Freud's Mistress by Karen Mack and Jennifer Kaufman
Amy Einhorn Books, 2013
Format? Hardback
Source? TLC Book Tours
Title? pretty straightforward...it is what it is...except that Minna was more of a 2nd wife than a traditional "mistress"
Cover? Minna was a pensive woman...a deep thinker and traveled a great deal. Loved this cover.
What Now? The publisher is generously offering one copy of Freud's Mistress to a reader in the U.S. or Canada. Just leave your name, your blog URL and an email where I can contact you in the Comments section if you're interested.
Golden Lines
She never thought it would come to this, but now here she was, at her sister's mercy, asking for help. (1)
Minna dear, sit next to Sigmund," Martha said, motioning to two empty chairs at the far end of the table. (29)
"It's so nice to have someone to talk to..." he said, looking at her intently, "someone who understands. My colleagues think I'm off on a quixotic mission. And so does Martha." (60)
She was such a fool. Why had she taken the time to pore over his report, to delve into his world of demented humans with horrifying dreams, to force herself to understand the meaning of sexual neurosis and hysteria and phallic symbols, like flagpoles and trees hovering everywhere, when he obviously didn't have the slightest inclination to listen to a word she had to say? (153)
She tried to read something, anything to divert her attention, when she heard someone knocking on the door. She put on her dressing gown and opened the door a crack. Sigmund was standing there in his dark woollen overcoat, soaked and dripping. (169)
"Perhaps you're tired because you've been visiting Sigmund in his study until all hours, although it's good Sigi has someone to talk to..."
There was a pause as the two sisters looked at each other. (275)
But the fact was, if she was to continue this duplicitous arrangement, she was just going to have to swallow her resentment, her pride, and learn to live with the fact that Martha was, and always would be, the wife. (284)
"Now, now, dear. It's normal to be nervous," she said, as she began to remove some instruments from a velvet-lined oak case that reminded Minna of a tiny coffin. The steel-plated, ebony-handled instruments were easily recognizable: a scalpel, a blunt hook, a pair of forceps, and needles of varying sizes. Also, a spool of silk sutures to repair lacerations and an instrument that looked like a long steel crochet needle.
"Just relax. When you wake up, your little problem will all be gone." (331)
Martha slid the letters into her pocket and left her sister's room. It was her firm belief that there are some things in this life that should remain hidden. She would do anything to protect her husband's reputation. And she knew her sister would do the same. (351)
Summary
Minna Bernays finds herself and unemployed and unmarried young woman in her late twenties. Her only option left is to go to her sister's home and help with her sister's husband Sigmund Freud and their 6 children. Minna's intellect and her lack of traditional women's attitudes and behaviors have ostracized her from many options for marriage and a family. But, those same characteristics are exactly what makes her so desirable to her brother-in-law, Sigmund. Their connection is intense, and their love affair inevitable. How the affair affects her relationship with her sister Martha, their children, and the rest of their lives is not so smooth, however, and the ways they adjust to the arrangement is very surprising to say the least.
What I Liked
References to literature, psychological theories, philosophical thinking, academia, history, Jewish culture, drug use, women's health issues, and the differences between medical care available to "women of substance" as opposed to the lower classes.
Martha and Minna - I expected to dislike one or the other...but I didn't. Honestly, I admired them both. At first Martha grated on my nerves as the long suffering and ignored wife who was slowly slipping away into a laudanum addiction. Then, later, when Minna became dissatisfied that the romance of hers and Sigmund's relationship seemed strained, she was the one I wanted to slap.
Sigmund Freud - now, this character is a tricky one...arrogant, uncaring at times and even mean, self-absorbed, and impatient, he never seems to pretend he is something or someone that he is not. Even when Minna or Martha call him on his behavior, he never tries to explain it away, never tries to hide, doesn't lie about his needs, etc. He never mentions, nor does he ever pretend that he would even contemplate leaving his wife, but he also doesn't pretend to his wife that he is faithful. Very interesting to say the least. To spend 40 years within the same household, raise the same children, and die respected by all, there must have been a respected truce of some magnitude between them all.
