Reviews

I picked this up from my new local library’s “quick reads” shelf, interested in the premise of a woman reflecting obsessively on her husband’s first wife and the legacy of that marriage on her own, all without ever mentioning the first wife’s name.

The prose was simple and sections short, which I enjoyed because it meant I could easily reread and reflect on the sections that stuck with me. The ending isn’t one that I expected, which usually delights me. However, in this case, it felt more like anticipation not fulfilled.

I still enjoyed “Sisters” and, partially due to its short length, don’t feel like the ending spoiled my entire experience. I’m not sure if I’ll be recommending it others though.

sausome's review against another edition

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3.0

I read, "I Married You for Happiness," and found myself drawn to Lily Tuck's writing style, wanting more. I chose this book, but it didn't really live up to the other book. While not terrible, the style of the very brief vignettes of thoughts, actions, and remembrances just didn't feel terribly cohesive or accessible. This method was very interesting/experimental, but I guess I wanted the traditional reading experience - and this book seems like it would have been good more fleshed out into a traditional narrative style.

archaicrobin's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

A second wife describing her husband his kids form a previous marriage and her obsession with his first wife. Short, and easy this one wasn’t anything amazing in my opinion but it was interesting enough to listen too. If you’re looking for a break between books or to boost your book count this one was ok.

desterman's review against another edition

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4.0

'Sisters' isn't actually a book about sisters. The epigraph offers a short quote from Christopher Nicholson - "First and second wives are like sisters." The unnamed narrator begins the novel by telling us that she is "not even remotely" related to the subject of her story - her husband's ex-wife. She reflects that in the past it wasn't unusual for men to marry their wife's sister if she had passed away. And this seems to be the unusual relationship she conjures up about her husband's former wife - a distant and unreachable "sister" of sorts. Our narrator becomes unable to quell the curiosity she has for this woman whom she only refers to as "she" or "her" throughout. Her obsession with this woman grows until it results in an abrupt, but not unforeseeable ending.

I didn't totally love this book as I think I wanted more from it, but it was engaging and unique enough to sustain my interest. It is a lesson in brevity - told in a collection of tiny moments. It requires it's reader to infer a lot and that is a part of it's intrigue. It's a book about obsession and insecurity. I found the detached anonymous style (Tuck doesn't use any names for the main family members, referring to them only as "my husband", "his daughter", "his son") to be a little off putting at times and it brought a coldness to the telling which was difficult to connect with. The novel allows you to access the narrator's inner life, with all of her worries and insights about what her life is versus what her life could be. There are some clever intertextual references to other stories that act like bread crumbs leading you to the denouement. Whilst I didn't totally connect with this, it satisfied me enough to make me want to read more Tusk. She shows how you can build a complex story from simplistic pieces - kind of like a beautiful mosaic.

emmaliborski's review against another edition

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mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

Sisters is a stark but subtle novella about a woman who develops an obsession with her husband's ex-wife. This felt more like a creative writing exercise than a finished project but I appreciated the subtlety and the stylistic creativity. The author leaves a lot unsaid and asks the reader to read between the lines- she uses allusions to historical figures or pieces of art that the narrator reflects on to introduce the reader to the narrator's emotions and motivations. I finished it on a short flight and it was an easy, relaxing read that explores a topic that's often misrepresented or romanticized (the complex fixation someone can have with their partner's ex). Other than that, I didn't think it was particularly compelling- I found the characters equal parts irritating and dull, except the ex-wife.

jennahazzard's review against another edition

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3.0

I have such mixed feelings on this book. I thought the style was really interesting, but some of the characters were a bit difficult to get through. The exploration of a woman's insecurity and what it can cause her to do was great, but at times it felt like there were too many first-world-problems for the privileged characters, which made me less sympathetic towards them.

marshaskrypuch's review against another edition

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5.0

This brilliantly crafted novella's patina of simplicity will suck you in. Very few words but many layers. Told from the perspective of a second wife obsessed with the first, we're immersed in a sampling of serial monogamy and all that goes with it.

Thank you, Netgalley, for the e-review copy of this book.

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