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Annie Knowles appears to have the perfect life. She is attractive, intelligent, is married to a doctor, has a great part-time job and two great kids. What could be wrong with this picture? Annie's husband, Michael, is an OB/GYN in a prosperous practice. Michael is a workaholic, who has been accused by his wife of caring more about his patients than his own family. Michael feels this isn't fair -- he loves her and the children, but he also loves his work. His life becomes further complicated when an old classmate (and former lover) Celina James, recruits Michael to work on Saturdays in her clinic in the inner city. Both Michael and Annie are pro choice and neither has a problem with him performing abortions. However, Annie and the children are upset at losing his presence for yet another day of the week. Others in the community, including a militant anti-abortion group, see what Celina and Michael are doing as evil. Their major opponent, Rev Tom, encourages his group of followers to target them and their families. One of Tom's followers is Lydia Haas. Lydia is married to Simon Haas, formerly a famous artist. Simon's fame had spread when his wife posed for him when she was in her early teens and the pictures titillated the art community. Simon also teaches at the same small college where Annie teaches and they are attracted to each other. Annie is lonely and Simon is increasingly becoming estranged from his wife who has had several prolonged visits in a mental hospital. She is becoming unhinged and is planning something heinous. This book has so much depth to it, it is difficult to give an overview without going into too much detail. The main characters are so well developed; the two couples -- Lydia and Simon and Michael and Annie come vividly to life. It would be easy to say Annie is a shallow woman, that Simon is lazy and callous towards his wife, or that Michael does not understand his family's needs. But there is so much more to them than that. THE DOCTOR'S WIFE is a truly compelling book which will stay with you long after you have finished reading it.
Reviewed by Lorraine Gelly, February 2006
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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