Matrimony

Josh Henkin has created art -a beautiful mosaic of brokenness that has resulted from tragedies, human weakness, and the every day life (changes, family conflicts and losses, betrayals, and successes)of the wonderfully flawed and likeable characters,cemented together by a deep abiding love between the protagonists, Mia and Julian. "Matrimony" is realism at its best, rich in wry wit and strong emotion. Henkin's masterful command of language brings laughter, smiles, frustration, and perhaps tears to the reader. Without reservation, 5 stars.

If you are not currently in a book club Joshua Henkin's much anticipated second novel Matrimony is the reason to start one! Henkins ability to make the reader feel as though they are in the moment along with the characters is what makes Matrimony a story that will resonate with you long after the book is back on the shelf. I didn't want to say goodbye to Mia and Juilian, and as the weight of the pages shifted, and I could see the conclusion out of the corner of my right eye I found myself reading more slowly in order to savor every moment. Upon completion I felt the need to share the experience with everyone, I will have to buy a second copy to lend out to friends, this one is mine to treasure.

Matrimony is a moving portrait of a marriage that is tested through the years by jealousy, loss, and betrayal. The story follows Mia and Julian, who meet in college and tie the knot soon after graduation. As they make their way from New England college town to Midwestern college town and finally to New York, they discover that long-dormant secrets and old rivalries can tear into the fabric that holds a marriage together. Henkin's straightforward, reserved prose strikes just the right tone, so that the story is touching, but never maudlin. He has a witty take on the singular world of writing workshops and the writer's struggle to create. Henkin also deftly tackles issues of class and family history, how those things can shape our lives and sometimes haunt us. A deeply felt story and an excellent read.

Matrimony is the kind of novel you can hardly find any more. It's funny and sharp and entertaining, but it's also patient. In Henkin's work (his other book, Swimming Across the Hudson, is extraordinary, too), every moment builds on the last, every character emerges detail by detail, so that as you read, you can't help but be completely invested in what happens. Matrimony is written with great heart and unflinching compassion. It's hilarious and wise. It's the perfect book to read if you happen to be a human being.

Matrimony is the first novel I've read in quite a while, and it reminded me of why I can't subsist on a nonfiction-only diet. Like all great novelists, Joshua Henkin casts a spell that doesn't wear off until long after you've finished the book. There are no gimmicks here, no attempts to dazzle and distract with flashy prose. Instead, you'll find the beautifully crafted and heartbreakingly realistic story of a young writer, Julian Wainwright, trying to negotiate art and life. In telling Wainwright's story, from college into middle age, Henkin also tells much larger stories about love and betrayal and about how our class backgrounds often define us in spite of ourselves. For anyone interested in writing, this novel also comes with a nice bonus. Henkin is a creative writing professor and in his account of the ups and downs of Wainwright's literary journey, he's slipped in a good deal of wisdom on how to write well.