When I picked up The Four Temperaments by Yona Zeldis McDonough recently, I purchased it for one reason: The plot called for a mother's extreme measures to retaliate against the unfaithful behavior of both her husband and her son... with the same woman. Whether or not its a classy thing to admit- sometimes it just feels good to see people get what is coming to them. The teaser didn't tell me whether or not the revenge was against one of the men in her life, or the girl they'd managed to fall for but I thought maybe she kidnapped the woman, or maybe even killed her...
Turns out this book was way better than the twisted plot of a modern day soap opera... only it wasn't that dramatic. There were very few tense moments when a spouse lingers out side a door while sins are taking place on the other side. There were no moments when parties fear they may be found out. There was no insane climactic moment when all involved realize what is going on- instead this story was very... real.
This story didn't just center around the cheating and the nasty details of who said and did what, instead it very thoroughly explored what I was talking about earlier- that betrayal that is worse than cheating... that feeling that your family is falling apart at the hand of someone else and everything you've ever done in your life is truly in vain.
It felt as if I was talking to a friend who was experiencing this horrible twist of fate... only her husband and her son were confiding in me also, as was her daughter-in-law and the mistress! All five subjects faced and handled the infidelity differently and throughout the entire book I kept trying to place the blame... yes the father seems rational because he was the one who first brought the woman into his home- but he was just being nice and offering a new co-worker a hot meal with his family. The son also seems logical to hate and distrust because he knowingly and willingly cheated on his wife in his parent's home. Penelope, the daughter-in-law also offers incredibly undesirable qualities that leave you angry and frustrated but then there is that underlying sadness you feel for her as well, learning about her past and then the moment she realizes she is going to change and win her husband back. And you certainly want to hate the mistress.... but I could NEVER bring myself to dislike her. Yes, she knew full and well what she was doing. Yes she understood the complications and the implications of her actions..and she still never stopped. However, I did sense this insane longing to belong, this feeling you learn she's had since childhood to understand why she is the way she is and this need to fill a hole she isn't even sure exists in her heart.
This book offered a glimpse into the unfortunate world of cheating in a way that I'd never thought of before- in most cases- everyone plays their parts. They offer reasons to be distruste
d or disliked or allow themselves to become pawns in a game. While I don't believe everyone woman is guilty of such things- I know in my case I believed what I wanted to believed and now looking back, it doesn't shock me one bit that it happened. I can't blame him any more than I can blame myself.I think this novel is certainly one worth reading - not only is the storyline intricate and beautiful but the setting of the New York Ballet offers an even more delicate and dangerous undertone to this story. You guys remember that movie Center Stage that came out several years ago? This story, in a way, made me remember the simplicity and the air of mystery that film produced. (Don't make fun of me, yes it was a low budget flick... but its still one of my favorites!)
This is a novel you should add to your list!
20/52 Books (Currently 11 behind... Oops!)
5951 Pages Read.
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