The Meaning of Wife: A Provocative Look at Women and Marriage in the Twenty-first Century

First of all, very clever book cover.

With that said I should dive into what I thought about this book, eh? I started reading it one day made it about 100 pages in and then set it aside. By the time I picked the book up again I skimmed a chapter or two more and decided I didn’t want to finish reading it. Apparently I already have acquired a lot of this sociological information on women, being single and marriage. Who knew? Ok maybe I had a clue, I’m drawn to articles about these topics and have read a few books. Oh and went to law school and took Family Law, Divorce Law and Domestic Violence Law and yes, sadly…Property Law.

This weekend I accidentally picked up this book again thinking it was another one by my bed “The God of Small Things” (those darn hardcover books that I remove the dust jackets from fooled me!) Since I’m supremely lazy and did not want to venture the one step out of bed to my nightstand, I kid you not…I picked up where I left off in The Meaning of Wife and finished it.

I suppose the first day I was reading I wanted more…information that was brand new to me. But overall, the book was quite thorough and I would recommend picking it up if you’ve been interested.

Now a few snippets I dogeared for the blog.

For some time I have been enchanted by the name Lucy for a little girl. (Yes, my brother refers to me as Lucy Van Pelt but that is certainly not the reason.) I found out that Ms. Lucy Stone married Henry Blackwell in 1855 she chose not to take his last name. Oooh, powerful Lucy! Love it!

“Between 1880-1930, personal vibrators were advertised as domestic aids in women’s magazines.  A 1918 Sears, Roebuck and Company Electrical goods catalog featured an ad for a remarkably versatile vibrator (under “Aids That Every Woman Appreciated”) that offered not only sexual stimulation but also domestic assistance, given its attachments for churning, mixing, beating, grinding and operating a fan.”

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