First line: It happened like this: Henry’s footsteps on the old wooden floorboards.
From the back cover: Julie Metz’s life changed forever on one ordinary January afternoon when her husband, Henry, collapsed on the kitchen floor and died in her arms. Suddenly, this mother of a six-year-old became the young widow in her bucolic small town. But that was only the beginning. Seven months after Henry’s death, just when Julie thought she was emerging from the worst of it, came the rest of it: Henry had hidden another life from her.
Perfection is the story of rebuilding both a life and an identity after betrayal and widowhood. It is a story of rebirth and happiness – if not perfection.
My thoughts: What if, after the untimely death of your spouse, you realize that the marriage you had was anything but perfect? That is what happened to Julie Metz and she chronicles this in her memoir, Perfection: A Memoir of Betrayal and Renewal. This is definitely not your fairy tale story – it is a look at love, betrayal, and the ultimate re-examination of everything Julie thought she wanted. What I really liked about the book is that it feels honest, filled with raw emotion, which makes it a very compelling read. Julie knew her marriage wasn’t perfect, but she had no idea about her husband’s infidelities. As she comes to terms with her rage and pain, she realizes she can’t even confront her husband, so she does the next best thing – she confronts the women with whom he cheated. I was riveted by this book. Julie was able to tell it all – the good, the bad, and the ugly – and while she tried to move on with her life, she shared her bad decisions with us as well as the good ones, proving that life isn’t always meant to be perfect.
About the author: Julie Metz is a graphic designer, artist and freelance writer whose essays have appeared in publications including The New York Times, The Huffington Post, Hemispheres, Glamour, and more. Julie received a MacDowell Fellowship in 2008 where she completed work on Perfection and began work on a novel. She lives in Brooklyn, N.Y.
You can find more about Julie at the following places:
- Website: http://www.perfectionbook.com/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/
juliemetzwriter
I received a complimentary copy of Perfection: A Memoir of Betrayal and Renewal by Julie Metz from Lisa at BookSparks PR to review.
