An Actual Life

Having read her previous book, getting over tom, I was excited to read a continuation of one of her short stories from the book, about Buddy and Virginia, in "An Actual Life". Thomas' writing is so exquisite, that you feel like you're reading the confessions and inner thoughts of Virginia, her main character. Everything about this book was wonderful. I finished the book with a smile on my face and hope her other readers will too. Keep up the good work Thomas!

What a perfect title for this book since there are really marriages and lives that are actually like this. Back in the fifties when a teenage girl got herself "in trouble", she "had to" get married and deal with the rest of her life as well as be a good mother. Well that's exactly what this story is about. There are some very good messages in this story and is very worth reading as well as enjoyable since the author leaned a little bit towards the comical look at life. The husband's close relationship to an ex-girlfriend is enough to make any of us female, married readers want to slap him or her. The end of this story is SO imaginative and surprising. Get this book, you'll enjoy it and it's a quick moving easy read.

I read this book in one day. It broke my heart in one minute. On the first few pages you see Buddy has left Virginia. You already know what is going to happen. You want to spare sweet Virginia all the upcoming pain, but you can't. I knew things would never be grand again for these two children, not that they ever were. But I continued to read although I knew the end. And I'm glad I did. Thomas' words were beautiful. This book exuded emotion. Virginia's adoration with her daughter was precious and I feel, held her together when Buddy and Irene were grinding their shoes into her heart. I knew she would have the strength to leave, and I was glad when she finally did. I knew she would be okay.

This is the second book I've read by Abigail Thomas and I loved it as much as I loved her first book, "Getting Over Tom". If you've read "Getting Over Tom" you would agree with me. I was happy to see that one of the stories in the book was a continuation of one of the stories from her first book. You get so involved with the characters lives, you feel as though you are one of Thomas' characters. The book draws you in. You'll wish it wouldn't end. It's great!

Virginia is a lovable, passive, 50s good girl who "had to get married" to the uncommunicative Buddy. She loves her baby daughter, but marriage seems lonely and disappointing. Her awakening into the complexities of love and life--and to her own freedom--is revealed by the author with great subtlety through Virginia's own very entertaining observations and experiences. Funny and ultimately moving, this is a "period piece" that anyone from any time period who's ever found themselves "trapped" in the wrong relationship will identify with. I missed Virginia when the book was over, and would love to know what happened to her next.