Harrison was married to the visual artist john massey and lived in toronto. A download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. I first met her in 1975 when she turned up at a performance i did with margaret dragu about figure skater, barbara ann scott. Asa worked for a decade on her fiction and her fabulous debut novel the silent wife is the brilliant culmination of her hard work and exceptional talent as a writer.
Hes aware that she knows, even as his latest fling turns from casual to lifechanging. With a spare, elegant, and deft hand, she paints two dueling psychological portraits of longtime livein lovers who become putative killer and hapless victim in a tale that no one is likely to forget any time soon. Knauit browse all quotes quote authors categories for quotes random quote login register. Jul 08, 20 best psychological thriller summer reads. Harrison, who in real life is also a psychotherapist, writes a neat atmospheric tale that examines life from both characters points of view but sometimes works a bit too hard to cram extraneous detail into the story, particularly when it comes to psychotherapy and jodis present clients. Harrison died of cancer at age 65 in april and never saw her debut novel, published on june 25, become a. This is no ordinary thriller either where we see the perpetrator and the detectives for them. Harrisons book was a huge selling point and that he has prominently displayed the silent wife on. Harrisons novel is an intense and intelligent psychological thriller. Susan harrison was born in 1948, to the late douglas harrison, a chemical engineer of british stock in the research division of ontario hydro, and angela harrison nee bobbs, who was from a. The silent wife by asa harrison every monday from july to labor day well award a new book with a guardian prize. Sophie hannah, author of the other womans house this summers sleeper hit the new york times the silent wife is a boning knife of a novel, sharp and quick. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. Expertly plotted and reminiscent of gone girl and these things hidden, the silent wife ensnares the listener from its opening lines and never lets go.
A chilling psychological thriller about a marriage, a way of life, and how far one woman will go to keep what is rightfully hers jodi and todd are at a bad place in their marriage. The silent wife is her debut novel and she was at work on a new. This chilling psychological thriller is a story about marriage as a way of life and a womans willingness to go as far as she can for keeping what belongs to her rightfully. Harrison is the author of four books of nonfiction. Much is at stake, including the affluent life they lead in. Or would you have preferred a single point of view. Harrison knocks it out of the park with her first novel, the silent wife. Told in alternating voices, the silent wife is about a marriage in the throes of dissolution, a couple headed for catastrophe, concessions that cant be made, and promises that wont be kept. But in the silent wife, it is a foregone conclusion that jodi will kill. A harrison s the silent wife is a clean, understated thriller npr.
Get an adfree experience with special benefits, and directly support reddit. The silent wife jodis great gift is her silence, and he has always loved this about her. Anne lamott, people jodi and todd are at a bad place in their marriage. Harrison knocks it out of the park with her first novel the silent wife. In this confident foray into fiction, harrison applies. What was your emotional reaction to the silent wife. The premise that a welleducated moderately affluent woman in chicago with affluent welleducated marrieddivorced friends has no money and doesnt know that. The silent wife is her debut novel, and she was at work on a new psychological thriller when she died in 20. Jodi brett and todd gilbert have been together for 20 years but todds infidelity lead to the demise of his relationship with jodi, and, ultimately the end of his life. Harrison was the author of four books of nonfiction. The gripping bestselling novel of betrayal, revenge and murder by s. The silent wife documents the unravelling of a seemingly perfect 20 year relationship and is told in alternating him and her chapters. Shes aware that todd has been boning other chicks but. A harrisons the silent wife is a clean, understated thriller npr.
Harrison s previous books include orgasms coach house press, 1974, revelations, with margaret dragu nightwood editions, 1987, and zodicat speaks viking penguin, 1996. In this novel, author harrison has told the story of a slow disintegration of an unhealthy marriage. Filmnation, adrian lyne join nicole kidman thriller the. Harrisons previous books include orgasms coach house press, 1974, revelations, with margaret dragu nightwood editions, 1987, and zodicat speaks viking penguin, 1996. The silent wife is her debut novel and she was at work on a new psychological thriller when she died in 20, aged 65. It focuses on an affluent chicago couple whove been together 20 years and seem very stable. It will also earn comparisons to stieg larsson, for a. She was at work on a new psychological thriller when she died in 20. Harrison, including the silent wife, and revelations. With a spare, elegant, and deft hand, she paints two dueling psychological portraits of longtime livein lovers who become putative killer and hapless victim in a tale that no one is likely to forget anytime soon. That isnt to say it doesnt have the same appeal, however, i only wished there had been a more developed and more interesting. Oscarnominated fatal attraction director adrian lyne is set to make his directorial comeback on nicole kidman thriller the silent wife filmnation has swooped on international sales rights to. The woman who refuses to object, who doesnt yell and scream theres.
She worked as a typesetter for toronto publications, and published several works of nonfiction. The novel silent wife benefits from success of gone girl. Harrison this study guide consists of approximately 42 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the silent wife. Harrison penguin harrison was noted for her nonfiction, but as this first novel demonstrates, she also had a flair for makebelieve, with clever twists and. Harrison s exceptional first novel, the silent wife.
