Graham is only in his mid-sixties, so it comes as a shock to Annie and all the characters in the story. Monogamy by Sue Miller Summary “Monogamy” is a modern masterpiece, a powerful novel that can be read on its own. I listened to this on audio, and thought the novel was wonderful in this format. Pamela Miller is an editor at the Star Tribune. MONOGAMY By Sue Miller. More Information | Article - AARP. By Sue Miller. If anyone wants to engage in a conversation, I'd be happy to talk about it! Having both been married before, we learn much more about his first wife than about her previous marriage. A golden couple, their seemingly effortless devotion has long been the envy of their circle of friends and acquaintances. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. Discover books that entertain, engage & enlighten. Graham and Annie have been married for nearly 30 years. Miller's fans will devour this spectacular, powerful return." $12 for 3 months. A golden couple, their seemingly effortless devotion has long been the envy of their circle of friends and acquaintances. That it has sequence and consequence.” She smiled at Edith. September 8th 2020 Graham and Annie, the couple at the heart of Sue Miller’s latest novel, Monogamy, have been married nearly 30 years, and their devotion to each other is the envy of their many friends.It’s the second time around for both of them. A brilliantly insightful novel, engrossing and haunting, about marriage, love, family, happiness, and sorrow, from New York Times best-selling author Sue Miller. As the title seems to reflect, this book is about marriage, but it really is about so much more - grief, self awareness and discovery, about family and a father, mothers and their son and daughter and about friendships and yes about a husband and his wives. The premise of this novel is one that I have always found intriguing in fiction - i.e. Reading this book felt like being stuck in one of these excruciating conversations. ‎ Learn the Invaluable Lessons from Monogamy: A Novel by Sue Miller and Apply it into Your Life Without Missing Out! What is the point of going on, she wonders, without him? Author Graham and Annie have been married for nearly thirty years. Both of his kids, Lucas from the first marriage and Sarah with Annie, absolutely adore him. Maybe it's just not your kind of book. These endless stories are so unbelievably boring that I often have to cut these inane storytellers off with a quick, "Wow, I'm running late, but great story, byeee!!!!" Monogamy Overview. She reviewed the novel "Monogamy" by Sue Miller. There's the instant physical attraction of course, but the distance between them is obvious from the outset. But most essentially it’s about marriage, grief, family, and our uniquely American culture regarding these things. A thoughtful and realistic portrait of those golden people who seem to have such enviable lives." Last Updated on May 6, 2015, by eNotes Editorial. Monogamy by Sue Miller Published by Harper Publication date: September 8, 2020 Genres: Book Clubs, Contemporary, Fiction, Literary Your Local Book Store, Amazon. Graham and Frieda had an open marriage that began in the 1960s, the time of free love and all that and Graham certainly took advantage of the situation, having sex with many women, and this turned out to be the main reason the marriage ended. She is a true storyteller, and Monogamy is her best book. Questions of monogamy drive Miller's tender latest tale. Information at BookBrowse.com is published with the permission of the copyright holder or their agent. They have been married for over thirty years when Annie wakes up to a dead Graham. When Graham suddenly dies—this man whose enormous presence has seemed to dominate their lives together—Annie is lost. It’s an epic tale of family, secrets, loss, marriage, betrayal, friendships, laughter, and regrets. All rights reserved. In her 11th novel, Sue Miller tracks our ever-changing perceptions of ourselves and each other. The plot is more like a through-line in the story than a sequence of events, but before the end of the novel, you’ll see that the grief process is the main “action.” Grief associated with death, yes, but also other kinds of grief. Word Count: 1888. Pub dates keep changing on me which means I read this book early - it comes out September 8th from HarperCollins. “I think it was more or less the idea that fictional narrative made life seem to matter, that it pushed away the meaninglessness of death.”, “Love isn't just what two people have together, it's what two people make together, so of course, it's never the same.”. The Good Mother (1986), the first of her ten novels, was an immediate bestseller (more than six months at the top of the New York Times charts). Her latest novel is The Arsonist. . With humor and humanity, Miller resists the simple scorned-wife story and instead crafts a revelatory tale of the complexities—and the absurdities—of love, infidelity, and grief.” —O, the Oprah MagazineA brilliantly insightful novel, engrossing and haunting, about marriage, love, family, happiness and sorrow, from New York Times bestselling author Sue Miller.Graham and Annie have been married for nearly thirty years. "Miller takes on and renews familiar themes of trust and betrayal between husbands and wives, parents and children, and does so with her signature crystalline focus and boundless empathy. This is the first novel I have read that is structured in such a dominant linear fashion, like a series of "slices of life" instead of a main story with backstories and side stories. - Kirkus Reviews Where do I start? Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. Full access is for members only. Well written, but nothing sparked for me except the gorgeous descriptions of meals in the past, the importance of food as a connective device, and the Nancy Meyers like interiors. When Graham suddenly dies, Annie must learn how to live her life without him. This is a painstakingly in-depth, almost forensic dissection of how a person's view of their relationship or marriage is altered via the prism of time. Some of the physical subject matter was unpleasant, but it didn't deter me enough to disengage. Graham and Annie have been married for nearly thirty years. So I spent all day Sunday, lost in this book, I purchased it as I usually enjoy Sue Miller, & admittedly, the day I ordered it, she was on Weekend Edition. Graham and Annie have been married for nearly thirty years. "A haunting meditation on love, marriage, fidelity, betrayal, and loss...Miller's work is magnificent and moving. Sue Miller has always been a generous writer. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published I listened to Sue Miller narrate her own novel, “Monogamy”. Focusing on married couple Annie and Graham (second marriage for both), the chapters alternate between characters and time periods. Their seemingly effortless devotion has long been the … - Publishers Weekly (starred review) With a title like, “Monogamy”, you know going in that it’s going to be, in part, about adultery. Annie and Graham's daughter, Sarah, lives in San Francisco. Graham’s presence is revealed through his second wife, Annie’s eyes. By: Sue Miller. Just $39 for 12 months or Sue Miller's story is about a couple, Annie and Graham, who have been happily married for almost 30 years. by Harper. Annie and her daughter, Sarah, have a tendency to look at their emotional wounds from multiple angles, obsessively, and allow the anguish to eat at them. 2021: What Women Born In The 1970s Have Read So Far This Year. When she learns her husband was cheating on her throughout their marriage, Annie's sorrow turns to anger. The plot is more like a through-line in the story than a sequence of events, but before the end of the novel, you’ll see that the grief process is the main “action.” Grief associated with death, yes, but also other kinds of grief. There are no discussion topics on this book yet. This is a really forensic examination of the marriage between Annie and Graham, the second marriage for both of them. Read reviews from world’s largest community for readers. Graham is a bookseller, a big, gregarious man with large appetites—curious, eager to please, a lover of life, and the convivial host of frequent, lively parties at his and Annie's comfortable house in Cambridge. Please. Couldn't even tell ya anything that I liked, except I liked being absorbed. In many cases, it may mean expanded paychecks, better vitality, and magical relati… I think I "disenjoyed" the book I read before this so much that my enjoyment of this novel was enhanced. Seeing into the heart of families, reflected in her amazing character portrayals are all apparent in this insightful and quiet novel. And it is. Occasionally I will run into someone I don't know very well, or even a total stranger, and for some reason they will begin to tell me some endless story about some small thing in their life that they seem to think is very significant, and very important. Her books have been widely translated and published in 22 countries around the world. Can't pinpoint why this had me completely absorbed. What's it worth to you to have just ONE good idea applied to your life? A brilliantly insightful novel, engrossing and haunting, about marriage, love, family, happiness and sorrow, from New York Times bestselling author Sue Miller. "Stunning.… A timely family saga with faith and forgiveness at its core. Miller’s strength in conveying the pain of loss was authentic, moving, and realistic. perhaps it because if anyone in this book did have a therapist, the plot would crumble. Publication Information. Synopsis. Search String: Summary | If you are the publisher or author and feel that the reviews shown do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, please send us a message with the mainstream media reviews that you would like to see added. Both critically acclaimed and loved by readers, Sue Miller is recognized internationally for her elegant and sharply realistic accounts of the contemporary family. Heard on Weekend Edition Saturday NPR's Scott Simon talks with novelist Sue Miller about her latest work, Monogamy, which follows the story of a new widow. Welcome back. Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published. Both of his kids, Lucas from the first marriage and Sarah with Annie, absolutely adore him. Sue Miller was born in Chicago in 1943. To create our... To see what your friends thought of this book, I didn't experience it as linear as it jumps around in time. Annie is somewhat more reserved and it’s from her point of view that the book is told. No people … Sue Miller, the author, has a way with words, and her special talent is her characters and their inner lives. This is a really forensic examination of the marriage between Annie and Graham, the second marriage for both of them. This frustrated me too, the whole first part of the book I thought was current until I was much further in. A near-perfect second marriage is disrupted—first by death, then by posthumous revelations. Reading this book felt like being stuck in one of these excruciating convers. We’d love your help. I love the way Miller writes--most always about relationships, marriage struggles or successes, and sometimes with mysteries weaved into the plot (The Arsonist comes to mind).Monogamy, however, does not stray from its central theme of marriage and relationships, the bad and the good that will indefinitely sprout up and entangle everyone, from a single coupling, or two or even three couplings! Of course authorial generosity can take many forms. It's the rare fiction author who narrates their own work, but Miller's narration of her story was top-notch. I really hated this book. Graham has been faithful and their marriage is and has been a happy one, albeit with the usual ups and downs of any relationship. Fans of Anne Tyler's character-driven novels may also enjoy Sue Miller's similar style of domestic fiction. Subscribe to receive some of our best reviews, "beyond the book" articles, book club info, and giveaways by email. Miller shifts timelines — a memory in the present