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Summary: The tragic, yet triumphant blossoming of the dutiful wife...
Review: of a village rector, who breaks out of her drab life, taking a job (horrors) in a supermarket to find a sense of self worth. In the process, she attracts the attentions of three unusual people! While reading this, I found myself wanting to "cheer" for Anna. Excellent portrayal of typical "narrow minded" British parish life.
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Summary: expanding her horizons
Review: The beautiful Anna Bouverie (echoes of Madame Bovary) has lived for twenty years as the wife a poorly paid rural rector and mother to their two children. Her half-hearted approach to tasks at church disappoints the meddlesome, but well-intentioned, ladies of the church committee. When her husband is turned down for a much-needed promotion, Anna takes matters into her own hands. In order to raise money for her daughter's private school tuition and her son's road trip to India, Anna takes on a job at the local supermarket. To the consternation of the church ladies, the outrage of her husband, the embarrassment of her son, and her own personal delight, she keeps the job even after her money woes are lightened by the award of a scholarship to her daughter. The job begins a broadening of Anna's perspective that extends beyond produce and canned goods. As she attracts both the notice and the desire of several men, she turns to one for the affection that is missing from her relationship with her husband. Although it has its share of sadness and tragic turns, overall this is a story of personal growth and self discovery. Trollope's lucid prose and incisive characterizations make the book a pleasure to read.
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Summary: Rare insight into - and development of - a woman's issue
Review: The Rector's Wife is a wonderful story. Yes, there is the occasional glitch; yes it may seem that a deus ex machina delivers Anna from her major problem. But the story is absolutely fascinating. It takes you into one family, into one woman's mind and heart, in an unforgettable manner. Rich characters and understanding. I absolutely fell in love with Anna. (And her unappreciative husband made me appreciate mine all the more.) A good read.
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Summary: Good story!
Review: This is story that keeps you interested -- I was amazed at how well the author captured the story of two people who really didn't know each other -- I have compassion for anyone who has to live in a marriage like this one!
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Summary: Good beginning and middle, disappointing ending
Review: This story of a frustrated rector and his equally frustrated wife is realistic, but also quite witty. The main character has always thought herself as a captive of her husband's fate, however, when one of her children is bullied at school and finances do not allow a transfer to another school, she takes matters into her own hands. As she changes, so do the attitudes of people toward her. Unfortunately, as events approach an inevitable (probably explosive) confrontation between husband and wife, the author creates a truly disappointing "cop out" and, in my opinion, unrealistic ending
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Summary: Soap Opera in a Box
Review: To her credit, Trollope does give us insight into the isolation and invisibility of the life of a rector's wife in a small town in England. However, most of her characters are not developed, so that there are no grounds for the actions they take. The tidy way she gets Anna out of her troubles in the end could land her a job writing for "The Young and The Restless".
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Summary: A Mindless Read
Review: What a waste of time! And I read the whole thing...why? Maybe because I wanted to see if it would get any better but it didn't, and I dislike giving up on a novel. Another shallow tale which jumped from one fanciful event to another. How convenient an ending for Anna to "get on with her life" minus the difficulties of a loveless marriage. This story is not a reflection on what real life is all about (I hope) but maybe I wasn't in the mood for escapist literature.
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