Fates and Furies, by Lauren Groff, is a compelling novel that dives into the depths of human relationships with realism, insight, and humor. The story follows the marriage of two people: the stoic, and seemingly perfect, Lancelot Satterwhite and the dramatic, sometimes vengeful, Mathilde. Despite the fact that they have been married for almost twenty years and live together in a beautiful house in south Florida, there is much that the couple does not know about each other.
The novel begins with the backstory of their courtship, in which Mathilde is portrayed as the interested onlooker, taken with Lance from the start and willing to do anything to make their relationship work. The two share a love of art and the natural world, often taking boat rides together to explore the wild-life of their beach-side getaway.
Fates and Furies proceeds with the details of their day-to-day life, from marital problems to financial blunders, from Mathilde's mischievous schemes to Lance dealing with his family drama. As the novel progresses, Groff deftly interweaves pieces of Mathilde and Lance's backstories, allowing readers to gain a deeper understanding of the motivations behind their actions in the present. It seems that nothing could shake the foundation of their relationship, but upon further inspection, it appears that things are much more complex than they seem.
When Lance's hidden debt comes to light, their carefully-constructed marriage begins to crumble. Mathilde takes control of the situation and works to dig out of the financial hole they find themselves in, while Lance attempts to make sense of the events while struggling with depression and the harsh reality that their perfect life wasn't as perfect as he had thought.
Lauren Groff tells the story of a seemingly perfect couple whose strength is tested in the face of immense adversity. Through her vivid imagery and well-developed characters, Groff manages to capture the complexities of relationships in a way that is both captivating and contemplative. Fates and Furies is a nuanced meditation on love, marriage, and the inherent difficulties of living life with someone else. For readers looking for a thought-provoking story with a great message, Fates and Furies is an excellent choice.
