The Mere Wife

The Mere Wife is a modern retelling of Beowulf, set in the 21st century, written by Maria Dahvana Headley. I was assigned to read this novel a few years ago while in college in my British Literature course. I must admit, I didn't pay as much attention as I should have, I can't even remember if I finished the book (sorry Dr. Angello). I know I had an Audible membership at the time, so I listened to the book. I definitely recommend reading versus listening. I love this book, and am so happy that I decided to pick it up again. This book is actually the only one that I have completed this year, and has definitely restarted my love for reading.

This novel features Gren and his mother, Dana Mills, who live in a mountain behind the suburbs of Herot Hall. We never actually get a full visual description of Gren. Only that he has sharp claws, runs on all fours, and has the face of a boy. I enjoyed how Headley features different chapters from different character perspectives. This relates to the original Beowulf. My favorite perspectives were from the police dogs and the mere itself. I was fond of attempting to figure out who's perspective the reader was supposed to be digesting.

Huge gay themes involved, bless up.

Some of my favorite quotes:

"Like a jello mold, unset, tilting dangerously in the refrigerator." (p. 22). This quote and the last quote I list have jello in common and I think that is very important to point out. Both quotes come from Willa, the villain, in my opinion. The gelatin incorporation at both the beginning and end of the novel, point to how Gren and Dylan were always going to mold together, becoming one, into Grendel.

"After the abortion her mother took her to the dermatologist, who turned the tattoo into a scar in the shape of someone Willa used to know" (p. 22). I wish Headley had dived into Willa's past more. It seemed that her mother controlled every aspect of her life, even though Willa is obviously an adult. I wanted more of Willa's childhood, was her mother always this way?

"Snow pants sprawl like a bisected corpse in the hallway" (p. 57). I just love how eerie this line is. Willa's chapters were always blunt and if she mentioned something that most readers might take a pause at to process, she just continues to truck on.

"the white lights on the Christmas tree twinkle in staccato seizures" (p. 57). I love how visually beautiful this line is.

"The men marry, the women bury" (p. 137). This quote has so much foreshadowing. I don't feel bad for the one character that is left to pick up the pieces.

"The world is full of secrets no one cares about, no one but dogs" and " We travel on perfume lines, drink them out of the air like you listen to the radio" (p. 158). These are taken from the dog chapter and I fully agree with these statements. I need a spin off from working dog perspectives Headley!

"I'm hearing myself whispering it now, endless repeat, my skin against warm sand of memory, the knobs of my spine naked in water pouring over me" (p. 168).

"Is this what love is? That you can see each other, even in the dark?" (p. 190). Gren and Dylan could see each other in the dark, would love each other in the dark. Even if they could not see each other, they were one, they longed to be together.

"There was a psychiatrist to repair his mind, but apparently he left parts of it shut" (p. 226). I find this to be relatable.

"She'd like to dissolve her maternal bond to Dylan like gelatin in hot water" (p. 229). Like this woman ever actually cared about her son.