A Beautiful, Terrible Thing: A Memoir of Marriage and Betrayal

A Beautiful, Terrible Thing

A Memoir of Marriage and Betrayal

2017 • 272 pages

Ratings2

Average rating3.5

15

I DON'T feel good critiquing memoirs because it essentially feels like critiquing the person and their very personal story. This was interesting to read because I love listening to other peoples drama, sue me, but I had a couple issues with this.
There were so many unnecessary details & dialogue included throughout. There were multiple passages included that were basically like, “My parents came over. My dad took my Subaru (why did we have to hear multiple times about her Subaru) to pick up moving boxes at the store. I looked at my baby and felt sad. We packed up. I got in the car. I looked at my baby. I got to my parents house. I felt sad.” AND ON & ON. These details were not! important!
Not to mention the hate that was constantly spewed at the girl Marco was cheating with. She was only referred to as “the Croatian” or “Cro-ella (Croatian + Cruella), even though her name is known. She is frequently made fun of for wearing a lot of makeup and posting selfies on Instagram. I understand Waite's anger with her but if Marco really is a sociopath, or even if he's just a manipulative, lying asshole, this girl is being victimized as well! Sure, she made a mistake sleeping with a man that she knew was married but as Waite states herself, we have NO idea what Marco told her. Waite also seems to gloss over/forget the fact that Marco cheated on a previous partner WITH HER.
My biggest issue with this is Waite presents the idea that her husband is a sociopath as fact after Googling some shit. Her therapist, who has never met her husband, confirms Waite's armchair diagnosis - which is super.. unethical? Weird? Definitely not recommended for therapists to do? There is nothing that actually confirms this diagnosis. Is Marco a gigantic asshole? Sure! Is a sociopath? Don't know!
Other reviewers idea that Waite should have let more time pass before writing this memoir is a good one. Would not really recommend unless you want some ~TeA~

August 5, 2019