Mrs. Hemingway by Naomi Wood
Author: Naomi Wood
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Penguin Books
Publish Date: May 2014
Source: Owned
What's the Story?:
From Goodreads.com: "Paula McLain's New York Times bestselling novel piqued readers' interest about Ernest Hemingway's romantic life. But Hadley was only one of four women married, in turn, to the legendary writer. Just as T.C. Boyle's bestseller The Women completed the picture begun by Nancy Horan's Loving Frank, Naomi Wood's Mrs. Hemingway tells the story of how it was to love, and be loved by, the most famous and dashing writer of his generation. Hadley, Pauline, Martha and Mary: each Mrs. Hemingway thought their love would last forever; each one was wrong.
Told in four parts and based on real love letters and telegrams, Mrs. Hemingway reveals the explosive love triangles that wrecked each of Hemingway's marriages. Spanning 1920s bohemian Paris through 1960s Cold War America, populated with members of the fabled "Lost Generation," Mrs. Heminway is a riveting tale of passion, love, and heartbreak."
My Two Cents:
"Mrs. Hemingway" is the story of the four wives of Ernest Hemingway: Hadley, Fife, Martha, and Mary. All four of these women were very different but inextricably linked because of their husband. This story focuses on the beginning and the end (mostly the end) of each of their relationships with Ernest. I am fascinated by Hemingway and his life so this was the initial draw for me.
It is so interesting that the author chooses to focus mostly on the ends of the relationships but it works really well. Ernest Hemingway is a man who loved passionately and seemed to be drawn to the flame of the butterflies you feel when you first fall in love. He loved each of these women for different reasons but his relationship chasing always seemed to come down to him not being able to be by himself, quite the juxtaposition from the tough guy persona that he seemed to like to show off in all other aspects of his life as a novelist, journalist, and soldier and all of the other roles that he played throughout his life.
Like I said, I am fascinated by Hemingway so I have read a lot about him and his family. Those that don't know about him may have a little trouble getting into this book because of how it jumps in to the middle of his relationships before going very quickly to the end. '
The writing was good. I liked the detail that the author put in the book. I also really liked the experimental take on talking about Hemingway from the women's points of views at the end of each tumultuous relationship. This really made for an interesting read!