Domestic Violets by Matthew Norman
by Jenners • 05/02/2012 • 4 Stars, Contemporary, D Titles, Fiction, N Authors • 53 Comments
Domestic Violets by Matthew Norman
Publisher: Harper Perennial, 2011
Pages: 352
Genre: Fiction, Contemporary Fiction
Where I Got It: Amazon Vine
Why I Read It: Everyone who read this book seemed to enjoy it. Plus, that title!!
My Rating: 4 stars
Book Description
Tom Violet is having a midlife crisis. Besides suffering from erectile dysfunction, he thinks his wife Anna might be having an affair. His dog Hank suffers from anxiety. Although the manuscript he’s been secretly working on for years is finally finished, his father Curtis has just been awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. (In addition, Curtis seems to have left his latest wife and moved in with Tom and his family.) His job at a soul-killing corporation writing copy filled with meaningless buzzwords bores him to tears. He makes work bearable by needling his arch-nemesis Gregory. The only good thing? His relationship with his cute young coworker Katie … who seems like she might reciprocate his inappropriate feelings towards her. What’s a sarcastic, frustrated writer with a larger-than-life father and a hot wife who doesn’t seem to need him anymore do to get his life back on track?
My Thoughts
This book was a hoot! Although this is his debut novel, Norman writes with self-assurance and gives Tom a blackly comic voice that tickled my funny bone and had me wondering just how he was going to work through all his problems. The book reminded me a bit of Jonathan Tropper’s This Is Where I Leave You, in that both deal with wacky, dysfunctional families with major issues to tackle. I mean this as a very high compliment, as I adored Tropper’s book.
Although most of us probably couldn’t relate to having a father who is one of the greatest living American writers when our secret aspiration is to be a writer, most of us can relate to soul-killing jobs in offices that are full of backstabbing, empty buzzwords and nebulous goals. The sections where Tom is at work were my favorites. They brought back memories from my own office experiences.
I also thought that the marriage between Tom and Anna felt true and lived in. Although both of them are seeking attention and validation outside of the marriage, they still love each other and are trying to find a way back to each other. I think most long-term marriages might go through patches like this—where the person we love is almost too familiar and trapped with us in the drudgery of daily life to be exciting and appealing. In addition, the relationship that Tom has with his coworker Katie seemed believable. I’ve observed several situations in my own life when the coworker relationship crossed some kind of line without straying all the way to affair. It is a curious dynamic that I haven’t seen addressed too often in fiction, and it was interesting to see how it developed.
The book is a fun, fast read, and I look forward to finding out what Norman writes next. Recommended for readers who enjoy narrators with a sarcastic sense of humor, flaws and messed-up lives just like most of us!
Find out what other book bloggers think at the Book Blogs Search Engine.
This one sounds like a keeper. I think I’d like those bits about the office too!
I think almost anyone who works in an office would find a chuckle or two in this book.
Pingback: Books Read In 2011 | Life…With Books
That title was a stroke of genius.
It really does sound like a fun read. The soul-sucking office job – definitely can relate to that one with my first job after graduation.
I agree about the title. It is what grabbed me at first. And I think most jobs in offices are soul-sucking. I’ve had four office jobs and my soul had been sucked at each one.
I have to get on this one…. your description sing the word “hoot”, well how can I resist? LOL
Any book described as a “hoot” is a must read for me too.
That sounds pretty good- and written from a man and the man’s perspective. I don’t know if I have read to many fiction books like that.
It is almost like chick lit but from a man’s point of view. It was good fun.
Haven’t read this one and for some reason, it wasn’t even on my list. Glad you liked it though.
I’m surprised it wasn’t on your list. It has gotten good reviews all the way around.
It WAS fun and fast and I liked that Tom was really a good guy when you broke it all down.
I know … he was very sympathetic character.
Sounds like my kind of a read. And you are right about that title, it certainly makes you sit up and take notice.
It is a clever title, isn’t it?
Sounds like a fun read!
It really was … but it had some substance to it as well.
I really liked this. Definitely one that speaks to us all no matter how unfortunately…;O)
It did have that feel of being instantly familiar and relatable in many ways.
I totally forgot to tell you: You’re It! http://www.eclectic-eccentric.com/2012/04/and-so-it-goestag.html. Actually, you’ve been it for like three weeks.
Whoops!! I guess I missed that post somehow!!! I was waiting patiently and here it has been waiting for me the whole time. I am so ON IT!
“most of us can relate to soul-killing jobs in offices that are full of backstabbing, empty buzzwords and nebulous goals.” haha, too true!
I love how the book opened, jumping right into Tom’s little physical challenge; the humorous writing pulled me in right away.