The silent wife was a lot more puzzlingeverything in gone girl was explained whereas tsw was much more subtle. The silent wife s success didnt take me by surprise. Her first novel, the silent wife, was published in june 20 to critical acclaim. Canadian author harrisons first novel is a smart, nuanced portrait of a dying marriage. Harrison was released in the year 20 by the penguin books. The unraveling of the joditodd relationship is the central plot in a. The silent wife was not better than gillian flynns gone girl, as one critic writes on the back of the book. Sep 03, 20 the silent wife by asa harrison has now spent 5 weeks in the new york times bestseller list, and this week its at number 3. Harrison, a sleeper hit that happens to answer to the same description. Harrison made a name for herself with performance art in the late 1960s, collaborating with margaret dragu.
The slow, murderous disintegration of a marriage is all too believable in asa harrisons first and final novel, writes alison flood. Org you cant blame the publishers of the silent wife for hyping it as the new gone girl. The silent wife will earn comparisons to last years dark best seller gone girl because its a tale of a marriage gone very, very bad. The story of a slow, murderous disintegration of a marriage, it is the. Harrison, the author, clearly had a keen understanding of human nature, taking the time to paint both jodi and todd with a thousand little brushstrokes of insight.
Aug 14, 20 a sad side note adding to interest in the silent wife. Harrison s previous books include orgasms coach house press, 1974. Harrisons the silent wife, readers learn that jodi will become a killer. Jun 28, 20 harrisons novel is likely titled the silent wife for this very reason. Psychotherapist jodi brett is content with her tidy. Harrison s debut psychological thriller, was released in canada, the us, and the uk on 25 june 20. The silent wife is the tale of a longterm relationship gone bad without any possible way to fix it. Harrison s the silent wife is a cautionary tale of posthumous value that holds its own in the face of gone girl and the girl on the train. Jun 25, 2015 but in the silent wife, it is a foregone conclusion that jodi will kill.
A gripping domestic psychological thriller for fans of asa harrison s the silent wife and sabine durrants under your skin, the pocket wife will stay with you as all good thrillers do long after youve finished it. Told in alternating voices, the silent wife is about a marriage in the throes of dissolution, a couple headed for catastrophe. A chilling psychological thriller about a marriage, a way of lif. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. Harrison died on sunday at the age of 65 harrison was the author of the nonfiction book orgasms, published in 1974 by coach house press. The routines theyve created keep their roles defined, with jodi the homemaker, cook and parttime psychiatrist with todd working long hours in building renovation.
Harrison s novel is likely titled the silent wife for this very reason. Ian kern, manager of the mysterious bookshop in tribeca, said the similarity of ms. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the silent wife. And she was on the cusp of international success with her upcoming psychological thriller, the silent wife, which is to be published in june by penguin canada the book is already an international. In the book the silent wife, categorie psychology quotation. The novel silent wife benefits from success of gone. A sad side note adding to interest in the silent wife. No 720 the silent wife by asa harrison post navigation. The silent wife is a boning knife of a novel, sharp and quick. Org you cant blame the publishers of the silent wife for hyping it.
The silent wife, her debut novel, was published to critical acclaim, has been translated into twentyseven languages, and has sold more than 750,000 copies worldwide. The silent wife is her debut novel and she was at work on a new psychological thriller when she died in 20. Harrison died of cancer at age 65 in april and never saw her debut novel, published on june 25, become a breakout success. Harrison s book was a huge selling point and that he has prominently displayed the silent wife on. The novel silent wife benefits from success of gone girl the. The silent wife by asa harrison has now spent 5 weeks in the new york times bestseller list, and this week its at number 3. Revelations, with margaret dragu nightwood editions, 1987, and zodicat speaks. Expertly plotted and reminiscent of gone girl and these things hidden, the silent wife ensnares the reader from page one and does not let go. With this profession, harrison published a few nonfiction works. Harrison was her debut novel and unfortunately her last as she died in 20 in which she has left an incredible psychological thriller.
North america united kingdom netherlands soon to be a major motion picture. The silent wife is the debut novel from nonfiction author a. This psychological thriller was released in 20 and immediately received critical acclaim from many. When i think of asa the author, i think about her care and precision and persistence with the craft. Soon to be a major motion picture starring nicole kidman, fans of the girl on the train and gone girl will love the silent wife. Apr 16, 20 toronto nonfiction author and editor susan a. The first novel that harrison wrote is called as the silent wife. Jodi is a 45 year old therapist who has a comfortable life, working two days a week from her luxurious condo apartment, attending pilates. Todd gilbert and jodi brett have lived together as good as man and wife for many years. The silent wife is her debut novel and she was at work on a new psychological thriller when she died in. Harrison s novel switches back and forth between jodis and todds points of view. The silent wife by asa harrison halifax public libraries 1. Gillian flynn told us everything in gone girlyou had to be a smart reader and look closely while reading the silent wife.