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I initially hesitated when I was offered an advanced review copy of this one as I had awarded Ms. Keane’s first novel, Ask Again, Yes, only 3 stars, and I tend to grade high. In my opinion there were a lot of positives to that book but also several disappointing issues as well. In the end, I decided to go ahead and try The Half Moon, and I am glad I did! I admit the start was slow as it took me a while to warm up to the protagonist, Malcolm. Once I did, I became totally immersed in the story.
Book Review: ‘The Half Moon,’ by Mary Beth Keane - The New
The strength of this narrative lies not only in its gripping plot and thought-provoking themes but also in its masterful characterization. The complexities of Jess and Malcolm's emotions are laid bare, their struggles and vulnerabilities raw and palpable. As readers, we are drawn into their world, feeling their pain, their joy, and their yearning for something more. Amidst a raging blizzard, one of the bar's regular patrons mysteriously goes missing. This event prompts both Jess and Malcolm to question their life choices. They wonder what they could have done differently to alter the course of their lives. Are they truly happy? Are they content with the individuals they have become? Most importantly, they ponder the question: "What is it they plan to do with their one wild and precious life?" His smart and confident wife, Jess, has devoted herself to her law career. After years of trying for a baby, she is facing the idea that motherhood may not be in the cards for her. Like Malcolm, she feels her youth beginning to slip away and wonders how to reshape her future.
This heart-wrenching and genuine story grips your heart and refuses to let go, weaving its way into the depths of your emotions. It provokes introspection, forcing you to reflect on your own life choices and contemplate the profound questions it raises. It pushes you to embrace your fears, confront your mistakes, and chase your dreams with unwavering determination, regardless of the risks that may lie ahead. This may be the most accurate portrayal of marriage I have ever read. Marriage can be messy. It can be all consuming and lonely at the same time. With marriage comes compromise but sometimes a person can only compromise so much. I loved both Malcolm and Jess. Neither one was perfect and both made mistakes but through it all they were still good people at their core. People you want to see happy and successful in their endeavors. My heart broke for their predicament. Keane took such care in crafting not only this story but the characters. Slow burn, quiet stories like these don't always work for me but I was completely invested in this couple and their outcome. For me, the ending was absolutely perfect. 4 stars!
The Half Moon - Mary Beth Keane
to be honest i am very confused to see this low average rating, because while these characters are definitely unlikable, i found myself liking them anyway. With their mounting debt looming over them and their unsuccessful attempts at parenthood a long standing resentment has begun to fracture the pair. Why should one of them have to give up their dream for the other? If you have issues surrounding infertility, this book is probably a skip for you. There's a lot of difficult talk about it.This book is about the deterioration of a marriage after both partners develop problems with their individual lifelong dreams—Malcolm’s being to own and run a bar and wife Jess’s to have a baby. The bar is not doing well, and there is no baby after years of trying. The journey is arduous for both, with neither grasping why the other is reacting as they are to their failing dream. Friends and family become involved, making the situation more complex. There are also side tales of a mystery of sorts, an affair, and dirty dealings. The tale of Jess and Malcolm is a poignant and relatable one. Their struggles and triumphs mirror those of countless individuals we know or perhaps even our own journeys, each with its own unique set of consequences. It is this universality that makes the story so captivating and profoundly real. As both dreams begin to falter and fade, it creates tension, sadness and blame between Malcolm, Jess, and their marriage. Living in the small community where they grew up, even the most well-meaning family members and friends cause unnecessary interference and complications. Meanwhile, Jess is still focused on wanting to have a baby, even though all of their attempts to conceive had failed, and those bills are adding up, as well. She needs time to decide on what this means, what to do next, unwilling to let go of this desire, despite how much it is draining them both, physically and financially. She needs a break from their lives together.
The Half Moon by Mary Beth Keane | Goodreads
I appreciated the way the ending was written. It was believable and not all tied up nice and neat, just like real life. But it was hopeful, which satisfied me. I do wish there had been an epilogue though. This book was about a marriage in crisis, which is one of my favorite contemporary fiction topics de jour; however, this didn't do it for me. Malcom and Jess were beyond crisis. They were leading - and had always led, in my opinion - very separate lives. They were also extremely immature with zero communication skills.Remember Bruce Springsteen’s song “Glory Days”? Although this book does not take place in 1985, it had that kind of nostalgic feel to it-in the very BEST way! Think about a “slice of life” in a small town, loyal friends who grew up together, love and broken dreams. And while one is thinking along those lines, the other is thinking like, ‘We could have a good life without. If we just changed the subject, we could be allowed to mourn and then move on,’” the writer continues. “And I think that’s a really dangerous point when the two parties don’t agree on how best to proceed.” Before I get into why though, I want to make one thing abundantly clear: I am childfree by choice and have never wanted children of my own. However, I intellectually understand that having children is a magical thing. And I cannot even begin to imagine how painful it must be to potentially be unable to have them, especially if you've always dreamed of being a parent.
Book Marks reviews of The Half Moon by Mary Beth Keane Book Marks reviews of The Half Moon by Mary Beth Keane
The Half Moon has been rolling with the good times at Putney Bridge on the banks of the Thames for decades. Whether it’s the live music or a rumbling belly that brings you to our doors, we’re sure you’ll like what you find inside. From expertly poured pints & seasonal British pub food, to live entertainment and private parties, we do it all, and we do it well. Main characters who are in their forties but behave as if they are in their twenties. Jessica and Malcolm have many secrets from each other despite their long relationship. This should have made them realistic, but their baseless self-pity and shoddy decision-making made me loathe them instead of rooting for them. When I can’t feel sympathetic even towards a woman who is desperate to be a mother, the book is a lost cause. The ending. Good God! Why, why, why? The whole character build-up went for a toss with that decision. I might still have rated this higher had the ending been realistic. But HFN and HEA endings make sense only when they proceed logically from the plot and not a pull-the-rug finale like this one.Malcolm’s wife Jess is smart, confident, and has dedicated herself to her law career. But after years of trying to have a baby, she’s struggling to accept the idea that motherhood may not be in the cards for her. Like Malcolm, she feels her youth beginning to slip away, and while her hopes and expectations fall short of the current reality, she wonders how to reshape her life. Malcolm Gephardt is a bartender and now the owner of The Half Moon bar which was his dream. Malcom bought it from his prior boss. Well, he made an arrangement with him and he pays him an amount every month. However, his dream is now a nightmare. His debt is piling up and his shady ex-boss wants to get paid ASAP. This story takes place over the course of a week, is dual perspective between the husband and wife, and frequently falls into large sections of past memories of what happened in their lives along the way. I met Jess and Malcolm in the middle of a blizzard over the holidays and I won’t soon forget them. As I cozied up beside the fire, they invited me into their small-town bar and into the shambles of their marriage during an impending snowstorm. Marriage is hard. It’s messy, hurtful, yet rewarding. And Keane shows us this through two flawed characters who love each other despite life having broken their hearts.
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