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There are currently 62 member reviews
for Accidents of Marriage
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Kay K. (Oshkosh, WI)
Can Marriage Be an Accident?
Is who you marry just an "accident" and if it is can it be survived? Meyers book explores a marriage through the awakenings of its characters. Maddy awakens from a coma on one level and on a deeper level she awakens from her accident of marriage. Emma, a teen, is awakening from adolescence during a difficult family tragedy, and Ben awakens from his self absorption. Can all these awakenings keep the family together or will they tear them apart? Meyer's examination of each character's feelings and reactions is an interesting one. The characters seem real and the premise plausible. That is what keeps the reader reading.
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Susan B. (Coventry, RI)
Accidents of Marriage
I got taken in by this book very early on. I was halfway through before I knew it. The characters were well described and each one had his/her own idiosyncrasies and needs. This meant that rather than thinking of the characters as a family, I saw them as individuals. Because of the horrible accident which occurs early in the book, the family disintegrates as such and instead we see each personality as real and feeling human beings. My sympathies were for Maddy, the mother of three children and wife of Ben. Ben was the perpetrator and evoked no emotion from me. I felt that everything negative that happened in the book was his fault. I was definitely on the side of the debilitated family. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a book with lots of drama. One problem follows another as the story evolves and picks up speed. It would also be a good choice for a women's book group.
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Malinda N. (Wheeling, WV)
Good book club choice but would only give a 3.5
In general I liked this book. I was able to read it quickly as it held my attention. The subject matter was interesting and would make for good discussion in book clubs. I felt the most compassion for the oldest daughter who was forced to keep the family functioning while losing her grip on her own life and identity. There was something, however, that kept it from being a REALLY good book though. There was something unbelievable about Ben's character. I just couldn't get a sense of why she was with him ever. Often times one sees the trail of the abusive relationship and understands the attraction but in this case it was just a bit too far of a stretch and it hurt the book.
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Sandra W. (Marietta, OH)
What is acceptable?
Unless your marriage and all of your relationships are perfect it is impossible not to connect to this book. This book takes a close look under a microscope at one family and their relationships. I could really understand the relationship between Maddy and Ben before the accident. You know the conversation is going badly; you know what you should say and want to say; and yet you say the opposite and make matters worse.
Maddy worked with dysfunctional families and yet she couldn't see the dysfunction and even abuse in her own.
I found this book hard to put down and yet the relationships almost painful to read at times. The accident changes everything and yet initially people did not step up to the plate the way I predicted. It keeps twisting and turning to a satisfying end.
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Beverly S. (Chesterton, IN)
Well written and a quick read
I previously read "The Murderer's Daughters" and I became a fan of Randy Susan Myers' writing. She did not disappoint with her newest novel, "Accidents of Marriage". The story portrays a family dealing with normal day to day issues for the most part. However the Father has major anger management issues which lead to emotional abuse against his wife. A car accident where he was at fault, leaves his wife near death. You will become part of the family's day to day lives, hoping they can all heal and mend the broken pieces of their family. I like the writing style and I can see that the author uses her job experience to help create her characters. I hope you enjoy this book.
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Rebecca K. (Chicagoland)
Strong character-driven story
"Accidents of Marriage" is an interesting view at the life of one family. Told from the alternating viewpoints of the wife, husband, and eldest child, the multiple voices worked in showing the situation from different perspectives.I enjoyed the novel, but found it a bit short of being truly great. When a husband's anger issues change his family forever, everyone involved must come to terms with the consequences.
I wish the character of the husband had been a bit more gray - instead, he was portrayed rather black and white as the "bad" one in the relationship. If he was more sympathetic as a character, the book would have had a stronger impact.
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Daryl B. (Poolesville, MD)
Realistic Family Drama
I don't know that I would say this book was "good" but it certainly grabbed my attention and held it. The tension throughout the story was unsettling. The author does a fabulous job of portraying the family dynamics of a dysfunctional family that suffers a tragic, preventable accident that turns their lives upside down. Spousal abuse, alcohol and drug abuse and infidelity all contribute to the story. My heart ached for the three innocent children, especially Emma who was forced to become the family caretaker. I think this would be a good book club selection. The women in my book group would surely have a few choice words in describing Ben!
