I don't often quote the Bible, but this story brings to mind the following verse: 1 Timothy 6:10: For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (King James Version) This is a story of two people who make one decision after another that leads to their ultimate destruction. In the first few pages of the book, we find out that the narrator, Erin, is burying her husband Mark, shortly after their married life has begun, so I'm not spoiling anything there. After this curious introduction, Erin reverts to the "beginning" of the story - or three months previously (two months before their marriage.)
Erin is a documentary filmmaker and Mark is an investment banker. Mark proposed marriage, and Erin accepted, after they had been together a number of years already. Erin comments that she was surprised when Mark proposed because she hadn't really been thinking about marriage, although she loved him more than anything and they both wanted children. This was curious to me. Some of the things that Erin thinks about, or considers doing, in this book made me wonder if she truly loved Mark or simply liked the idea of loving Mark. Anyway, Mark loses his job suddenly (with no severance package) and this sends him into a tailspin. Their extravagant wedding plans need to be curtailed. Erin is upset initially, but she concedes after they have a talk and Mark explains how much pressure he feels being the "breadwinner" while she does her filmmaking. He is actually quite mean to Erin in this conversation, which is shocking, but she just "accepts it". Oh, and Mark chops off a week of their honeymoon without even talking to her about it! Erin again talks herself out of being upset about this.
When they find "something in the water" on their honeymoon (I won't reveal what it is here), they work together to decide what to do about it. At this point, they really do seem to be a solid couple who genuinely love each other. They are excited to start trying to have a baby and Erin has already gone off the pill. They share a strong intimacy. They enjoy each other's company. But then Erin starts making decisions on her own - and Mark isn't crazy about her impulsiveness. But they always seem to talk it through and develop a new plan. Soon enough however, their love of money rears its ugly head and it becomes the thing that controls their actions. I was intrigued by the story line and read the last 200 pages in one sitting. It's fast paced and I didn't know exactly how it would end, but the end definitely through me for a loop. I started to see where it was all headed, but honestly, I don't really understand why. We only have Erin's perspective, so we don't really know what other people are doing or thinking. But the ending doesn't make sense to me, based on the rest of the story. My opinion. I still enjoyed the book a lot.
Wendy's Rating: ****
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