Member Reviews
The Polygamist was an amazing novel based around polygamy. While the book is told through the male perspective of Omar, unlike other books where the relationship is often viewed from the POV of the wives. I found the Polygamist to be an interesting look on how one man struggles with the mammoth task of keeping several wives happy and satisfied and how at times polygamy isn't all it is cracked up to be and it breaks down some major walls surrounding this form of sexuality.
The key to enjoying this book is going into it with the right mindset. This is no feminist text - it is about a man unabashedly pandering to his sexual fantasies and the consequences that inevitably arise. It is about male desire and sexuality during the seventies in the middle east. When you approach it with this context, it's easier to have an open mind and enjoy the journey this story takes you on.
This book really challenged my way of thinking and showed me a perspective that isn't visited much in literature. Omar's story is probably far from the reality of a middle eastern polygamous marriage, but I appreciated it nonetheless.
When thinking about the main character of this novel, I think it's fair to say that many people would consider him selfish and without morals - and he can be - but, I was often pleasantly surprised with how caring and genuine Omar was with his wives and friends. While he undergoes a significant amount of growth throughout the novel, Irvine writes it in a way that is believable. As with any character, it was sometimes frustrating, but overall, I enjoyed spending time with Omar as he navigated life, sexuality, and religion.
It may go without saying, but this book has a good deal (ok, a lot) of sexual content, so if that makes you uncomfortable, this won't be the book for you. The sheer volume can seem gratuitous at times, but I think the scenes are a crucial part of both Omar's growth and his relationship with his wives.
There was a lot of interesting promise to this book, and I read almost a third through it before putting it down. I just could not connect or keep focused.
3.5 stars Thank you to publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My review can be found on Goodreads. In summary, I loved the first 75% of this book but the ending was such a let down. I wanted to know more about the wives, the polygamist's family dynamics and what about that fourth wife he promised himself at the beginning? Well written and great character development. Had the story stayed true to it's roots and continued to focus on Omar's polygamy lifestyle, it would have been a home run.
Thank you for this book. I have read quite a few fiction and non-fiction books about polygamy and I thought this book might be interesting, but it is just not for me. I don't want to post a negative review because perhaps other people will enjoy it. Thank you and good luck with it.