An Inconvenient Wife Book

Whoa..wavered between a four and a five star rating for this book but alas had to admit that this novel was compulsively readable and interesting...I found myself reaching for this book every spare moment I had and I love that feeling because honestly I wasnt that sure this book would be all that it turned out to be..This is the story of Lucy, a woman born into high society, spoiled and married for the last four years and living a life that would be perfect except she suffers bouts of nervousness, hysteria and has become quite an embarrassment to her husband and family. Lucy's illness becomes the topic of everyone's conversation and her husband takes her to try several questionable treatments as he longs for her to be a proper society wife and have children-- but the question that begs to answered is what does Lucy want? As the attempts at treatment get more and more desperate there is talk of even sending Lucy to an asylum to cure her and then almost as if summoned they are introduced to the curious new doctor in town Victor Seth who practices a controversial brand of treatment through hypnosis and electotherapy. Lucy's husband William is intrigued and begins to send his wife there for treatment and it is here that the story takes off..While under hypnosis Dr. Seth is able to release Lucy and make her question all she is and all she wants, I found myself deeply entranced by the issues raised about women's freedom and sexuality as even though this book takes place in New York circa 1880's it is oh so prevalent in today's society as well....the only difference is now women can make their own money and define their own destinies... in theory..... Dr. Seth uncovers the unrequited and suprressed passions within Lucy that she was forced to deny her entire life..passions that found no other outlet but hysteria. As Lucy is treated and begins to show real signs of improvement she also shows her rebelliousness and her passions for sex, art and to be a free woman able to do as she pleases. Her husband hates it. William begins to fear and resent her and her relationship with Dr. Seth and as the book draws to its climax I find the story suffers and loses some of its depth but overall I thorougly enjoyed this book, it makes you think, feel and empathize with yourself and women everywhere.