Undoing I Do

This is Chicago-based Anastasia Royal's first novel. When I learned that a friend from 30 years ago had transformed her thoughts and feelings from her own divorce into something others may share, I picked up a copy out of loyalty. I was richly rewarded. Royal's work has a poignant immediacy which cuts deep into one's own thoughts and memories. Listening to Royal's description of the anticipation, excitement, joy, troubles and eventual grounding of Claire McCloud's love affair with her husband, and Claire's sense of its impact on their two children, chilled me with moment-to-moment fascination. It hurt to recognize oneself in some of the actions and words of Claire's receding spouse, or to hear echoes of women I knew and relationships I had before marriage. That shows how Royal's unflinching Claire finds enough to write about herself (the novel proceeds in brief journal-like entries), her kids and her struggle for anyone who has been close to, in, or fled from, a committed relationship to identify. Frankly, I think all husbands should read this book. I admit my wife was a bit surprised to see me toting this title around. But on finishing it I recommended it to her as I recommend it to you. Royal's voice in Claire will help you hear things you may have been missing.

I loved this book- it was a beautiful mosaic of the dissolution of marriage and the ultimate redemption of the main character, Claire. Recommended for book groups- good discussion material.

I just got the book in the mail earlier, and due to its inticing and exotic nature I have just finished it. Beautiful poetry, language, and music came together to make a very vivid account of a woman's journey through love and loss. Fantastic. V

I recommend this book to both men and women - it is a candid and engaging story about love and divorce and the main character Claire is such a hilarious and fun person to read about. The chapters are short and juicy, you could read a couple each night (although I didn't want to put it down).

I really enjoyed "Undoing I Do", because of the great balance between the story, the prose, and the applicable real-life lessons about marriage, family, and childhood. Myself a child of divorced parents, this book provided a unique and moving perspective of a difficult subject. But most of all, it was great fun to read! Recommended to me by family, but I would recommend it also to friends, and I have!