I joined a book club created by Linsey, one of the amazing ladies on my Eat.Blog.Run. relay team. From Left to Write is the first official book club I’ve joined, and I’m thrilled and honored to be included. Thanks heaps, Linsey!
From Left to Write is a bit different from typical book clubs, at least those with which I’m familiar. Rather than write a synopsis we are encouraged to relay personal experiences that the book at hand reminds us of.
For a rundown of The Stuff That Never Happened by Maddie Dawson, click here.
Seeing as I’m two decades younger than Annabelle, the protagonist, there are many elements in her life that I have not yet experienced myself — chief among them marriage and children.
Her relationship with her husband hits a nerve, though. Stable, durable, and often happy, the McKays’ marriage is ideal on many levels. And yet after twenty-eight years Grant just isn’t that into Annabelle anymore. Faithful and respectful, yes. But interested and engaged and enthusiastic, not so much. His attitude toward Annabelle is one of boredom and mere tolerance. And it crushes me.
A spouse or long-term partner losing interest and becoming bored with me is one of my greatest fears. I realize that probably sounds naive and insecure, but I feel like that is the source of so many relationships’ ailments and downfalls. I want to find someone to spend my life with; I want to find one person that is equal parts rock and lover and companion, day in and day out. It scares the bajeezus out of me that my potential partner could wake up one day and be over it. Over me, over us, over our life together.
It sounds cliché, sure. But clichés don’t evolve unfounded. Partners becoming bored with each other (and hence leaving or cheating or resenting and so on) is a pretty regular occurrence. So many people shrug and say “it is what it is” and accept that they will have multiple life partners, rather than just one. And maybe one day that will be me too. The odds certainly favor that outcome. The only problem is that I was raised on Disney stories with deserving princesses and fairytale endings. And I’m still holding out hope for my own Prince Charming.
I do like the book more than I anticipated, though. Well written, engaging, relatable — an enjoyable read on all fronts. If you’re looking for an easy read over the last days of summer, definitely check out The Stuff That Never Happened. It’ll grab you from the get-go.
I’m so delighted you liked the book! Thank you for such a nice, insightful comment–and for recommending the book to others!
I didn’t get the impression that Grant was bored with Annabelle, but rather that Annabelle was bored with Grant. I saw her as the problem and not him. He was just preoccupied and unable to meet her current expectations.
I agree to an extent; I think she did grow restless. But he was preoccupied, and always had priorities above her, and he grew curt and irritated when she vied for his attention. I’m not sure she would have been as dissatisfied had he given her more time and effort. That was my point.
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Thanks for the information and facts!