The Weekend: A Novel
The #1 International Bestseller from the Booker Prize-shortlisted author of Stone Yard Devotional
“The Big Chill with a dash of Big Little Lies . . . Knife-sharp and deeply alive.” —The Guardian (London)
“An insightful, poignant, and fiercely honest novel about female friendship and female aging.” —Sigrid Nunez, National Book Award–winning author of The Friend
“Friendship, ambition, love, sexual politics and death: it’s all here in one sharp, funny, heartbreaking, and gorgeously written package. I loved it.” —Paula Hawkins, author of The Girl on the Train
Three women in their seventies reunite for one last, life-changing weekend in the beach house of their late friend.
Four older women have a lifelong friendship of the best kind: loving, practical, frank, and steadfast. But when Sylvie dies, the ground shifts dangerously for the remaining three.
They are Jude, a once-famous restaurateur; Wendy, an acclaimed public intellectual; and Adele, a renowned actress now mostly out of work. Struggling to recall exactly why they’ve remained close all these years, the grieving women gather at Sylvie’s old beach house—not for festivities this time, but to clean it out before it is sold. Can they survive together without her?
Without Sylvie to maintain the group’s delicate equilibrium, frustrations build and painful memories press in. Fraying tempers, an elderly dog, unwelcome guests, and too much wine collide in a storm that brings long-buried hurts to the surface—and threatens to sweep away their friendship for good.
The Weekend explores growing old and growing up, and what happens when we’re forced to uncover the lies we tell ourselves. Sharply observed and excruciatingly funny, this is a jewel of a book: a celebration of tenderness and friendship from an award-winning writer.
“The Big Chill with a dash of Big Little Lies . . . Knife-sharp and deeply alive.” —The Guardian (London)
“An insightful, poignant, and fiercely honest novel about female friendship and female aging.” —Sigrid Nunez, National Book Award–winning author of The Friend
“Friendship, ambition, love, sexual politics and death: it’s all here in one sharp, funny, heartbreaking, and gorgeously written package. I loved it.” —Paula Hawkins, author of The Girl on the Train
Three women in their seventies reunite for one last, life-changing weekend in the beach house of their late friend.
Four older women have a lifelong friendship of the best kind: loving, practical, frank, and steadfast. But when Sylvie dies, the ground shifts dangerously for the remaining three.
They are Jude, a once-famous restaurateur; Wendy, an acclaimed public intellectual; and Adele, a renowned actress now mostly out of work. Struggling to recall exactly why they’ve remained close all these years, the grieving women gather at Sylvie’s old beach house—not for festivities this time, but to clean it out before it is sold. Can they survive together without her?
Without Sylvie to maintain the group’s delicate equilibrium, frustrations build and painful memories press in. Fraying tempers, an elderly dog, unwelcome guests, and too much wine collide in a storm that brings long-buried hurts to the surface—and threatens to sweep away their friendship for good.
The Weekend explores growing old and growing up, and what happens when we’re forced to uncover the lies we tell ourselves. Sharply observed and excruciatingly funny, this is a jewel of a book: a celebration of tenderness and friendship from an award-winning writer.
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Community Reviews
thenextgoodbook.com
The Weekend by Charlotte Wood
260 pages
What’s it about?
Four women have been friends for decades. Now in their seventies, Sylvie has died. The three remaining friends (and one very ancient dog) meet up one last time at Sylvie's seaside cottage to help clear out her things. They spend the weekend trying to sort through mementos and feelings as they look back on their lives.
What did it make me think about?
The shared history of friends.
Should I read it?
Well, this book may not be for everyone. For one thing it talks a lot about aging and what young person finds that interesting? I, however, found it very interesting. It seemed to me that all three women were trying to find their way as their lives change. Are they relevant anymore? Do they matter? What is happening to their bodies? How does our friend group survive death? "This was something no one talked about: How death could make you petty. And how you had to find a new arrangement among your friends, shuffling around the gap of the lost one, all of you suddenly mystified by how to be with one another." I would highly recommend this book. Just be aware this story is more about the characters than the action.
Quote-
"She wrapped herself around him, trying to warm him with her body, trying to save him with her old, damaged, incapable love."
If you liked this try-
Less by Andrew Sean Greer
Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf
Meet Me at the Museum by Anne Youngson
Florence Adler Swims Forever by Rachel Beanland
The Weekend by Charlotte Wood
260 pages
What’s it about?
Four women have been friends for decades. Now in their seventies, Sylvie has died. The three remaining friends (and one very ancient dog) meet up one last time at Sylvie's seaside cottage to help clear out her things. They spend the weekend trying to sort through mementos and feelings as they look back on their lives.
What did it make me think about?
The shared history of friends.
Should I read it?
Well, this book may not be for everyone. For one thing it talks a lot about aging and what young person finds that interesting? I, however, found it very interesting. It seemed to me that all three women were trying to find their way as their lives change. Are they relevant anymore? Do they matter? What is happening to their bodies? How does our friend group survive death? "This was something no one talked about: How death could make you petty. And how you had to find a new arrangement among your friends, shuffling around the gap of the lost one, all of you suddenly mystified by how to be with one another." I would highly recommend this book. Just be aware this story is more about the characters than the action.
Quote-
"She wrapped herself around him, trying to warm him with her body, trying to save him with her old, damaged, incapable love."
If you liked this try-
Less by Andrew Sean Greer
Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf
Meet Me at the Museum by Anne Youngson
Florence Adler Swims Forever by Rachel Beanland
Three septuagenarian friends meet to clean out a recently deceased friend’s holiday house on the coast of Australia. Will their friendship survive the death of this friend who is the glue to the 50+ year friendship. Jude is the planner. Adele is a fading actress. Wendy is a cancer survivor and widow, who has brought her tottering dog along. As we get too know these women and learn their vulnerabilities, we are presented with a classic Mary/Martha story of sorts, but with a bit of a different message.
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