sparks a pages-long trip into the past where we learn both of their back stories and get to meet the other people in their lives. These relationships beg a number of thought provoking questions. As Sue Miller contemplates the imponderable, she reflects on the transformative power of memory, and the triumph of love over death itself. That's kind of how I felt about this book. We’ve heard this tale a couple of times, and that is one way to summarize the story Sue Miller tells in her 11th novel, Monogamy. Takes the long way home… This is my first novel by Sue Miller.Based on the synopsis, I was hoping for some dark secret to emerge that would explain Graham’s infidelity, but, as it turns out, the story doesn’t offer that as an out. that nice review in the NYT, I figured that I'd shell out the twenty bucks or so and see what her "...important and compelling writing" is all about. Sue Miller's novel Monogamy is a third person narrative that tells the complex story of Annie and Graham's longtime marriage. “Just, that we read fiction because it suggests that life has a shape, and we feel . A brilliantly insightful novel, engrossing and haunting, about marriage, love, family, happiness and sorrow, from New York Times bestselling author Sue Miller.Graham and Annie have been married for nearly thirty years. These endless stories are so unbelievably boring that I often have to cut these inane storytellers off with a quick, "Wow, I'm running late, but great story, byeee!!!!" in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. • 612-673-4290. Search: Graham is a bookseller, and a large man in every sense – big as a bear, gregarious, a lover of life and the host of frequent, lively parties at the home he shares with Annie. Just stop. A golden couple, their seemingly effortless devotion has long been the envy of their circle of friends and acquaintances. Frieda decided she’d had enough. It’s a “quiet” story about a marriage (surprise), and its quiet strength is in all the character’s thoughts. She thinks of … Often the term seems to refer to how much of themselves writers are willing to share with readers, or how hard they’re willing to work to ensure that their readers’ narrative lift is no greater than it needs to be. Graham and Frieda had an open marriage that began in the 1960s, the time of free love and. This had me for its entirety. Monogamy Sue Miller Harper Hardcover 352 pages September 2020. Sue Miller’s MONOGAMY is a slow burn rather than a bright flame. - Booklist (starred review) This is not an action-packed story. Occasionally I will run into someone I don't know very well, or even a total stranger, and for some reason they will begin to tell me some endless story about some small thing in their life that they seem to think is very significant, and very important. She is the bestselling author of ten previous novels including The Good Mother, The Distinguished Guest, the Oprah Book Club selection While I Was Gone, Lost in the Forest, the Richard & Judy choice The Senator's Wife, The Lake Shore Limited and the acclaimed memoir The Story of My Father.Sue Miller lives in Boston, Massachusetts. Can anyone help? I also think the core marriage is the main story. The free love and sex of the 60s is a thing of the past and in the book it is 30 years later and Annie is basically telling the story of their relationship. Need another excuse to treat yourself to a new book this week? I had to think about this a lot before I wrote my review. It has a crescendo emotionally. Graham and Annie have been married for almost thirty years, a loving, successful marriage. A timeless story of loss, hope, and adventure set against the vividly rendered landscape of the Upper Midwest. The grieving process is hard enough to endure without having to question everything one ever knew about the deceased, an emotional minefield Miller traverses with grace and authenticity that are both haunting and vital." Sue Miller has always been one of my go-to writers. Annie, more reserved and introspective, is a photographer. I can't figure out when this take place. Visitors can view some of BookBrowse for free. I could not classify this as one of her better efforts. More Books, Published in USA  how well do we really know anyone else, even the ones we have lived with for years - and the effects of time on our memories after an untimely death. Subsequent novels include three Book-of- the-Month main selections: Family Pictures (nominated for a National Book Critics Circle Award), While I Was Gone (an Oprah's Book Club selection), and The Senator's Wife. A salute to Sue Miller for diving into the domestic dramas that play out in many an American family. Monogamy. Started off promising but a bit of a let down in the end. Sep 2020 Sue Miller has always been a generous writer. “Monogamy” stars Annie and Graham, two Cambridge residents devoted to the arts (he co-owns a bookstore, she’s a photographer), happily married for three decades. There are no references to cell phones, and only a couple of references to computers (in Graham's store). consoled, I think he said, by that notion. Beautiful, wise, and moving, Monogamy confirms her place as one of the most distinguished and extraordinary writers at work today. It is forbidden to copy anything for publication elsewhere without written permission from the copyright holder. "Monogamy" by Sue Miller; Harper (352 pages, $28.99)-----Two painfully memorable moments anchor "Monogamy," a sophisticated, melancholy novel about an … What do you all think? Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Author interviews, book reviews and lively book commentary are found here. The best approach to this unbelievably good novel, however, is to avoid summary altogether and simply urge readers to read—and reread—the book itself. Monogamy, by Sue Miller (HarperCollins, 2020, 338 pages, $28.99) Prolific* New York Times best-selling author of 11 novels, a short story collection … The lodestar of the book are somewhere around 2008 her place as one of physical. 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