8.12.2011

The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides


I read Middlesex earlier this year and it quickly became one of my favorite books. It's no surprise that Eugenides won the Pulitzer in 2003 for this grand narrative that weaves together the story of three generations Greek-Americans and explores, among other things, the idea of splits and divides within our identity, our desires, our families and our place in the world. Middlesex was so amazing that it took Eugenides nine years to finalize his follow-up, the much anticipated The Marriage Plot. I couldn't wait until October 11th to buy Eugenides latest, and I also couldn't shut up about it. Then the lovely and generous librarian Melissa Rochelle from Life:Merging came to my rescue and offered to mail me her ARC, which basically made my week.

The Marriage Plot has been dubbed a "romance," but I wouldn't let that classification deter you from this book if it's not your thing, because it really is so much more than that. On the surface it is a love triangle, but it also examines the confusion and angst of early 20-something college graduates; the uncovering of identities and the difficulties of deciding what direction your life will take, when you don't even know exactly what you want to get out of it. This novel, among other things, explores exactly how we get where we do, even when we aren't planning on it. As Eugenides explains, "People don't understand their lives or what happened to them; they only think they do." One of my all-time favorite bands, The Talking Heads, has a popular song that Eugenides quotes in his epigraph: And you may ask yourself, well, how did I get here?/And you may tell yourself,/This is not my beautiful house./And you may tell yourself,/This is not my beautiful wife. I think that epigraph really captures the ideas Eugenides takes on in The Marriage Plot.
Wouldn’t it be nice to be done with it? To be done with sex and longing? Mitchell could almost imagine pulling it off, sitting on a bridge at night with the Seine flowing by. He looked up at all the lighted windows along the river’s arc. He thought of all the people going to sleep or reading or listening to music, all the lives contained by a great city like this, and, floating up in his mind, rising just about the rooftops, he tried to feel, to vibrate among, all those million tremulous souls. He was sick of craving, of wanting, of hoping, of losing.
I should also mention the plethora of bookish details and our lead character, Madeleine, an English major who is writing her dissertation on the marriage plot; the plot device that characterized the Victorian novel, whether or not the hero and heroine would get married. Eugenides takes 19th century notions of love and compares them to our modern day counterparts. Can we have a modern-day love story that is just as romantic and unforgettable as Wuthering Heights or Daniel Deronda despite the complications of prenups, gender equality, sexual liberation, and divorce?
The novel had reached is apogee with the marriage plot and had never recovered from its disappearance. In the days when success in life had depended on marriage, and marriage had depended on money, novelists had a subject to write about. The great epics sang of war, the novel of marriage. Sexual equality, good for women, had been bad for the novel. And divorce had undone it completely.
Well, in my opinion, I don't want a retelling of the marriage plot. I want a reinvention of it, something equally as satisfying, but post-modern, which is exactly what Eugenides delivered. I adored this book. Eugenides prose is just as beautiful and detailed as it was in Middlesex, and his characters just as memorable. The plot maintains a steady pace, even as the characters develop and change. Upon finishing the book, I gave it a big hug, because it has one of those endings that you can't help not to hug it. As I mentioned in some post-reading thoughts, this book had the most satisfying ending of any other book I've read this year. I'm so tempted to share a passage from the ending (if you've read it I'll bet you know the one!), but I'm worried it would be a spoiler. So instead, I'll tell you this one is well-worth the read. You can buy The Marriage Plot at bookstores everywhere today. A big thanks to Melissa for lending me her ARC.

If you're interested in learning more, I'd like to direct you to Nymeth's review of The Marriage Plot.

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2011

24 comments:

  1. Your earlier post got me excited for the book and now with your review I really want to check it out. Lucky you, getting that ARC!

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  2. Red, I know I felt very lucky! I'm happy you are excited about this one, it's definitely worth it.

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  3. I'll admit that I didn't really care much for Middlesex (don't know if I read it at the wrong time or what, but I just didn't jive with it), however, your review of Eugenides latest has me writing down the title so I can buy it ASAP. This one sounds like a truly great read - can't wait!

