Monogamy

A Novel

By: Sue Miller

Narrated by: Sue Miller

“A sensual and perceptive novel. . . . With humor and humanity, Miller resists the simple scorned-wife story and instead crafts a revelatory tale of the complexities—and the absurdities—of love, infidelity, and grief.” —O, the Oprah Magazine

A brilliantly insightful novel, engrossing and haunting, about marriage, love, family, happiness and sorrow, from New York Times bestselling author Sue Miller.

Graham and Annie have been married for nearly thirty years. Their seemingly effortless devotion has long been the envy of their circle of friends and acquaintances. By all appearances, they are a golden couple.

Graham is a bookseller, a big, gregarious man with large appetites—curious, eager to please, a lover of life, and the convivial host of frequent, lively parties at his and Annie’s comfortable house in Cambridge. Annie, more reserved and introspective, is a photographer. She is about to have her first gallery show after a six-year lull and is worried that the best years of her career may be behind her. They have two adult children; Lucas, Graham’s son with his first wife, Frieda, works in New York. Annie and Graham’s daughter, Sarah, lives in San Francisco. Though Frieda is an integral part of this far-flung, loving family, Annie feels confident in the knowledge that she is Graham’s last and greatest love.

When Graham suddenly dies—this man whose enormous presence has seemed to dominate their lives together—Annie is lost. What is the point of going on, she wonders, without him?

Then, while she is still mourning Graham intensely, she discovers a ruinous secret, one that will spiral her into darkness and force her to question whether she ever truly knew the man who loved her.

©2020 Sue Miller (P)2020 HarperCollins Publishers

A touching meditation on marriage and mourning

The book focuses on Annie’s retrospective processing of her marriage, including her husband’s infidelity, following his death. Miller’s characters are fully realized, complex, and complicated. Annie’s introspective journey is beautifully described and totally relatable. This is not a plot-driven tale but rather a quiet meditation on marriage and mourning.

Amazingly human

This book is beautifully written. It is a testament to what it is to be human and in relationship with others. Highly recommend!

Beautiful

I enjoyed the story and related to her feelings more times than I prefer. A must read.

Wonderfully human story perfectly told

This is one of those contemplative books that make you slow down and notice the big things in the small. I felt a part of their lives. The narrator was perfect!

Precise and sad

This is the first novel I’ve read by Sue Miller—but her style reminds me of Henry James... plumbing the human psyche masterfully. She’s also a terrific reader.

Sue Miller is exquisite at every turn

This is Sue Miller at her best...capturing impactful human relationships and those micro moments that make up all our lives, but escape us when we attempt to describe them. I loved so many scenes and tableaux and hated to let these characters go. Having just experienced a sudden loss myself, I found her description of Annie's and others' grief process so apt and accurate and emotional. I loved that Sue narrated this book herself...she poured her heart into every word. Thank you, Sue, for this amazing work of art.!

Heartfelt

A must read for those who have lost a husband ....very profound and heartfelt

Tender

A gentle weaving of the love of aging and of family tapestry. Sue Miller’s narration of her writing is a gift to Audible listeners.

My top title

Of all the many many audiobooks I've listened to in the past few years, this has got to be my favorite, for the quality of the story and its sensitive reading by the author. If you've heard many writers read their work aloud (looking at you, New Yorker), you know how unusual it is for a writer's reading to actually enhance the story. I was sad to come to the end.

She makes the ordinary beautiful

Sue Miller’s books have been some of my favorites for the beautiful details with which she describes and unpacks what are “ordinary” lives. I can’t get enough of her complicated characters. I loved Monogamy just as much as The Senator’s Wife.