What would you do if you were suddenly placed under a spell that made you no longer attracted to the opposite sex in an intimate way?
The Uncoupling
by Meg Wolitzer
Riverhead Books
April 2011
That is the exact question that every woman is faced with in Stellar Plains, NJ in Meg Wolitzer’s latest book The Uncoupling. The main characters in The Uncoupling are The Lang’s, a couple with a strong marriage, and even a stronger love for each other. Robby and Dory Lang have a relationship that is envied by all of their peers. Both Robby and Dory work as English teachers at Stellar Plains High School. Dory is one of the first people affected by the spell, but soon the rest of the female population of the small New Jersey town are under enchantment. No one understands what has caused this spell or how they can get their lives back to the way they once were. Women everywhere are disgusted at the thought of being touched by their significant other or any man in general for that matter.
While the entire town is in a state of confusion about the sudden abstinence, a new drama teacher at Stellar Plains is directing the play “Lysistrata” which is a Greek play based around the idea of women turning men down sexually in order to end a war.
During the play’s opening night, men stop the play to make a plea with their wives to be intimate with them once more. Once this happens the spell is broken and the town goes back to normal.
While I love the idea around the spell and the fact that it is suppose to teach the townspeople to appreciate the love that they have with their spouse, I found the book very predictable. I did, however, enjoy the fact that Wolitzer told the story of many characters being struck by the spell. It made me look at relationships in a different light and realize that intimacy can play a very important role in marriage.
