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Carol T. (Ankeny, IA)
Predictable
I'm afraid I needed more in order to really like this book - more plot, more rounded characters, and, frankly, more editing to keep up the pace. While it picked up in places, very often the book lagged and begged me to put it down. With a little more editing and more well-rounded characters, this could easily be one I recommend to friends.
Karen R. (Staten Island, NY)
Accidents of Marriage
Just an okay read for me. Interesting story at first, but then became predictable and a bit drawn out. I felt the ending was a bit disappointing.
Angela S. (Hartland, MI)
Accidents of Marriage
While this book had interesting developments and a few character insights, it did not truly draw me into the story like a great book will do. I did not feel as engaged with the characters as I would have liked to have been. I did enjoy the point of view of Maddy as she struggled to find herself again and make difficult choices. It was refreshing to hear from Maddy directly, how she was feeling as opposed to only hearing the voices of the people around her who are forced to deal with the changes in her. This book would be great for anyone looking to read about difficulties in marriage or how an accident can
…more change everyone in profound ways. (less)"Freud took aim, and the pair was irretrievably broken in half." (The quote in the book refers to 2 special glasses in this novel as well as the couple themselves.)
Accidents of Marriage by Randy Susan Meyers is about a family in crisis. It is the story of a married couple, Maddy and Ben and their three children, Emma, Gracie and Caleb. The author uses Maddy, Ben and Emma to head the chapters which allows the reader to understand the different point of views.
Maddy, a social worker, is constantly using her training to apply techniques to try and control her husband's outbursts of anger. Ben is an attorney in the
…more public defender's office and often comes home late and with a few drinks under his belt.
Ben is responsible for an accident that changes all their lives.
Ms Meyer's characters are well defined. The children add a lot to this story with their confusion about their mixed religious background and just looking at what is happening from their perspective.
In the end, it is Maddy who decides what is best for their future.
The story is interesting but I think it could be condensed a bit. (less)This book, about a family in distress, is a quick read and could use a bit of editing. It seems to be redundant and repetitive, so that I found myself rolling my eyes at some parts. The three main characters, Maddy, the mother, Ben, the father and Emma, the 14 year old daughter are the narrators of the story from each perspective - a device which I found in so many recent novels to be creative at first, but then tiring after it is used so often. The characters are well drawn, but rather one- sided: Ben angry to the point of abuse, then so contrite and rather unbelievable in the change - Maddy long suffering,
…more doing all for family and then so stubborn in not forgiving Ben - Emma typical teenage picking up pieces of family and complaining all the time. The other children, Gracie the constant lovable angel, and Caleb the whining questioner got to be monotonous.The medical and clinical section of the book seems to have come straight from a textbook, but was interesting and seemingly well researched., I just wondered where all friends and neighbors were when Maddy was in the hospital and recouping. All the work fell on Emma and the parents and in-laws. In situations like this, usually friends are there to help.All in all, a chick lit type of book, which has a basic linear story, easy to read and interesting to see the family dynamics develop. (less)I really enjoy Randy Susan Meyers' writing style. Like in Comfort of Lies she writes about identifiable characters who you care about and root for. Unfortunately I hoped for some unexpected twists. However, the story is little more than the back cover blurb. Maddy and Ben get into a serious car accident because of his out of control temper and she ends up in a hospital fighting for her life. She's left in bad shape, he acts badly and than begs for forgiveness and that basically where the story ends. An unsatisfying ending from a book that started so promising.
Sherrie R. (Fort Worth, TX)
Accidents of Marriage
At first I did not like the way the two major characters were portrayed- it seemed simplistic with each of them being so self absorbed. I was put off by some of the graphic language- especially on the occasions with the author's use of "retarded." Thankfully that was kept to a minimum. Once the book focused on the aftermath of the accident, I was intrigued but the mystery of how each person was affected as Maddy worked through her recovery and what really happened to her. I wasn't sure if I liked the ending. The author seemed to want to end it both ways so everyone would be pleased.
This belongs in the chick lit section.
Dorothy T. (Victorville, CA)
Accidents of Marriage
I almost gave up reading this book after the first 50 pages because of the unlimited use of foul language, particularly the popular f-word, and because I didn't like the characters of Ben and Maddy. It is not that the language improved--in fact it got worse until the end--but I became interested in the aftermath of the accident. I can understand the use of bad language to illustrate character qualities, emotions such as anger, and an effect of a traumatic brain injury, but with a little more effort I believe an author can find other ways to do this.
This novel gives a very depressing view of marriage, parenting,
…more and family. It does serve to point out, however, that a family that is not founded on some set of clear principles, be it Christian, Jewish, or a mixture of both (these are the backgrounds of Ben and Maddy) or some other belief, is likely to crumble apart.
I expect this book will end up as fodder for book club discussions but not for me. (less)
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