BOOK REVIEW: Strangers by Belle Burden

"Belle Burden's Memoir Is Making People Hate Their Husbands," proclaims a headline from the May 26 edition of Harper's BAZAAR.

I had a similar experience while reading The Handmaid's Tale so I'm instantly intrigued.

While Burden's Strangers didn't quite make my husband Public Enemy No. 1, it did prompt my renewed interest in personal finance. I immediately picked up a copy of How to Be a Rich Old Lady by Amanda Holden.

Burden, if I may be blunt, is already a rich middle-aged lady. She comes from a long line of Manhattan socialites with the Gilded Age pedigree that manifested generational wealth and international fame. Her ancestors are the Vanderbilts—yes, those Vanderbilts—and the Tilfords—of the Standard Oil Tilfords (think Rockefellers.) Her grandmother, Barb Paley, was a Truman Capote swan.

Burden mentions trust funds and wealth assets like folks around here talk about Friday night football games or how many miles per gallon their cars get on the highway. The book gives us a glimpse of the type of wealth and notoriety that fans of the Real Housewives franchise might love. For example, Burden casually mentions that family-friend Calvin Klein designed her wedding dress.

Burden's confessional writing style was right up my alley. I felt a little like a voyeur, which I'll admit, is one of the reasons I enjoy the occasional memoir. I AM NOSEY. I also felt a lot of frustration and anger at the husband/ex-husband, the marriage, the divorce, the...everything, I guess. This book makes you reflect, not only on your own circumstances, but on the types of existential questions women especially should be asking themselves:

• Are the choices we make based on men's influences and opinions?

• What is marital love? What does forever actually mean?

• What is domestic labor worth?

I finished this book a month ago, and I'm still thinking about it. Call, message us on Facebook or Instagram, or drop by the store to grab your copy.

Strangers (hardcover)

Belle Burden

ISBN:9780593733318

by Tina Vaughn