My Father's Wives: A Novel

I read it in a day - I thoroughly enjoyed this story of a man who thinks his perfect life is destroyed by his wife's infidelity, but instead of confrontation, chooses instead to examine his rich and powerful father's "serial monogamous" relationships, and it doing so, discovers himself. A bit unrealistic, as the protagonist is able to ditch his job and fly all over the world to meet these women in a matter of days without his boss or his wife realizing it. Still an interesting read on self discovery. I particularly enjoyed his relationship with his mother, the long suffering first wife.

An engaging story from a surprising author. Greenberg is 'Greenie,' on ESPN'S Mike and Mike morning sports talk show. And while that would not in and of itself suggest that he couldn't write, even his intelligent commentary on sports does nothing to suggest the fine quality of his writing evident here. Green sets the hook before the end of the prologue, and while the ending was curiously less satisfying than I would have expected, it was a great literary Summer read.

Jonathan Sweetwater has a great job, a wife (Claire) whom he adores, and two children he can't wait to see each day. His life is perfect--until he returns home one day and thinks he has caught his wife having an affair. Instead of confronting her directly or taking action, he steps back and considers his options. Without further confirmation, he thinks about what he stands to lose and wonders what he is willing to sacrifice. I found this stepping back reaction to be interesting and nuanced. Being the only child of a famous senator who had six wives, he thinks about his father's infidelity to his mother and his father's ongoing quest as he sought wife after wife. Jonathan wants to understand this mindset and decides to seek out each of his father's wives to better understand his father and find some insight on how to handle his current situation. Written in the first person, this novel takes us through Jonathan's emotional journey. It is a character study rather than an action-based novel so some readers may find it slow. However, I found Jonathan's thought process to be very grounded in real life, the dialogue between characters to be realistic and the writing was easy and flowing. The only criticisms of the book are that it ended very tidily (even though it was satisfying) and in the end I enjoyed the book but was not blown away.

This book is as effortlessly conversational as the Greenberg show with the addition of deeper material which,obviously cannot be espoused on a sports program. What is so disarming about Mike is his almost naive honesty combined with a nimble,,thoughtful and humour filled intellect. The protagonist is Greenberg himself moving through his life with the thinnest of disguises.This approach allows the writer to deal with material he knows, an advantage for a sportsperson who moves in the upper echelons of sporting and sporting executive life.The corporate scenes and atmosphere are convincing..The author also reveals his romantic trait in the scenes in which he plays one on one basketball with no less a figure than Michael Jordan. But the scene also reveals a strain of worship in the narrator often seen in a sports journalist who might have been a reasonable athlete himself but is in awe of the truly great. As for the protagonist not barging in on a possible infidelity of his wife, I find his reactions to the situation as reasonable and plausible as any ordinary man's would be.(This despite any advice (if he were on the show) the character might have been given by Golic to "man up.") A good book,well written. In portraying so many of the father's wives well, shows a good measure of invention by the author. What greatly intrigues me in both the character and the author is a person who obviously copes so successfully with life but is at the same time wracked with so many self doubts. But I suppose the phenomenon can be explained in the east coast idiom. As a regular watcher of the show stumbled upon as a filler in Australia, I find the parallels transformed between the show and the book of a distinctly American flavour. I like the feel of both. Greenberg in the show might be Felix to Golic's Oscar. But in the book he is a lot more serious going beyond my thoughts of him as Woody Allen with a jock strap.

Mike Greenberg is an accomplished sports commentator and an equally accomplished writer. This is a wam and satisfying journey of a man trying to discover who is father really is after leaving the family when he was 9 years old.

I purchased his first book to support my mother who is a cancer survivor. This one was for me, and what a delight. Total surprise. I love the characters and the story really resonates. I've already gifted it to several folks!

It's difficult to put my feelings into words at the end of reading this book. I expected the book to be ABOUT meeting his father's wives. Instead, that's only what HAPPENS. It's ABOUT finding your happiness in the world that you've chosen to be in. It's about accepting the joy in your life. It's about a great many things. But it is indeed, a beautiful book.

Somewhat predictable but mindless read if you just want to pass the time. Point of view from husband is a refreshing change from most of these type of novels. Happily surprised that a sports guy has insight into life away from sports.

Engaging story about a man trying to find his father through his ex wives and in the end to find himself.