burned." p. 114
On to the food:
"Sofia pulled the leg of lamb from the oven. The air filled with the scent of orange, white wine, and rosemary as the marinade sizzled and gleamed. Although she was sweating from the heat, too brown, crisp but not burned." p. 114
July 29, 2016
Intense chick lit told in multiple viewpoints... A lovely man twisted beyond recognition into a conniving violent monster. A woman who realizes her geeky husband married her solely for looks. A woman who realizes her husband is a gem beyond compare. A woman realizing that her lover, Sam is worth her family and more. All told amid a cunning plan to destroy one of the few gardens left in NYC. Reads like a carefully paced thriller as the ladies unravel the mystery of the motive behind the push to pave paradise and put up a parking lot.
June 5, 2009
I found The Professors Wives Club very predictable, it was obvious Ashleigh was a lesbian and Sara (Mary's daughter) was pregnant. I didn't like how Micheal's cheating somehow in the end justified Hanna's cheating although she didn't know he was cheating at the time. I was surprised that Havemeyer knew Mary was going to San Fransisco. Overall it was light reading but I don't feel like I got anything at all out of it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2010
I really enjoyed this book...the fact that each chapter was a different wife's story kept me glued...I couldn't wait to get to the next chapter to see which storyline i was going to read...at first it was puzzling as to why the women said some british terms and phrases since they're all new yorkers but when i realized the author was british it made sense...i loved this book and i couldn't believe i hadn't read it when i bought it OVER A YEAR AGO!!!
August 9, 2014
I started out liking this book and liked it less and less as I read. It demonized men, for the most part - from the dean to the model's husband to the lesbian's dad. The women were all victims turned heroes. There were so many unlikely scenarios, such as finding this copy of The Raven in a developed garden. Why would it be buried in the first place? I like the writing style and would try something else by this author if she made her stories more feasible.
January 11, 2015
This was bad. It was bland, superficial and inauthentic. Only read this if you want to read a character study of four fatally undeveloped one dimensional characters. None of the protagonists have interesting interior lives, and the interpersonal relationships that are supposed to be the heart of the story are incredibly flat. The plot, such as it is, is cliched and implausible and very unsatisfying. A total bust.
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