Response to Malena

"Eden" is about the Moore family, or more specifically, Mrs. Moore and her garden. Mr. Moore at first did not want a garden, citing that it was too expensive; however, after seeing Mrs. Moore get so close to Martha, their neighbor, he decides they can have a garden, his way. He proposes "stealing" the flowers and growing them that way, which in the end is what they do.
I thought this story was lovely. The specific descriptions were lovely, especially the line about the pale scalp showing through Mrs. Moore's white hair. I thought it dealt with an interesting subject, too -- the gender roles of the 1960s. I got a very distinct "The Awakening" vibe at first, though Mrs. Moore didn't feel trapped in her role, and in the end this vibe fell away to Mr. Moore loosening his grip on his wife.
However, I felt like Mr. Moore was very night-and-day. He was either very controlling or very loving, which gave me whiplash. I didn't know how to feel about him. I also thought his sudden decision to allow his wife to grow this beautiful garden was out of left field; it was something I didn't see coming, in a bad way, unfortunately. It didn't seem like a decision he would make.
I also thought Martha would have more of a position in the story. The idea passed through my mind that maybe, in the end, Mrs. Moore would end up being in a relationship with Martha. I at least think their friendship could be a powerful part of the story.
And, while I know it was typical of the time back then, Mrs. Moore felt very Stepford-wife-y. I thought it extremely odd that, during the almost-sex scene, that she would be so willing to have sex if she was so tired.
I think the story dealt with some relevant issues. I'm interested to see what happens with the revisions.