Private Life by Jane Smiley

Private Life

Jane Smiley

From girlhood in 1870s' Missouri to WWII California, the reader follows the often fascinating but always wistful life of gentle heroine, Margaret. I found much of interest in her journey BUT this is not the book for anyone feeling trapped or regretful of life's opportunities missed!

Extract
'This is nonsense, Andrew.' But she wanted to say 'insanity'. She should have started with the word 'insanity', but she had done her usual thing, which was to be wifely and reasonable, which allowed him to weave a net of plausibility around her, and now they were discussing a piece of insanity as if it might be true.
Parallels
  • The Lonely Polygamist by Brady Udall
  • Family Album by Penelope Lively