Peace In The Margins

“It’s the nuances of desire that hold the truth of who we are at our rawest moments. I set out to register the heat and sting of female want so that men and other women might more easily comprehend before they condemn. Because it’s the quotidian moments of our lives that will go on forever, that will tell us who we were, who our neighbors and our mothers were, when we were too diligent in thinking they were nothing like us. This is the story of three women.” 

Lina is desperate for her husband’s touch. Maggie is in love with her pedophile teacher. Sloane will go to any length to please her husband, including sexual threesomes with people he personally selects. Taddeo spent eight years researching these three women to tell their stories in “a groundbreaking portrait of erotic longing.”

I subscribe to Book of the Month Club, and Three Women was my choice out of five options for that month. I made a mistake. You see, just because you dig in and conduct deep research, you have journalism experience, and a heart-felt desire to tell a story doesn’t necessarily mean you can pull together a well written book.

I don’t usually finish books that would rate lower than 3-stars, but I did finish this one. Definately not my favorite. I think I get what Taddeo was attempting – the expanse of female oppression to female liberation is all tied to sex. And while there is nothing dirty about sex specifically, sex can become a vice and a black mark in relationships if not approached and cultivated in the right manner.

Not only does this not rise to the level of any simbalance of literature (of which I doubt Taddeo even intended), the real problem is purpose. The only thing this book provided was a vouyeristic view of Sodom and Gmorrah through the eyes of the women who experienced it. There is no conclusion, no resolution. The only thing accomplished is the sad telling of failed marriages, dissapointment, and unfullfillment.

“She doesn’t question why it’s only he who gets to decide. She understands that now she has no voice.” 

As I reached the last 100 pages, I just wanted the book to end. Taddeo’s goal is that the reader can relate and discover he or she isn’t alone – for me, she missed the mark.

“Women shouldn’t judge each others lives, if we haven’t been through one another’s fires.” 

I commend the author for stepping out of the shadows and tackling such a heated – yet ignored topic, but that didn’t make it any better of a read. 

On the bright side, this would make for GREAT book club discussions!

An Unsolicited Review.

Until Next Time,

Alicia