Sadly, it’s impossible to pick up the paper these days without reading a story about fallen soldiers — and often the wives they have left behind. Widows have long had a place in literature, but the widow of modern literature is a far cry from the dowdy, stereotyped image of the past.
Anita Shreve’s novel is a heartbreaking thriller about one woman’s discovery of deep betrayal. When her husband dies in a plane crash, a New England school teacher discovers that he secretly had another wife and family ensconced abroad. Here are some more audio books that feature tough, complex widows:
The widow of a famous writer just wants to grieve and sail on with her life. Unfortunately for her, master horror writer Stephen King is at the helm.
A young woman’s husband dies of cancer, and she is left to pick up the pieces in this raw but disarmingly funny look at widowhood.
A 55-year-old widow looks to fulfill her husband’s dream by moving to a small town in Illinois. She eventually tracks down some old friends — and makes new ones of the male variety.
Kristin Kloberdanz is a former Time magazine writer.
The Pilot’s Wife
By Anita Shreve, read by Blair Brown
Random House Audio
Lisey’s Story
By Stephen King, read by Mare Winningham
Simon & Schuster Audio
Good Grief
By Lolly Winston, read by Amanda Foreman
Time Warner AudioBooks
The Year of Pleasures
By Elizabeth Berg, read by Sandra Burr
Brilliance Audio