(and, confession: I haven’t yet read Jonathan Tropper!)
The office sections felt like he had observed me in my previous jobs. I am glad to have escaped that … for now. : )
And you’ve got to read Tropper!! If you enjoyed this, you’ll just love Tropper!
I think I would like this one. I am currently readng Heft. It is clever, have you read it?
I’ve heard about Heft and how good it is. I’m going to have to check it out.
I, too, loved this and adored Tropper’s book! I need more like these!
I’m working my way through Tropper’s books slowly when I feel the need for “funny dysfunction.”
Hi Jenners,
What an open and candid review, you really explored all aspects of this book, without giving too much away.
I have had personal experience of the co-worker relationship secenario, almost identical to your observations, so know just how damaging this can be, even to a long-term relationship. It certainly doesn’t provide much incentive to keep a marriage fresh and strong!
I have read a book with a similar synopsis, written by an Enhgilsh author, where the main protagonist is male and the book is written from a male perspective. I genuinely enjoyed the story and found that I could appreciate what is traditionally a female genre, as seen through different eyes.
I shall definitely be adding this one to my reading list, so thanks for the recommendation.
Sounds like this would be a good companion book to the one you read. And you’re right … this does seem like the “male” counterpoint to a typically female story.
And the co-worker relationship thing is probably so common as you might spend more time with your co-workers than you do with your spouse.
Thanks for your thoughtful comment.
My first thought was “too much drama!”, but by the time I finished your review I decided I would probably enjoy this quite a bit.
It is a lot of drama but presented in a fun enjoyable way. You don’t always get that and that is how I prefer my drama.
sounds good
Yup.
So funny that this review just popped up! I was just on Amazon browsing the Kindle books and this one is about $3. I was debating whether to buy it. Sold! I’m downloading it now. This sounds like my kind of book. I can always use more humor in my life.
Wow … just $3! You got a good deal. I’m sure you’ll get your money’s worth. And I guarantee at least 4 laughs. : )
Sounds like I need to dig this one out of the pile of books. I don’t know why it has been ignored as I’ve read more than enough good reviews to pull it out!
Pull it out … it is a fun fast read with near universal positive reviews. What’s not to like? : )
I’m so glad you enjoyed this book. I loved it and agree that it was a Hoot! I thought of Tropper while reading this book, too. I couldn’t say which author’s book I prefer ( if either) but I also love This is Where I Leave You, too ( I want to read some of Tropper’s other books). I kept getting tripped up by the title ‘Domestic Violets” and wrote domestic violence more than once!
I agree that Norman portrayed the work environment as well as Tom and Anna’s marriage realistically. I also liked where he took the marriage. While reading I was afraid the typical scenario would occur and really mess up their marriage. ‘Whew! relief!’
I, too, am looking forward to Matthew Norman’s next book and hope we don’t have to wait too long for it!
Fantastic review, Jenners!
(I hope you like ‘Perfection”. I’ve had this book on my shelf for too long and I really hope to read it soon! I’ll be keeping an eye out for your review!)
I hear you on accidentally writing “Domestic Violence.” I did that too! : )
Tropper is a fun author. I’ve read another book by him and plan to read through all his stuff at one point.
Perfection was amazing. I just finished it last night. A really honest and gut-wrenching memoir. Make time for it.
Excellent. Two new books to read.
Isn’t that the best when you get new book ideas?
This sounds like something I would really enjoy reading…I’ll add it to my list, maybe move it near the top!
I think I gave my copy to someone else or I’d send it to you. It is one that I suspect you would like. Very snarky! : )
I’ve heard so many good reviews of this one, yours included. It’s on my wishlist to read one of these days.
It is one of those books that everyone seemed to enjoy.
I really need to read this book, as I glance to the left, ah yes there it is, on the shelf….like so many others….waiting to be read.
Thanks for the great review.
Isn’t it nice to know it is there waiting for you when you can get to it? : )
I thought this book was fantastic, too. I started laughing right from the start but, after a while, realized there was substance in there too.
That was what was so rewarding about it — it wasn’t all laughs (although you get quite a few). It had real emotions and issues too.
I also loved the office scenes the best, and that Jeffrey guy was just the biggest goofball. I loved this book, and am glad that you did too. It’s a rare thing to find a book that everyone seems to agree on, and I am excited that it has been so solidly popular. Wonderful review and analysis today. I fully agree with everything you said!
I don’t think I’ve read a bad review of it yet. I’m hoping he’s working on something else. He is an author I would follow.
I felt the same, but I liked Tropper better.
I liked Tropper better too but this wasn’t bad at all.