In the 1950’s, if you had to undo your marriage in America, you could wait out six weeks in a divorce ranch in Reno. Crazy, right? I’m not sure if that was an option for men, but THE DIVORCÉES by Rowan Beaird is set in one for women.
This will be a short one, just like the book. Lois lands up at a divorce ranch while she waits to be unhitched from a man she hastily married, and that’s a story in itself. This book focuses on, for lack of better word, her exploits there and life immediately following that.
Each women there has an intriguing story, and some really make you think. There’s some elaboration of Lois’ past in particular, and her relationship with her mother, father and her soon to be ex-husband paint a life of loneliness, and one streaked with desperation. It really made me thankful for how far we have come to making divorce a bit – just a teeny tiny bit – less stagmatized.
Since this deals with some of the everyday events with life on the ranch, it can be a bit mundane here and there, but overall, paints an intriguing picture. It left me feeling quite sad for Lois, though she did have a bit of fun during her stay. At no point did I see her dreams working out, and wanted to scream “look out!”, multiple times, because where is there possibility for things to take a turn for the best?
An interesting and engrossing literary read that suffers just a bit from an anticlimactic ending. But recommended for lovers of historical and literary fiction.
I received an ARC of this book from the author/publisher. Quotes, if any, are taken from the ARC and are subject to change upon publication.
This title was published by Manilla Press in the U.K. and by Flatiron Books in the U.S.
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My mom and I are planning a buddy read of this later in the year. I’d never heard of ‘divorce ranches’, so it seems like an interesting read. I’m glad to hear it’s quite character focused.
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