Foreverland
Foreverland ~ Heather Havrilesky
In Foreverland, Heather Havrilesky explores her 15 year marriage to her husband. It’s a memoir told in essays, from their first meeting, falling in love, marrying and having children, and aging together. Are we really meant to sleep next to the same person every night, put up with all of their annoying habits, care for them when they need it, let them take care of you when you need it? She’s not sure that marriage is for everyone. She doesn’t seem entirely sure it’s for her. But here she is, and she loves her husband more than she is frustrated by him.
I think anyone in a long term relationship can see glimpses of themselves in this book. The deep love right there along with the petty thoughts about loading a dishwasher or chewing with your mouth open. She is funny and self deprecating and is pretty sure that if there is a problem in their relationship, it may very well be her fault. At least 60/40.
This was a funny book, but really, non-fiction is not my bag. I get bored by a bunch of essays more often than not. I finished it, because I was listening to it and I didn’t have another book coming in. Recommended if you like memoirs and funny stories of a long term marriage.
15 Comments
Jenny
The subject matter of this sounds interesting, but I don’t think I’ll read it- I don’t usually like short stories or essays. But I’ll admit that there’s lots to say on this topic!
J
I feel exactly the same way. She was a very funny writer, but the genre doesn’t really do it for me.
StephLove
I think I heard this book discussed on a podcast, or maybe even the author interviewed. It’s been a few years so I don’t remember. I can’t imagine laying bare all the weak points of a marriage, especially if it’s one that’s good enough to want to stay in, but I do have a voyeuristic streak, so maybe it would be interesting.
J
Give it a try!
Lisa's Yarns
This has been on my TBR list for so long. I love memoirs in essays so it sounds like a great fit for me. I think Nicole liked it, too, so I should bump it up my TBR list!
J
I think you will like it!
Margaret
I get bored by memoirs and also don’t trust them much. If I were to write one, I would probably gloss over some stuff and my memories wouldn’t necessarily be accurate.
J
You’re right, memoirs are likely untrustworthy. The good thing is that this is essays, and she is not claiming to have gotten everything right. She’s funny, so that’s a good thing. But like you, memoirs are not really my jam.
Allison McCaskill
I do sometimes like non-fiction and essays – I loved Ann Patchett’s This is the Story of a Happy Marriage, but all the essays weren’t about her marriage. And yes, I am here for all of this – are we just fighting against human nature for the sake of a made-up tradition, and also, if there is a problem in my marriage I am more like 70-30 it is my fault.
J
I loved parts of Patchett’s book, but like this one, I got kind of bored with it after awhile. If you loved that, I think you would enjoy this one.
Nicole MacPherson
I read this in 2023 and rated it five stars! But then, I do love essay collections.
J
I think I put it on my Library TBR based on your review, and just recently went to that list, so thank you! I didn’t LOVE it, but I liked it well enough.
ernie
I love memoirs. I also love books that make me laugh. Right now, funny books sound like the perfect sort of book to read. Not sure I’lll enjoy the ‘this is what bothers me about my husband’ angle, but I think I’ll give it a try.
J
I think you will love it. It’s not big things, it’s the little annoyances that get to one over the years.
Tobia | craftaliciousme
I am not a fan of essay style books. I think there are others on my TBR that excite me more. So I’ll pass even though I like the topic. I feel there are not many books with long term marriege stories out there.