Member Reviews

“The Unbecoming of Margaret Wolf” was a historical novel that centers around 2 shakespearian actors from the 1950s. They exist in an unusual marriage and both are plagued by different issues. She suffers a very public mental breakdown he with his sexuality and obsessive personality. Their journey takes them from New York to New Mexico and then home again to New York with affairs, tragedies and betrayals along the way. I found the plot very Shakespearian and at some points a bit confusing. I think this book will appeal to everyone looking for a different and interesting approach to a book of this genre.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Publishing Group for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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This book felt so real from the very first page — it didn’t feel like reading a fictional story so much as following real things happening to real people. All of the characters were incredibly well-rounded and the writing really helped to give the story a growing sense of tension. The first 30% or so set in NY felt like a different story than the rest but in a way that was really effective to highlight how changing and growingly uncontrollable Margaret’s life was getting as she stepped out of her element.

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A fascinating look at what happened to Oscar Wilde's oft forgotten wife after he went to jail. The Unbecoming of Margaret Wolf follows the aftermath of Margaret's life after she's left to pick up the pieces and has to figure out her own sexuality and who she is as a person. Her journey is fascinating and reminds me a little of the movie Colette. I loved this book and highly recommend it to anyone who loves literature and reading about literary figures.

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I had a hard time reading this book. It didn't hold my interest, but you may like it. It tells about a married couple who are both an actress and actor.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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My goodness, what a book!

I loved Arsén’s debut, but when I tell you this was still a step up, I mean it. The gorgeous prose is the same—juicy and poetic without being overly heavy or dense. And the setting is wonderful as well. For some reason, Arsén is really good at describing deserts and dingy rooms, and that’s incredibly evident here.

The standouts, though, are the characters. Margaret is wonderfully compelling as a protagonist, as she has the slightest little bit of insane-wife energy coupled with “dear god someone give this woman a hug” and it works so well. The other characters are excellent too, even the ones that are only on the page for a short while. I simply adored the strange nature of the romance—toxic for sure, but interesting nonetheless.

And the plot? I love how vaguely (and sometimes obviously) Shakespearean it is. It all feels very intentional and there’s never a dull moment. The momentum carries through to the end. It’s a quick read, but maybe that’s because I literally didn’t stop reading until I was done. Truly, a marvel.

Overall, this book shines. I’m so excited to be able to hold a finished copy in my hands. I’m going to be recommending it to as many people as I can. Thank you for the review copy!

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This book was surprisingly a quick read despite it being over 350 pages. The Unbecoming of Margaret Wolf was written in such a beautiful and poetic manner and welcomed the reader into the world of acting quickly. I enjoyed being in both New York and in the desert and believe the author did an excellent job setting the scene in both geographical locations. My only feedback is a tiny one- there were two supporting characters with 4 lettered E names, Edie and Ezra, and it took me far longer than I care to admit to be able to remember who Edie was to Margaret and who Ezra was to Margaret. I kept getting them confused. Otherwise, witnessing the downfall and rise of Margaret was phenomenal. I also appreciated the subtle queer tones depicted throughout the novel.

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