Diary of a desperate housewife

An international bestseller adapted for cinema in 1970, Diary of a Mad Housewife portrays the life of 35-year-old Bettine Balser, from an upper-middle-class background, who decided to stay home and dedicate herself to her home and family. Married with two daughters, one seven and one nine, the protagonist had every reason for happiness to shine on her face. At the beginning of their life together, everything seemed to flow at the rhythm of a young couple's dreams and ambitions, but over time the relationship deteriorated, and her husband became impatient, intolerant, and controlled her every move. The siege became unsustainable, and her daughters began to criticize her continuously and persistently, observing every detail from how she dressed, styled her hair, or acted. Engulfed in deep sadness, Bettine developed a series of phobias, unable to face crowds, bees, spiders, fires, or enter cars, planes, boats, or elevators. At this stage, when she suspects she is reaching the brink of madness, she begins writing a diary as a form of therapy and an escape from harsh reality. This diary will help her rediscover herself, and it is through it that she manages to make various changes and alterations in behavior, a different stance for someone seeking respect. With sensitivity and much humor, it is a very current book, aimed at both men and women of various generations.