Mrs. March

By: Virginia Feito

Narrated by: Elisabeth Rodgers

“I read Virginia’s novel in one sitting and was so captured by it I knew I had to make it and play Mrs. March. As a character, she is fascinating, complex, and deeply human and I can’t wait to sink my teeth into her.” (Elisabeth Moss)

Library Journal • "Books and Authors to Know: Titles to Watch 2021"

A 21st-century Highsmith, Virginia Feito conjures the unforgettable Mrs. March, an Upper East Side housewife whose life is shattered by her husband’s latest novel.

In this astonishing debut, the venerable but gossipy New York literary scene is twisted into a claustrophobic fun house of paranoia, horror, and wickedly dark humor. George March’s latest novel is a smash. No one is prouder than Mrs. March, his doting wife. But one morning, the shopkeeper of her favorite patisserie suggests that his protagonist is based on Mrs. March herself: “'But... - isn't she...’ Mrs. March leaned in and in almost a whisper said, ‘a whore?'” Clutching her ostrich-leather pocketbook, she flees, that one casual remark destroying her belief that she knew everything about her husband - as well as herself. Suddenly, Mrs. March is hurled into a harrowing journey that builds to near psychosis, one that begins merely within the pages of a book but may uncover both a killer and the long-buried secrets of her past.

©2021 Virginia Feito (P)2021 Recorded Books

Mrs. March needs Seroquel.

Looking forward to seeing the film adaptation with Elisabeth Moss. I feel that in this case, the film will be better than the book.

Blunt, inexplicable, abrupt ending.

Stylish and immersive, a literary psychological study of disintegration. Compelling pacing, though slow, it eventually fades, the plot unsustainable and with nary a likable character.

Guessing

It kept me guessing all the way through. Seven more words to meet minimum. Fifteen

Internal Conflicts or External Forces…

Beautifully written…superbly narrated…would make an excellent 1940s film noir. The decade in which this story takes place is very vague which was done on purpose. It is certainly closer to the 1990s as Disney Princesses have a quick mention. That reference didn’t seem to fit, it almost felt like an anachronism, or maybe that’s how Virginia Feito wanted the reader to feel. Ms. Feito, highly influenced by “Rebecca”, (Mrs March is reading the novel) brings the reader to similar dark places as the novel “Rebecca” does. At one point, it also reminded me of the Elizabeth Taylor movie “Suddenly Last Summer.”

All I can say is "Wow!!"

I thought the story was excellent, very unusual and different from most novels which might have a happy ending for some characters and an unfortunate ending for others. Mrs. March's descent into madness was methodically presented and believable as it increased. The ending to the story was, at least to me, unpredictable and kept me listening well past bedtime so I could hear how things turned out.
The narrator was very good and did all the voices well, though there weren't too many different characters who spoke--- lots of times it was Mrs. March who spoke what she was imaging others said about her!
I really enjoyed the "different spin" on this story.