The Uncoupling.

Meg Wolitzer's 'The Uncoupling' is one of the books discussed by Nick Hornby in 'Ten Years in the Tub'. He made it sounded intriguing and so I kept it in mind to read. Recently I picked it up to take on a trip as it's a short book at 270 pages.

It tells the story of the women of a small suburban town and a strange malaise that overcomes them and closes their minds and bodies down to sex. At the same time the local high school are rehearsing for a performance of 'Lysistrata' an ancient Greek comedy about women who go on sexual strike in order to bring about the end of a 20 year war. On the night of the play's performance things come to a head and a conclusion.

I thought the idea for the storyline had much potential but found the book to disappointing, especially as it has been praised so much by other writers and publications. I found the characters to be uninteresting and I didn't really care what happened to them. The ending also disappointed in that all the loose ends were tidied up in a matter of pages, almost as if the author had tired of this book was rushing to finish it. All in all I considered it to be lackluster and a rather dull read.