The Man Who Forgot His Wife – John O’Farrell

I was delighted to discover his fabulous humor in "The Best A Man can Be", and since then I've made it a point to buy John O'Farrell's books with the confidence that comes from knowing that reading a book will give you exactly what you're looking for.

And it has. The pleasure of reading his books is masterfully underpinned by fine humor that can't help but put you in a good mood. "The Man Who Forgot His Wife" is just what the doctor ordered when you need a reminder to take things less seriously.

John O'Farrell's books should be in every reader's bookcase, for we all need to be reminded how important it is to laugh.

And now, a few excerpts.

 

“…

As the judge entered the room, I was struck by the fact that he was not wearing the traditional headpiece. ‘Oh, no wig!’ I heard myself blurt out. The judge heard and looked at me. Now I was suddenly worried that he was in fact wearing a toupee, and that saying ‘no wig’ might not have been the best way to get on his good side.

‘Divorce judges don’t wear wigs, Vaughn – it’s not Open Court,’ my lawyer whispered. And we both attempted a polite smile at the judge, but my willpower was not quite strong enough to hold eye contact with him and I glanced momentarily at the top of his lushly carpeted head.

… 

 

…

Maddy and I are on a train. It is before people have mobile phones, because no one is shouting, ‘I’m on a train!’

…

‘This is a passenger announcement … ‘ (Back then we are only ‘passengers’; it is before we are regraded as ‘customers’ so that we can be that much more indignant when we don’t get what we paid for).

…. 

 

…

‘Do I know what it’s like to lose my identity?’ she spat in disbelief. ‘Are you serious? Before I married you I was “Madeleine”. Not “Vaughn’s wife” or “Jamie’s mum” or “Dillie’s mum”. I existed in my own right as me. I was Maddy the photographer who earned her own money doing something she loved. But then suddenly there was no time for that and nobody wanted to talk to me about me any more. It was all, “What does your husband do?” And, “How old are your children” or, the double-whammy, “So will your kids go the school where your husband teaches” So do I know what it’s like to lose my identity? Yes, I do. Every bloody wife and mother has known that since the dawn of fucking time-’

…. 

“