Still Life with Husband
Still Life with Husband is a novel by Lauren Fox. It was published by Knopf Publishers on February 7, 2007. It is the author's first novel.[1] Publishers Weekly described the book as "chick lit for early marrieds".[2]
Claudia Deane of The Washington Post describes the story arc as the main character entering a "slippery slope".[3] The main character, Emily Ross, living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is not sure whether she wants to stay married to her husband, who wants to move to a suburban area and start a family, or whether to pursue a relationship with another man, David Keller.
Kirkus Reviews describes Emily as "a banally self-centered character."[1] Publishers Weekly stated that the main character has "a decidedly entitled, gee-whiz quality" which a person who has prior experience with romantic relations may find difficult to tolerate.[2] Writer Sharon Pomerantz stated that the author "assumes real intelligence" in the book's audience.[4]
Background
The author attended the University of Minnesota and, in 1998, received a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) from that institution.[5]
Reception
Michiko Kakutani wrote that the work is "the debut of a delightful new voice in American fiction".[5]
Pomerantz stated that she perceived of the book's ending as "a complete surprise".[4] Kirkus Reviews stated that the book has "Lots of admirable writing".[1] Publishers Weekly stated that the book is "adroit but placid".[2]
References
- 1 2 3 "Still Life with Husband". Kirkus Reviews. 2006-11-01. Retrieved 2025-06-27.
- 1 2 3 "Still Life with Husband". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2025-06-27.
- ↑ Deane, Claudia (2007-04-15). "To cheat or not to cheat -- the heroine's question". Washington Post. Retrieved 2025-06-27.
- 1 2 Pomerantz, Sharon (2007-02-25). "Debut novel examines love, marriage and expectations". Chicago Tribune. Chicago. p. Section 14 p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 Kakutani, Michiko (2007-02-16). "Unhappy Wife Entangles Herself in a Sad-Funny Mess". The New York Times. Retrieved 2025-06-27.