By Alice Mattison
William Morrow
Hardcover and Paperback Editions

Daisy Andalusia is in her fifties but may be as fickle as a twenty-year-old as far as romance goes. Pekko, her former lover turned slumlord husband, has the unfortunate honor of having only half a wife. Daisy’s preoccupation with sex makes her a fairly undesirable life mate, because the wind blows her this way and that.

The Wedding of the Two-Headed Woman Excerpt It felt disconcerting not to have known I’d been kissing eyes with little disks in them. I didn’t want to do anything more with him, just to get back to the office, have a cup of coffee from his pot, and resume work. I’d started planning the conference, and sex stimulated my brain, too. ©2004 Alice Mattison Published with permission from William Morrow

She organizes clutter for other people. And, in the process, she makes herself just available enough to satisfy her own curiosity about the lives of her so-called clients. At least one of those clients helps her with her sexual addiction as Daisy goes about cheating yet remaining unfulfilled.

The title of the story, The Wedding of the Two-Headed Woman, is taken from a tabloid but says so much about the life Daisy has created for herself. Will her risky behavior leave her with nothing in the end?

Bookworm's Briefing
The reader will consider this book either a collection of symbolism or a book of foolishness. Consider it filled with meanings that go deeper than the obvious. This book is worth the read and worth a bout of quiet reflection.

Alice Mattison is also the author of The Book Borrower and Field of Stars. She has been widely published and teaches fiction at Bennington College.