Release Date: September 2/2014
Acquired: E-copy provided by publisher
Goodreads: ADD
Purchase: Amazon/Indigo/Book Depository
Accidents of Marriage explores a topic rarely shown in fiction: the destruction left in the wake of spouse’s verbal fury. Ben never meant to hurt Maddy. He never imagined his recklessness would lead to tragedy.
Maddy is a social worker trying to balance her career and three children. Years ago, she fell in love with Ben, a public defender, drawn to his fiery passion, but now he’s lashing out at her during his periodic verbal furies. She vacillates between tiptoeing around him and asserting herself for the sake of their kids – which works to keep a fragile peace – until the rainy day when they’re together in the car and Ben’s volatile temper gets the best of him, leaving Maddy in the hospital fighting for her life.
Randy Susan Meyers takes us inside the hearts and minds of her characters, alternating among the perspectives of Maddy, Ben, and their fourteen-year-old daughter. Accidents of Marriage is a provocative and stunning novel that will resonate deeply with women from all walks of life, ultimately revealing the challenges of family, faith, and forgiveness.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Randy Susan Meyers has been there. She's been inside the lives of those who's hearts seem permanently wrenched; who's families have been torn apart by tragedy or scandal. Accidents of Marriage is a perfect case of literary art imitating life. Meyers brought her actual working knowledge of emotionally damaged families to the page in such a realistic way, in a way that made me believe with ALL of my heart that the Illica family existed somewhere. They could have been right next door, that's how intensely I felt their presence on the page. During my years of reading, I've found that adult authors have a difficult time finding children's voices-they either end up sounding miles beyond their age, or too immature to be a convincing 14-year-old. Meyer won on all three accounts in this novel, Emma, Caleb, and Gracie were some of the most believable children's voices I've read to date. Their dialogue made sense, their emotions expressed in ways that I wouldn't have accepted if done, or said, in any other way. This author has definitely spent time around children, and actually took the time to understand their little hearts.
I related so intricately with the narrative of Accidents of Marriage, I read it like it was a biography written about my own life experiences. It was a chilling reminder of what could have been my own tragic circumstances. This book will do that to you-it will have you thinking about that one person in your life who fell victim to a blind love. To a love that they swore would be the one that kept them whole, but ended up scattering every single happy part of their being into unreachable places.
I physically felt my heart clench for Maddy-I ran to her side so many times in my mind. There was such an exactness, and strength, in the way that Meyers portrayed her pain, and eventual disability. The conclusion of this novel was definitely not the route I would have wanted the characters to follow, but it didn't matter, no qualm I could possibly have with this novel matters. I want to keep this narrative so fresh in my mind, and so close to my heart-as will you.
Recommended for Fans of: Jodi Picoult, Patti Callahan Henry, Amy Hatvany, Women's Fiction, Contemporary, Drama.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The drama of Randy Susan Meyers’ novels is informed by her work with families impacted by emotional and family violence.
Her newest novel, Accidents of Marriage, examines the slippery definitions of emotional abuse and explores tragic circumstances forcing a family to challenge the dynamics that have long-defined them.
Randy is a founding member of Beyond The Margins, a site dedicated to the craft of writing and the business of publishing, and coauthored the guide, What To Do Before Your Book Launch, with writer M.J. Rose. She lives in Boston with her husband, where she teaches at Grub Street Writer’s Center.
Contact Links:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank-you to Trish from TLC Book Tours for hosting this tour, and to Atria Books for sending me an ebook copy to review!
CLICK HERE to follow the rest of the tour
Wow, it looks like this book really hit home for you. What an incredibly touching read. Thank you for your thoughtful review for the tour.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for this review--knowing that my characters connected with you in this way means so much to me. Warmest, Randy
ReplyDelete