Juliet and Michael’s marriage was as turbulent and unpredictable as the sea when they took their two young children, Georgie and Sybil, to live on a sailboat for a year. For most of the book, Juliet tells her story alternately with Michael’s log entries while their family is sailing near Panama, Colombia, and several islands. It becomes evident while reading that neither parent recognized how their mediocre sailing skills would affect their ability to thrive on the open seas. Of course, their minimal planning, which included few safeguards, was questionable regarding their decision to take such a risky voyage. Despite all, they have some magical bonding moments while sailing and establish teamwork in unusual ways.
When we meet Juliet, she has returned from the sea and is hiding in a closet, reading Michael’s log, and her mother is taking care of the children. We wonder in the beginning what has happened to Michael as we learn that Juliet suffers from depression that probably stems from childhood trauma. Juliet gradually discloses details of her life and marriage as the plot of Sea Wife develops. We also find that Juliet had begun a dissertation on confessional poetry but discontinued it when she became a mother. She is experiencing unfulfillment on many fronts and weathering many metaphoric personal storms in addition to the observable storms at sea.
This novel delves into the power struggles of Juliet’s marriage and also her tenuous relationship with her mother. Through the power of her husband’s journaling, she discovers much about her relationships and herself. Her love of poetry could help her face her tyrants instead of only providing an escape. However, many personal lessons are not learned in time to escape life-changing events.
