Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Playing House Review and Giveaway

Playing House by Fredrica Wagman

From the FSB Publisher:

When Playing House appeared in 1973, Publishers Weekly hailed it, "A probing descent into madness that will fascinate the same audience that appreciated I Never Promised You a Rose Garden." This nationally bestselling story of one woman’s struggle with the lasting effects of a childhood sexual relationship with her brother shocked American readers; it remains a literary work of enduring quality and value. In his foreword Philip Roth writes, "The traumatized child; the institutionalized wife; the haunting desire; the ghastly business of getting through the day -- what is striking about Wagman's treatment of these contemporary motifs is the voice of longing in which the heroine shamelessly confesses to the incestuous need that is at once her undoing and her only hope."


This story struck me fast and hard. It left my heart aching for these young children who were left on their own to play house. It saddened me to see how the parents over looked what was happening with their children. I had full empathy for the child narrator. I carried that all the way to the end of the book. She had to deal with adult issues and situations when she should have been living her childhood. That is enough to make anyone have mental issues.

I can see where someone would think she was crazy because of the repetition of her thoughts and events. This really drove home that she was a victim of childhood incest and abuse and that her wanting to play house was not something normal. She never knew any different. I admire her strength and desire to keep going.

A story on such a topic with these strong descriptions has to come from someone who has deep ties to this subject with first hand knowledge. The author did her work and made the characters very real.

There is so much more I want to tell you about this book but I really want you to read it for yourself. After you read it feel free to come back here and post your thoughts. I would love to discuss it with you. The book includes A Reader's Guide! I love books with a reader guide!

The author, Fredrica Wagman, is the author of five novels, including His Secret Little Wife and The Lie!. She has four grown children and lives with her husband in New York City.

Check out my review of The Lie!

Thanks to Julie at FSB for allowing me to review and offer 2 copies of this book for a giveaway. I really hope that you will enter to win this book. If you don't win please buy it. It is a heart wrenching, passionate story that you won't want to miss.

***************************************

2 winner will get a copy of Playing House

To enter visit FSB Media and tell me another book that you would like to read from there. Make sure you leave your email addy.

Extra entries if you subscribe to my blog, tell me your favorite author, tweet the giveaway at least once a day, tell me what you are reading now and/or follow me on twitter as @susieqtpies. One entry given for each comment you make! Do all or none!


Thanks! Giveaway for U.S. readers only. Ends October 10th.





2 comments:

  1. I want this! I would like to read The Michael Jackson Tapes.

    ReplyDelete
  2. i would love it!!

    i can not find your google friend connect gadget on this blog?

    ReplyDelete