Conversations from a Long Marriage by Jan Etherington

‘Conversations from a Long Marriage’ by Jan Etherington is a heartwarming and humorous book that takes a look at the ups and downs of a relationship that has lasted for decades. Through a series of conversations between two people who have been married for a long time, the author explores the themes of love, commitment, and the ups and downs of a long-term relationship.

The dialogue in the book is witty and insightful, and the author has a knack for capturing the essence of a long-term relationship in just a few words. The conversations are often hilarious, and the author has a great sense of humour, making this book a light-hearted and entertaining read.

As I am in my 34th year of marriage, I found this book reassuring that we do all end up being quite quirky, at times unreasonable and possibly illogical, but overall very loveable. This book is a testament to laughter being an absolute must to keep a relationship, and by that, I mean being able to laugh together and at oneself.

Despite the humour, ‘Conversations from a Long Marriage’ is a thought-provoking book that will make you reflect on your own relationships. It highlights the importance of communication, mutual respect, and understanding in a long-term relationship. Whether you’re in a relationship yourself or enjoy reading about them, this book is a must-read for anyone looking for a funny and insightful look at love and commitment.

Overall, “Conversations from a Long Marriage” by Jan Etherington is a delightful and entertaining book that will make you laugh out loud, reflect, and appreciate the ups and downs of a long-term relationship. Whether you’re in a relationship or not, this book is a must-read for anyone looking for a humorous and insightful take on love and commitment.

Souvenir Press the publisher, is offering three copies of ‘Conversations from a Long Marriage’ as a giveaway to three people who write, in the comments section below this article, a short piece about what makes their long marriage work.

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Anonymous
Anonymous
1 month ago

I loved this book, especially on audible. It’s quite amusing and very relatable. I laughed a good deal, and it was such a treat to have Roger Allam and Joanna Lumley as the narrators. Thank you for recommending this book.

Anonymous
Anonymous
1 month ago

Sadly my husband has passed away, we would have been married 55 years if he was still with me. I would still love to read the book to

Linda Julyan
Linda Julyan
1 month ago

Sadly my husband is no longer alive, we would have been married 50 years this April 14th(which is the day he passed away) I would love to win and read this book, just to see if we were on track for a good marriage I could pass the book on to my daughter and son in law after, as they have their 13 year wedding anniversary coming up soon.

Carol Adam Logan
Carol Adam Logan
1 month ago

Not so much a long marriage, although married now, but a relationship built up in friendship and respect over 40 years. We have always talked and listened and laughed what more could you ask for.

Kay
Kay
1 month ago

I think one of the things that helps us is that we have time together and also time apart. He likes to play table tennis and I go out to book groups and run the Rainbows in our village. There’s no need to be joined at the hip. It’s rather lovely to have some evenings to myself occasionally.

Deborah Harding
Deborah Harding
1 month ago

Definitely humour and patience – lots of it, understanding that you love and respect one another whilst agreeing to disagree.Realising that After 25 years together (tomorrow by the way) that you’ve had your ups and downs, still like each and actually he/she is still ‘quite dishy/attractive and they’re a ‘keeper’.

Carol Summers
Carol Summers
1 month ago

I have had the privilege to have two grown up children to show for a long, successful marriage built on respect for one another. Giving each other space and coming together to share these individual experiences as well as the joy of building our lives together whilst keeping our sense of humour as we plough on as a team

Jela Webb
1 month ago

Time together and time apart. 45 years in September 🙂

Susan Ordish
Susan Ordish
1 month ago

The secret to a long marriage is go with the flow and always iron his boxers

Sheila venn
Sheila venn
1 month ago

I have been married 53 years and the conversation has never dried up. We still laugh at silly things, cry after loosing our son in 2007 but we keep on going simply because we love one another.

Sue Butker
Sue Butker
1 month ago

Robin and I will celebrate on 12th March this year, 45 years living together and 37 years of marriage. We are total opposites , which has made for a volatile, passionate (both physical and emotional) and loving relationship. Do we love each other, without doubt, but there have been times where we haven’t liked each other. I know the inner hidden secrets of my husband, and he mine, did we tell them to each other?,… No, but i learned them by watching and
i trust he’ll keep mine safe, as I will his. He knows I love theatre, museums, art, reading and swimming, I know he doesn’t, he love’s wood turning, building and making things, he’s great at fixing things and painting. I’m rubbish… He lives maths and science, I love words, he can’t spell, I hate numbers, he finds them easy. We have 4 grown up children and we survived the metamorphosis of hair raising teenagers into adults, but we hung by a thread at the end. We grew apart but gravitated back together. But through it all, we loved, we fought, we laughed and cried, we lost parents, gained grandchildren, but I never doubted nor lost my trust in him and neither did he in me. That’s what love must be, cos I can’t quantify it, it’s too complicated. But I would do every part of it again…

Mary Kelly
Mary Kelly
1 month ago

OH and are celebrating (perhaps acknowledging) 34 years of marriage this week. We committed early on that either one of us can go a little crazy occasionally and claim our “insanity clause” as long as it doesn’t hurt the other person. It works when one cannot explain one’s strange behavior.

