Another busy week here in the Diegel house as we get ready to take a little vacation. We are headed to Tahoe for a few days this week to just cool off and relax. I don't think it will take too much to adjust to “Tahoe Time” – especially with a couple of good books in my arsenal! I have some fun magical realism to share with you this week, perfect to take on a vacation or just to dig into at home.
Holly Gramazio's “The Husbands” is a witty and thought-provoking novel of magical realism that explores the complexities of identity, choice, and the elusive nature of happiness within relationships. The story centers on Lauren, a single woman in her early thirties living in London, whose life takes an extraordinary turn when she arrives home late one night to find a man named Michael in her apartment who claims to be her husband. The bewildering situation is compounded by the fact that her flat's decor is subtly improved, and her phone contains photos of them together, suggesting a shared history she cannot recall.
Before Lauren can fully process this inexplicable reality, Michael goes to the attic to change a lightbulb and vanishes, only for a new, entirely different man to descend in his place. With each "husband" emerging from the attic, Lauren's life subtly shifts around her – her job, her friendships, and even her personality are altered to fit the new dynamic. She quickly realizes her attic possesses a bizarre, magical property, offering an endless supply of potential partners and, by extension, countless versions of her own life.
Initially, Lauren is intrigued and even excited by the prospect of finding the "perfect" husband and the ideal life. She begins to cycle through men, each representing a different path her life could have taken. From the ambitious to the artistic, the kind to the chaotic, these husbands embody various possibilities and challenges. However, the constant flux and the perpetual option for something "better" soon lead to a unique existential crisis.
The novel delves into profound questions: How does one commit to a single path when infinite alternatives are readily available? When does the search for perfection become an impediment to truly living and finding contentment in the present? As Lauren navigates this surreal predicament, she grapples with the impact of relationships on her own sense of self and the choices that define a life. “The Husbands” is a clever and engaging exploration of modern anxieties surrounding decision-making, the pursuit of an idealized existence, and the ultimate realization that happiness might not lie in endless possibilities but in embracing the imperfect realities we choose.
Wherever you're reading this week, I hope you find a great book to get lost in and don't forget to pop over to my Instagram @allison.the.reader for more recommendations and book-ish fun!
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