The little tidbits about the children, especially Anna, who is the only one of Freud's children who carried on in his footsteps.
The Victorian household, especially the vast differences, as I mentioned above, between the households of the wealthy and those of the poor.
What I Didn't Like
I wanted more...once Minna returns to Martha and Sigmund's household and stays for 40 years, I wanted so badly to know how they lived that life. I do realize realistically that we just simply don't know a lot about that time in their lives. Did Minna and Martha ever have the conversation? Or, did they just dance around each other for 40 years?
Overall Recommendation
If you are the least bit interested in Freud, his theories and the historical aspects of a genius at work and at home and as a Jew, you'll love this book. I certainly did.
The Authors
Other Stops on the Tour
Monday, September 2nd: BookNAround
Monday, September 2nd: Peppermint PhD
Tuesday, September 3rd: The Lost Entwife
Wednesday, September 4th: Unabridged Chick
Friday, September 6th: Kritters Ramblings
Monday, September 9th: A Bookish Affair
Tuesday, September 10th: Books in the Burbs
Wednesday, September 11th: A Novel Review
Thursday, September 12th: A Chick Who Reads
Friday, September 13th: My Bookshelf
Monday, September 16th: Read Lately
Monday, September 16th: Diary of a Stay at Home Mom
Tuesday, September 17th: WalkieTalkieBookClub
Wednesday, September 18th: Lectus
Friday, September 20th: Book-alicious Mama
Friday, September 27th: guiltless reading
Monday, September 30th: Lavish Bookshelf
I have to admit, I've gotten a little tired of seeing so and so's wife, mistress, ect...so I wasn't really keeping an eye on this one, but you've made it sound so great! I've always found Freud fascinating, but don't know all that much about his personal life, so I imagine that there is quite a bit to be learned.
ReplyDeleterivercityreading [at] gmail [dot] com
This looks interesting. Great review, Patti!
ReplyDeleteI have to admit that I don't know a lot about Freud other than what I learned in Psychology 101 ... sounds like I could learn a lot from this historical fiction!
ReplyDeleteThanks for being on the tour.
Nice blog....going to follow.
ReplyDeleteLove your side bars and your posts.
Elizabeth
Silver's Reviews
My Blog
I am totally in for this one. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteSuzyQ4PR (at) aol (dot) com
Hallo, Hallo!
ReplyDeleteI am not sure if the bookaway is still active,(I did not see a date/or/winner?) but I wanted to put in an entry in case it was, as this is a book that is starting to draw my interest as I read more about it whilst its on tour! When I first saw it coming about, I wasn't sure if it was a story I wanted to get involved with, but the perspectives of the bloggers I have thus now read, changed my mind! And, of course, there is always that part of me that wondered how the man who always promoted such a stance of understanding human desires, would he have had all the answers himself on how to live without any grievances!?
Apparently, not! I guess you could say I have a sociological interest now in Freud! Laughs.
You reiterated my thoughts perfectly! When you referenced that he died well respected, and yet, he lead such an imperfect life (at least to an outside point of view)!! I am always curious about the differences in class, and being a big fan of Downton, I can assure you that I never tire of seeing those differences played out!
Thank you for offering the bookaway!
[inkand-bookaways(at)usa(dot)net]
PS: Clever title of your blog!
Not usually my thing but you make it sounds so interesting.
ReplyDeleteGood afternoon,
ReplyDeleteI thought I had left a note for you yesterday, but either I had attempted it and it didn't post OR I don't know what to think! :) However, what I wanted to express, is that this is one of those books that your on the fence about reading, until you go through the tour, and notice that you can pull things out of it that are interesting! For me, its knowing that its a biographical fiction about Freud's life, the man who always claimed to know so much about everyone else's life, and yet, had certain flaws in his own affairs!
I also appreciate reading & learning about the differences in class, as I think there is a lot to be said for how life was lived and tolerated throughout the different generations where this was made more apparent in history.
Thank you for offering the bookaway!