Anthea Glibbery
Anthea Glibbery
1 month ago

I have been married for 53 years. We still drive each other nuts. No-one makes me laugh as he does, understands my foibles, tolerates my inability to create or follow a budget and paranoid avoidance of spreadsheets, hatred of spiders, and late night grumpiness. Still better looking than all the other men I know. Yet it has been tough at times, we have endured the loss of a child, all our valuables in an armed robbery, life on two continents, long term degenerative illness, countless surgeries, but have been so blessed in Grandchildren and many good memories, and he still makes a brilliant G & T. I’ll keep him I think.

Anita Margaret Cranmer
Anita Margaret Cranmer
1 month ago

Our long marriage is 58 years long with 6 children (one deceased) and 11 grandchildren. Ups and Downs Highs and Lows Fun and Misery along the way The glue is kindness and consideration for the others needs (most of the time)
You dont always have to feel kind BUT the emotion will follow the act. Kindness and consideration is the key!

Margaret Longden
Margaret Longden
1 month ago

Last year saw the end of my 50 year old marriage when my darling husband died from an aggressive cancer just before our golden wedding. We met when I was 16 and he was 19. For us, meeting so young was an absolute blessing, as both being strong-willed, we were young enough to be flexible and find the middle path. We looked at life in the same way, and he just brought out the best in me, and told me it was the same for him. When I was married at nineteen, my father told me – you’ll be all right with him, he’s a man for all seasons. And so it was. I am alone now but I can hear the reasonable and familiar advice in my ear. Sometimes his sensible nature drove me round the bend, but my goodness, it got us through some difficult times!

June
June
1 month ago

After (almost) 59 years of marriage, I think the secret is to have plenty of patience, be tolerant, forgiving (no-one is perfect), and to laugh a lot. It’s worked so far!

Sandy Lygoe
Sandy Lygoe
1 month ago

Mother of five grown up children and grandmother to twelve ..have been married for 52 years to my childhood sweetheart..It has had it’s ups and downs but we often giggle together uncontrollably and we have so many shared memories

cornishlady
1 month ago

We will be celebrating 64 years of marriage this year. I think a successful marriage is when the two people mature together and are friends as well as lovers.

Helena Zak
Helena Zak
1 month ago

This is also a series on BBC radio 4, with very clever choices of music from the 70s. See link :
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m000dpqn

Cindy Morris
Cindy Morris
1 month ago

Coming up to 50 years – golden years, sometimes shiny, sometimes tarnished. But we have stood together with humor and helpful lifting up of each one as needed. We have individual interested that bring life to our togetherness.

Jenni G
Jenni G
1 month ago

We are odd, but perfectly matched and tolerate each other’s foibles.

Gunilla
Gunilla
1 month ago

Love and forgiveness in equal measures. Always a goodnight kiss, never go to sleep on an argument.

Sue Andrews
Sue Andrews
1 month ago

Fifty years of marriage have been the best years of my life. We work together and play together. We have the same interests, although initially I may not have! I think give and take are the two main ingredients to a happy relationship. I refuse to disagree or argue unless about something very important to me, then I make my point. I very much look forward to reading this insight into another strong relationship.

Christine Nettheim
Christine Nettheim
1 month ago

I would love to have a copy of this book – my husband and I will celebrate 45 years marriage on 31 March so think we qualify as having been married a looong time . Think it would be great to read together! I am 67 and he is 72. Had a huge op last year (oesophageal resection) but has come thru terrifically – I couldn’t see him for a month whilst in hospital bec of covid lockdowns – it was like sending him off to war by waving him goodbye at the door of the hospital. Patience, commitment, respect & love make it work for us. We live in Sydney, Australia, with 2 daughter and fam in England and our other and fam recently moved to Texas for her husbands work for 2 yrs. So we are orphans!

Jackie Edwards
Jackie Edwards
1 month ago

Having been married for almost 51 years I’d love to read this book to see if our life together has similarities to theirs. We’ve had our ups and downs but we’re friends and had lots more love and laughs along the way.

Anne Ritchie
Anne Ritchie
1 month ago

45 years married! Living quietly and contented, working in the garden, going to the theatre, hosting barbecues for friends, sunshine holidays and walking weekends. Supporting each other in weakness, admiring the other’s strengths.