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Synopsis (From GoodReads):
Ingrid Winter is desperately trying to hold it all together. A neurotic Norwegian mother of three small children and an overworked literature professor with an overactive imagination, Ingrid feels like her life’s always on the brink of chaos.
Her overzealous attempt to secure her dream house has strained her marriage. She’s repeatedly reprimanded for eye rolling in faculty meetings. Petulant PTA parents want to drag her into a war over teaching children to tie their shoes. And an alarmingly persistent salesman keeps warning her of the potential dangers of home intrusion.
Clearly she needs to get away. But Russia? Forced to join an academic mission to Saint Petersburg to promote international cooperation, Ingrid finds herself at a crossroads while drinking too much cough syrup. Will this trip push her into a Siberian sinkhole of existential dread or finally give her life some balance and direction?
Review:
I am really enjoying the Kindle First program (it's free with an Amazon Prime membership). It has allowed me early access to several wonderful books. This month's pick was The Marvelous Misadventures Of Ingrid Winter by J.S. Drangsholt, and it proves that women are just as stressed out in Norway as in the United States!
What I Liked:
Characters:I don't know what it exactly says about me, but I really identified with the main character, Ingrid. She is a busy mom of three kids who also has a demanding career at a university. I could immediately see myself in Ingrid. She is constantly concerned about getting everything done for her family, as well as in her job. She feels she is slowly drowning and doesn't have any form of life -preserver. Ingrid's troubles made me protective of her. As I read the book, I grew more and more agitated at the injustice of her being blamed for other's mistakes.
Setting:
Part of the book takes place during a business trip to St. Petersburg, Russia. The depictions of the bleak hotels, restaurants, and scenery are accurate, as I have been there myself (albeit many years ago). I loved the misunderstandings, intrigue, and paranoia that all the characters experienced. This was an very entertaining part of the book that balanced the more somber themes of the neglected wife and mother.
What I Was Mixed About:
Characters: Ingrid's husband, Bjornar, is a good man, concerned about providing for his family, but totally apathetic to Ingrid's anxieties. On the one hand, I could see why he was losing patience with Ingrid's antics, especially when she put their family in a financial bind. But I also thought he was kind of a jerk! One of the scenes that broke my heart was Ingrid being ill with pneumonia and Bjornar (and her own mother) neglecting her. She feels terribly alone. It made me want to scream at him!!!
Overall, this was a quick and fun read that made me realize that women everywhere face the same struggles. We are much more alike than we are different, even continents away from each other.
Rating:
Release Date: March 1st, 2017
Genre: General Fiction
Source: Kindle First Program
Format: E-Book
Recommendation: A highly entertaining read about a woman that many will identify with. You will want to have a girl's night out with Ingrid Winter!
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