BookTalk.org

In a way, this story reminds me of the Bluebeard fairy tale. While the young lady goes but once in the tale, Belinda cannot stop herself from repeatedly returning to the small, secret, room of death - in this case, the wedding story. Her hands become stained with the ink of the marriage that might have been.

Spoiler

Then, in the end, she chooses a miserable marriage and family life over the loss of her husband if the magic of burning the story can be believed.

Loss does strange things to people. It makes them believe things that aren't necessarily true. Afterall, would it not be better to have the good times and love with Gordon than the misery contained in the story? Is that not the natural cycle? By destroying "The Wedding Story", Belinda is destroying someone's attempts to keep her from pain and suffering and a miserable life.

I think this story is a good example of why Neil Gaiman became the poster author for the goth/emo crowd in the 90s. This grief that is felt...this feeling so much that a disappointing and difficult life is more preferable to emotional anguish is a common theme. I find this a nice thought provoking viewpoint with which to view my own life. I almost wish I had my own wedding story to cherish, but then would I miss out on the triumph of overcoming? Its something to think about. Instead of living at the top of the mountain and tumbling down, you can live in the valley and rise to the top at the end.

It's a good story and I don't see why he didn't just include it as part of the book itself.

My only nit with this story is the use of unnecessary words . . . just kinda' grates on my literary nerves to see words like 'and', and 'had' where 'had' had had been used in the same sentence.

Just read what I said and you'll know what I mean - had had an operation - had had a piece of pie . . . I see that done by many writers and, I must admit, have made the same mistake myself when writing.

When I'm pulled up for it, in a critique, I am deserving of same . . .

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I understand why the ending 'had' to be that way but, as a mother and wife myself, I found it troubling that Belinda opted for a life where her husband was still alive but her second child did not exist.