The Governor's Wife. By Mark Gimenez (2012) - Plot & Excerpts
Probably more 2.5 stars than a straight 2. I have never read any of Mark Gimenez' previous books and so cannot compare but, having looked at reviews, can only assume that they must be better than this one. This one is far too lng (541 pages) for a lightweight story that could have been told in less than half of that number of pages. There is too much repetition. For example, how many times do we need to read almost identical conversations between politicians and businessmen they are trying to get funds from? There is also too much redundant text - we know that it is hot and dusty on the border and do not need to be told it umpteen times. I managed to get through the book by reading about one page in four and was still easily able to keep up with what was going on. And there was never an occasion when I felt that I might be missing a great piece of writing. As Elmore Leonard said, "Try to leave out the parts that readers tend to skip".Part of the problem it seems to me is that the book starts with a scene on the USA/Mexico border and then continues in a series of flashbacks. So the first section after the start is headed "6 months earlier"; then "5 months earlier" and so on. This device traps Mr Giminez as he has to produce something substantial for every one of those time periods and there is just not enough in the story to carry it off.There are also some really irritating writing tricks that Mr Giminez uses such as having characters deliberately mishear or misunderstand what others say for, I assume, comic effect. There are two problems with this; one being that it becomes very annoying after a time and two, that it requires the same things to be repeated in a slightly different way thus adding to the length of the book.The characters are all cardboard figures - the dutiful wife whose conscience leads her to leave her politician husband; the right wing State Governor who finds redemption and a liberal soul by playing baseball with Mexican children; the handsome doctor working with the poor and downtrodden; the evil drug selling bandit who enjoys chopping off people's heads with a machete and so on. There is nobody that we could possibly believe in or care about at all.The ending of the story is quite simply ridiculous. We are expected to believe that the head of a hugely powerful drugs cartel would be so lightly guarded that he could brought down by a tiny band of Americans who just happen to bump into each other as each pursues their own plan against him. This is a man who has missiles that can bring down a US drugs agency drone and yet people can sneak into his house with impunity! So, a far from great book, which is a shame as I felt that there was a decent book in there somewhere. It just got caught up in too much detail and an overly complicated structure. This is storytelling at it's best. If I was talented enough to write, I would love to write a story like this. It began at the end and worked backwards with a chapter on the wife and a chapter on the governor, weaving the story in and out past and present with wonderful writing. It tells of how ambition can change someone until he is unrecognisable to his partner causing a chain of events that alters their lives forever. The characters are marvellous. Lyndsey Bonner the governor's wife is a strong, brave woman who wants a life with meaning and is fed up with politics that care only about money and not people. Bode Bonner the governor is obsessed with becoming president whatever it takes. The book is full of humour while dealing with serious situations. It has all the main ingredients in abundance and is full of twists and turns. I've read all his books and this one is the best so far.
What do You think about The Governor's Wife. By Mark Gimenez (2012)?
Cheesy from when the main protagonist "finds God". God, redemption, forgiveness - misguided!
—riddle6
I enjoyed this story. Laughed at the banter between the Governor and his aids.
—Sid
Another excellent book by MG. Very interesting characters.
—linda
