A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick

Book suggested by Lucia and meeting hosted by Judy.
This was the first book written by the author. It was turned down by 25 publishers before it was finally put into print. The book mirrored the author's life so closely that it was almost autobiographical. He was abused by his father; he drank, used drugs, was promiscuous, and was a cutter. He had a sad life and we can only assume he wrote the book as some form of therapy. He has also written a biography.

Most of the members strongly disliked the book. We did not like the themes or the people. It was just too dark. It raised a few questions though. Why did Ralph allow himself to be poisoned? How much did Ralph know about Catherine and Antonio? Was Catherine a "Reliable Wife?"

The best part was Catherine's need to fully educate herself on a subject. She learned as much as she could about a subject, and had a lot of talents and skills. Her love of the hot house and flowers made her almost likable.

Kelly, Kim, Carol M., and Lucia enjoyed the read, but most felt it was a waste of time. So many books, so little time!

Here's a link to the author's website: http://robertgoolrick.com/