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Widow's Guide To Sex And Dating, The: A Novel (2014)

by Carole Radziwill(Favorite Author)

2.96 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

1491523263 (ISBN13: 9781491523261)

languge

English

genre

Humor

publisher

Brilliance Audio

review 1: After seeing the author on RH and hearing about her other book (which gets high praise), I decided I wanted to read this one. As I started reading, I literally was taken aback at the authors casual use (in the beginning chapter or two-not sure which) of a certain "C" word! Now, I'm no prude, I did read all 3 50 Shades books but I was, truthfully, a bit disgusted at the use of that "C" word as if it is the usual word to use when referring to a certain female body part. So when I titled my review as "She almost lost me.....", she truly did as that just left a certain distaste with me. I read on and was happy to see that word was not thrown around so flippantly again although it was used one more time in the book in, to me, a more appropriate manner and setting in which the u... morese of that "C" word was at least understandable!I won't bore you with a synopsis, as I am sure you know the premise: husbands dies suddenly, young wife now a young widow, tries to find her new "real" identity through a series of step and missteps. I do want to say that after my initial shock (see above), I am happy I read on as I enjoyed the story and did enjoy the authors style, as well. It is a good read for the summer, but I would not recommend it to any man. It is definitely a book written by a woman geared for women!
review 2: When Claire Byrne’s husband, Charlie, is killed in New York City when a fake Giacometti statue falls on his head, Claire wonders what to do next. One might suggest moving out of New York City but, as we know, New Yorkers don’t do that. Although her marriage to Charlie – perhaps the world’s best known writer on matters of human sexuality – was lukewarm at best, Claire is lost without a man in her life. Thus, we have our quest: Claire’s need to lose, as she puts it, her widow’s virginity. She also needs to revive the writing career of her early twenties, her chosen mode being the completion of Charlie’s last book. Well-connected in the literary world because of Charlie, and with no money worries because of Charlie’s success, Claire, nevertheless, flounders. She really doesn’t want to engage Charlie’s work even though Charlie’s agent has already secured a contract for the book with Knopf. Her need to redefine herself and her need for a man give us endless pages of maudlin musings along with unproductive sessions with two therapists. Finally, Claire decides on a truly bizarre project. She will meet with (connections, connections) and interview and write a book about America’s latest cinema heartthrob, Jack Huxley, nephew of Aldous Huxley. At this point we enter a familiar Aristotelian arc. Claire meets Jack. They fall in, well, let’s just call it affection, not love. Her widow’s virginity is taken care of. They criss-cross the country from New York to Los Angeles to Jack’s various movie sets. Disinterest, however, on Jack’s part arises. The flame flickers toward extinction. Then Jack comes back but Claire muses, I don’t think so. In the end Claire puts together a book of her own essays and takes up with Ben Hawthorne, one of Charlie’s fiercest critics. Happily ever after looms on the horizon. This is an amusing read but, I would caution the widows out there, it’s not much of a guide to widowhood unless you’re a wealthy and well-connected New Yorker with a penchant for therapy and a love of cross-country airline treks. less

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