Decades by Ruth Harris Book Discussion

Photo of old and used hardback books.

Editors note: Dawn is an avid reader and library roamer who selects interesting books to review and discuss monthly.
Decades by Ruth Harris is not my favorite book. It is not even close to being one of my favorite books. A main theme of this book goes against my moral code and reading about it tends to make me queasy. One might ask, why then would I write a review about such a book? It’s a good question. And the answer to that is quite simple. Setting aside my issue with adultery, this is an amazing book. It is masterfully written and also written in an uncommon format. A format that I would love to be able to competently write in.

Ruth Harris is a New York Times bestselling author, and Decades easily gives witness to the mastery of her writing ability. Each part of the story starts at a different time and perspective, but eventually the timelines of  three women involved overlap and you see the same series of events from three different viewpoints. Harris is a master at creating the flow of the story in Decades. I found myself wrapped up in the storyline of each section’s character.

First, we hear from the mistress, Barbara. Her story led me to think that Nick mistakenly married a horrible shrew of a wife. He should get a divorce as soon as possible so that he can marry his real love, Barbara.

Then, we hear from Evelyn. Sweet, devoted Evelyn appears to be the perfect wife. Nick’s straying from her must surely have been a lapse of judgment on his part. In fact, he would go back to his wonderful wife if that evil mistress wouldn’t have sunk her claws in so deep that he can’t seem to break free of her clutches.

Finally, we hear Joy, the daughter of Nick and Evelyn. Poor, lost Joy can’t find her way in the world. She doesn’t seem to know what to think about everything. Joy doesn’t seem to be able to find any solid ground to stand on.

All three women play an important role in Nick’s life. In exchange, Nick has a huge influence in the lives of the three women. Nick also makes me think that guys might not be a huge fan of Decades because let’s face it, the main male character is a piece of work. Monogamy is simply not in his vocabulary, and he can be a bit of a jerk about it.

Decades is a wonderful snapshot of how America, society, and women have changed over the years. The timeline is from the 1940s to the 1970s. Harris gives historical highlights as well as personal milestones for the characters as they go through the years. Each woman portrays a stereotype of the era she was born in. I believe Nick is a stereotype that transcends any particular era. He would, of course, be the timeless cheating scumbag.

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