The Monogamy Prize

A marriage memoir from the bestselling author of Bringing Up Bébé

On the eve of her fiftieth birthday, Pamela Druckerman’s life has stalled. She was in her early thirties when she moved to Paris, married a dashing fellow journalist, and became a celebrated author. Yet now, it’s her husband who churns out a book a year and wears earplugs around the house. Her adolescent children are more French than American, and her Parisian neighbors haven’t gotten any more welcoming. Once a prolific writer, she has slipped in status to her family’s head of purchasing and quality control.

Tired of feeling unappreciated—and tempted by an unexpected offer from a man from her past—Druckerman decides to try on the famously flexible French approach to monogamy (“What is fidelity, really? Isn’t it to be true to yourself?”). She grants herself a one-off fiftieth birthday present: a secret afternoon with “the banker.”

What ensues is more than she ever expected. Is this radical self-care or relationship suicide? Have honesty-obsessed Americans been approaching coupledom all wrong? Can an American in Paris ever truly become French?

The Monogamy Prize is a disarmingly intimate and deeply funny account of one woman’s passage and a bold exploration of the rules of modern marriage.

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
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• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

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• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

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Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
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The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs