I'm glad we voted for The Paris Wife, because I really liked the book. Many of you know that I'm a former English teacher, and I think the time between the two World Wars is one of the most interesting literary periods. I don't care for Hemingway's writing, so I don't know too much about him. I'm assuming this book is well researched, and, if so, then I learned a lot about both the time period and Hemingway himself.
I've never understood why so many of the great American authors of that time became ex-patriots, often living in Paris. World War I was horrendous, and it left its mark on every man who fought. I'm not sure why these Americans would go to Paris, when France was the site of much of the worst fighting. Hemingway (at least as he's portrayed in this novel) never shook off the horrors he experienced. He was such a macho guy, and it must have been humiliating for him to be haunted by those nightmares. It seemed like he was running from his memories, trying to experience one over-the-top adventure after another, to erase what he had experienced. I suppose this turned him into a better writer, but I certainly wouldn't have wanted him for a friend.
I didn't find Hadley to be a very sympathetic character, etiher. She put up with a lot from her husband, but she also drove me a little crazy. When he needed to travel because of his work, she was so clingy. She was definitely set up to be a contrast with the "modern woman" who was emerging at the time. There's nothing wrong with relishing the role of wife and mother, but it caused her to lose her identity and independence, at least for a while. I did sympathize with her toward the end of their marriage. The social code of their friends made her feel that she was somehow an old-fashioned prude if she didn't turn a blind eye to Ernest's infidelities.
Despite not finding either of the main characters especially likeable, I enjoyed the interplay between them. Their relationship was complex, and it definitely reflected the time period. They lived a wild life, overindulging in everything...food, alcohol, sex... As a reader, I watched them spiral more and more out of control. I honestly don't think the end of their marriage was so much from his other relationship as it was from the effects of their social circle. The need to constantly out-do each other in terms of drinking, adventures, and even putting up with bad behavior created intolerable pressure. It's hard to see how any marriage could withstand that.
Finally, I enjoyed the insight into the creative process of an author. Obviously, there are many ways to approach writing; Hemingway's work schedule and determination were admirable. I enjoyed tracking his progress as a writer and his struggles to get his work published. He wasn't a pleasant man, but he took his writing seriously and had incredibly high expectations for himself.
With that, I'll throw the discussion out to the rest of you, with just a couple of minor questions:
What was your reaction when Hadley lost all of Hemingway's manuscripts on the train? I literally groaned out loud.
Was anyone else annoyed with the nicknames? I found it maddening, especially Hadley and Ernest calling each other Tatie. Tatie???
