Wife in the North - Books (Judith O'Reilly, Paperback)

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Customer Reviews of Wife in the North

London wife
London
23rd September 2008

Wife in the North
This book offers much more than the jokey romp suggested on the cover. The jokes certainly are tremendous. But it also explores in fearless detail the paradoxes facing mothers raised with feminist freedoms now trying to nurture a happy family. It will speak volumes to all mothers, not just rural ones, though readers should know that it's as sad and serious as it's funny.

kermit 333
England UK
15th September 2008

tricky one, this.......
gosh this book stumped me - at first I was all set to give it one star because of the womans incessant moaning and whinging on how wonderful London is blah blah blah wish she was back there yadda yadda yadda and this went on for the entire book! I pushed myself to finish it as I wanted to know if the family ever returned to London...... and yes WHY was it her husband's job to fill up the car when he's in London????? Does she never check her fuel herself....? And the fact that she was extremely well off - most of us normals wouldn't have the money to do what she and her husband did.... buy two cottages and knock them into one have the builders in for months rent a house to live in meanwhilst and then at the end of it all install the Londoners dream of the AGA (mega bucks) and clawfooted bath (ditto) I certainly didn't find it funny despite what it said on the front cover!

And yet, and yet, she writes like a dream come true in some of her ruminations, particularly her observations of nature. And near the end of the book I was absolutely slain by her stark account of family tragedy - the suffering was there in every word. So I guess you pays your money and takes your choice - I see other reviewers liked it...... takes all sorts!!!

Claire
Bucks - UK
8th September 2008

Why are there no names in this book ??
I liked the book to an extent, but it just felt so strange to me not to EVER mention any names of people, Husband, children etc etc, we dont know what they are called, friends we have no idea, I think the only name that was ever mentioned was that of someone that came along with the health visitor, good read but just seems a bit strange to me not getting to know the names of people in the story.

Lesley S.

1st September 2008

Ignore the cover....
I picked this book up because I had nothing else to read and from the cover I assumed it would be some jokey 'woman goes to country side meets hialrious characters and learns to love it and herself'. I was ready to hate it. However, it was beautifully written and some parts were so sad. I disagree that the author is selfish and spoilt, she is simply someone like me who loves city life and loathes the country. I hope she gets back to London some day I really do.

Helena Frith Powell
Abu Dhabi
19th August 2008

Lots to relate to
I haven't even finished the book and feel compelled to write a review, partly to defend Judith against the nasty ones here complaining about her running out of petrol. I have had a few of those for my own books, one even complaining that I have a husband called Rupert! This is a really great read. There is so much to relate to, to laugh at and to sympathise with. Judith writes brilliantly, her style is totally addictive and she has a really poignant way of expressing things, especially her feelings for her children. I hope this book does really well, it deserves to. So what if she doesn't know where the nearest garage is?