by
From The Website:
Jack and Laurel have been married for 39 years. They've lived a good life and appear to have had the perfect marriage. With his wife cradled in his arms, and before Jack takes his last breath, he scribbles his last "Wednesday Letter." When their adult children arrive to arrange the funeral, they discover boxes and boxes full of love letters that their father wrote to their mother each week on Wednesday. As they begin to open and read the letters, the children uncover the shocking truth about the past. In addition, each one must deal with the present-day challenges. Matthew has a troubled marriage, Samantha is a single mother, and Malcolm is the black sheep of the familywho has returned home after a mysterious two-year absence. The Wednesday Letters has a powerful message about forgiveness and quietly beckons for readers to start writing their own "Wednesday Letters."
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This book has a good idea for its basic story line and it contains lots of thought provoking material in regards to interpersonal relationships. Unfortunately, in parts of the book, the emotions of the characters become over dramatic, and it is set in the context of a conservative Christian family causing the book to become corny occasionally. Never the less, the letters are delightful as are the adult children of the deceased couple. The book ends on a good note except for one problem. (beware of spoiler that follows) For me, even fiction has to be somewhat believable. Toward the ending of this novel, we are to believe a convicted rapist, who becomes religious during his time in prison, is released and becomes a pastor, serving the family of his victim. Even if I was told that a religious body ordained a person who had been a sex predator, reformed or not, I would not accept that it was appropriate for such a person to be in a leadership position for a group of people that consisted of women and children. Forgiveness is one thing. Being stupid is quite another. I feel it is a slap in the face of people who have been victims to have their experience minimized in this way. I also feel it is endangering other would be victims who would read such a novel as inspirational and interpret it to mean that it was acceptable to have their children, them self or wife be working closely with a person with this type of history. I realize the point of the book is forgiveness. Certainly it is a novel that could facilitate a lively discussion on when forgiveness is or is not possible and when reconciliation is or is not appropriate.
Smiles ; )
ReplyDeleteAn interesting plot twist indeed, and one I think victims would find rather milking a theme.
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