It Rains In February: A Wife's Memoir Of Love And Loss (2000) - Plot & Excerpts
Before I had read half the book, I wanted Stuart to hurry up and kill himself; my reason for this was to release all the women in his life from the emotional torture he was putting them through. I hope this was not heartlessness on my part, but because I know I dodged this hellish bullet about 10 years ago.Back to the book:Ms. Summers writing is smooth and makes even the most preposterous situations seem almost rational; her writing also makes looking away, from all the emotional abuse being inflicted, impossible.I found all the grief-induced spiritual wanderings to be soothing and made wading through Stuart's self-inflicted distress worth it. I always find memoirs somewhat difficult to read. I want to read them but when I see someone opening their soul for everyone to read about their lives, I just feel embarrassed to a certain extent, and especially in the case of Stuart, who leaves Leila (Robyn) and her two children for another woman.I just cannot understand how she could still love this man after the way he treated her. Stuart basically ruined many people's lives, and then to finally commit suicide, well that must have been the final straw, to quote a cliché. Of course, depression is a dreadful thing and I understand clinical depression, as appears to be the case here, is awful for everyone concerned, not just the individual who is depressed. But then again, I do question suicide, if one is religious and the state of one's life is dreadful, such as a serious non-curable illess, what is wrong with going to Switzerland and getting it over and done with. I often wonder. I recall that Terry Pratchett was present at his friend's assisted suicide in Switzerland. Was that really so wicked when the individual who decided to take his own life, was quite competent and had choice. For after all, we as human beings do have choice to a certain extent in our existence of laws and the like.This is, nevertheless, a beautifully written book, the story is truly poignant and I realise that Leila obviously had to write this memoir as a form of healing process. I believe that I would have tried to block it all out and think the best for the future of my two children but will she be emotionally scarred by bringing this all up again? I wonder...
What do You think about It Rains In February: A Wife's Memoir Of Love And Loss (2000)?
Beautifully written. Would like to have understood more of her husband through others.
—floxybaby7
Infuriating and heartbreaking. Made me step back and examine my assumptions.
—khlm220
A very sad, touching story of what one woman went through.
—Norma
Could not finish; too much co-dependency.
—kaymay123