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  4. Thanks for reviewing this one, I can't wait to read it. This is an author that I really enjoy reading and the story sounds great :-) btw. new follower, both here and on Twitter.

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  5. Whee! I have Middlesex on my shelf, and now I have this one to read too! Thanks for the review!

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  6. I read and liked The Virgin Suicides and never got around to Middlesex, which didn't interest me and to be honest, I was sort of 'eh' on this one -- until your review. Your description and enthusiasm has me doing a total 180 -- I'm going to seek this book out, stat!

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  7. I've been looking forward to a new book from Eugenides for years. I'm glad to hear it's a good one! Can't wait to get my hands on it...

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  8. Nadia, It's much different from Middlesex but there are also many similarities in theme and style.

    Willa, Yeah Eugenides is the best.

    Bethany, Wheee! Ok let me know which one you read first!

    Audra, I haven't read the Virgin Suicides, it's not a subject I like to read about. But I do hope you like this one.

    bookish bella, I know 9 years is a long time to wait!

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  9. Loved your post, Brenna (and thanks for the link!). I think I do know just the quote you mean.

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  10. I didn't actually know what this book was about until now, although I knew I wanted to read it as I love Eugenides. Thanks for the informative review.

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  11. Brilliant review, Brenna :) I've been tempted by this one but your review has really made me want to read it now! I'm almost ashamed to say I haven't even read Middlesex yet, despite how much I really want to!! I will definitely have to sort that out now :)

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  12. Nymeth, Of course! Your review was brilliant.

    Sam, Yes glad I could point you to more Eugenides!

    bookmonkey, I'd say you can read either in any order you like. If this one speaks to you more than Middlesex, I'd say start with this one.

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  13. This is probably my most favorite review ever. Your enthusiasm is overflowing. You included lyrics to a Talking Heads song. And now I feel I need to read everything he's ever written. I am certainly scouting a copy this weekend. Seriously, I can't wait to share my thoughts. Thanks, Brenna!

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  14. Beth, Seriously you just made my day! I'm so happy to hear my enthusiasm for this book was translated through my review. I can't wait to hear what your thoughts are when you read it. Thank you :)

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  15. Loved your post about marriage Plot. I just downloaded it to my Kindle today. LOVED Middlesex.

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  16. I am really looking forward to reading this. I loved Middlesex, but wasn't wild about The Virgin Suicides. I really like Eugenides' writing style, though, and I think he's a great storyteller. Thanks for the insightful review!

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  17. Brilliant review, I seriously can't wait to read this now. I have enjoyed both of Eugenides books that I have read, although I have to admit that Middlesex dragged a bit in the middle for.

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  18. I agree about the ending - that last page made me want to hug the book too :-) It is just a shame about the 200 pages that came before that - I found them so slow and wish they'd been condensed.

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  19. I am so glad this one lived up to your expectations. I can't wait to read it!

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  20. I am so excited to read this. I heard Eugenides talking about the book on Fresh Air yesterday and it sounds so up my alley, I'm just sure I'm going to like it (which is probably setting me up for disappointment, but oh well).

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  21. I have to try to find one of his books. They both sound so good.

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  22. I'm a few discs away from finishing Middlesex on audio right now, and I already cannot wait to pick up The Marriage Plot! I know Eugenides will be one of my new favorite authors. So glad you loved this one!

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  23. "I don't want a retelling of the marriage plot. I want a reinvention of it, something equally as satisfying, but post-modern, which is exactly what Eugenides delivered."

    Yes, that's exactly it! I'm done with it, I felt the same and I will put thoughts up soon. I completely agree with you about the ending, it was perfect. I was not happy for a moment when I thought it was going in a different direction, but he nailed it!

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  24. Melissa, I am SO HAPPY that you liked it! I thought it was wonderful, as you can tell by my review :) Can't wait to hear your thoughts.

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