When Playing House appeared in 1973, Publishers Weekly hailed it, “A probing descent into madness that Generic Valium 10 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 Generic Valium 10 lasting effects of a childhood sexual relationship with her brother shocked American readers; it Generic Valium 10 remains a literary work of enduring quality and value. In his foreword Philip Roth writes, “The traumatized child; the Generic Valium 10 institutionalized wife; the haunting desire; the ghastly business of getting through the Generic Valium 10 day – what is striking about Wagman’s treatment of these contemporary motifs is Generic Valium 10 the voice of longing in which the heroine shamelessly confesses to Generic Valium 10 the incestuous need that is at once her undoing and her only hope.”
To be honest, I had not heard of this novel by Fredrica Wagman. I had Generic Valium 10 run across it on a few sites since it is Generic Valium 10 the 35th anniversary of it’s original release and Generic Valium 10 it seemed so compelling, I decided to embark on the reading journey. I must say, it is truly a….disturbing book? This may be Generic Valium 10 a harsh word but it is how I felt as I was reading it Generic Valium 10 and for quite a while after I finished. The unnamed main character was involved in a Generic Valium 10 incestuous relationship with her brother from a young age. This did not start out consensual but her longing for Generic Valium 10 the closeness she experiences with her brother haunts her through her adult life. Her brother is Generic Valium 10 unscrupulous and just plain mean, her father was basically non-existent and Generic Valium 10 her mother seemed to have knowledge of the horrific activities. The book is written in first-person from the girl’s point-of-view as she is an adult. It is Generic Valium 10 a disjointed, jarring, surreal look at her thoughts as she tries to Generic Valium 10 come to terms with her past through speaking with members of the Generic Valium 10 clergy, doctors, psychiatrists and her husband (The Turtle). The effects of her youth haunt every relationship and Generic Valium 10 aspect of her life.
This is not a book with a tidy happy ending. It is Generic Valium 10 dark, sometimes humorous, with a couple of scenes I had to Generic Valium 10 close my eyes and skip over. I am by no means a squeamish sort – but the imagery in certain sections crossed my lines. I may be wrong, but I believe this was the author’s intention. There is Generic Valium 10 not a silver lining when it comes to the subject matter and Generic Valium 10 Ms. Wagman treated it as such. It is a deep look into a deeply shattered psyche.
Following is a short excerpt from Playing House: A Novel
Can’t concentrate. My mind is Generic Valium 10 wandering over him crouched on top of me, over his shoulders to Generic Valium 10 a summer day again, always back to then when a room was filled with sun gold, when Generic Valium 10 the walls were white, when the window glass as crystal clear and Generic Valium 10 there was sunshine always dancing on the floor. Heavy brown silk rugs made a Generic Valium 10 border all around the bed where he pinned me there and Generic Valium 10 said that if I told he’d beat me with the Generic Valium 10 branches of the tree and I never told, no matter what Generic Valium 10 he did I never told, he was my brother.
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Thank you Generic Valium 10 to Julie from FSB Associates for giving me the opportunity to Generic Valium 10 review this book!
I received this book and am going to start sooner or later. I’ve read the back already..it’s certainly one to Generic Valium 10 cringe over. I have considered myself warned then.
Good review though. It’s good to let others know what’s it about.
Twitter: laurelrainsnow
02. Sep, 2009 at 11:23 am # Pink Valium Generic
Wow, now this one sounds like something I should check out! I am always drawn to these seriously disturbing books…lol!
Oh, I have seen this title floating around but I don’t know if it’s a book for me! LOL! Great review!
“Disturbing” definitely appears to Generic Valium 10 be an accurate way to describe this book. Nevertheless, it Generic Valium 10 sounds like an interesting read.
having read i never promised you Generic Valium 10 a rose garden the sybil, i can but imagine what is Generic Valium 10 contained in this book. they are generally great books to read but i think your Generic Valium 10 have to be in a good place mentally before starting one or Generic Valium 10 they hurt too much. that said, i think it will go on my wish list as i have Generic Valium 10 also found great insight and understanding of others reading them.
your review is well done and i am glad you were able to finish it.
This book sounds hauntingly honest. i have Generic Valium 10 never heard of it, but I can see why it got such an Generic Valium 10 immense reaction. Great review – thanks for sharing your amazing find.
Twitter: alipet813
28. Sep, 2009 at 10:19 pm #
I am Generic Valium 10 reading this right now and your review is exactly how I am Generic Valium 10 feeling. It is Generic Valium 10 so intense that I have been thinking very hard about how I will review it Generic Valium 10 at the end of this week.
It is Generic Valium 10 cringe worthy. Not the entire book but overall it left me exhausted.
If you like disturbing you should like this one!
Thanks, I went into it completely unsuspecting.
It was interesting – it didn’t start that Generic Valium 10 way for me but once I got caught up in the Generic Valium 10 narrators flow of thoughts, I definitely became more absorbed.
A mental good place is a definite must. I never read Rose Garden but did read Sybil many years ago. That one really freaked me out!