Sandra A. Miller’s WEDNESDAYS AT ONE is the perfect summer thriller because it’s not just about a mystery that needs resolution. It’s also about the emotional aspects of family life, what it means to be a parent of teenagers, how to navigate an imperfect relationship with a child, what to do when life isn’t satisfying but should be, and the power of conversation to heal all wounds.
Sandra does a great job of creating tension and suspense; I felt my shoulders tense as I held my breath trying to figure out what was happening and why. Through her accessible, breezy prose, the reader forgets he or she is even reading. It’s a full-body immersion into storytelling with no flowery sentences as distractions. It’s a direct infusion of plot into pores.
Gregory, the protagonist, is believable in his flaws, dashed hopes, confusion, and frustration. He’s the vehicle for all of our collective malaise as a society today. When his past comes to the fore, we find ourselves confronting demons and wondering about the other directions life could have taken us. The fact that he’s purportedly a mental health expert and yet struggles himself makes this even more poignant.
I loved reading about Greg and his family. I loved the issues, the scars, the things they wouldn’t want friends and others to necessarily see — but we get to. And I loved losing myself in the narrative.
This book is about the dashed dreams and moments that define our future — and yet it is inspiring in its ability to overcome even the most devastating moments, from a teen daughter’s scowl to a tragic event.
It is, quite simply, the most perfect summer read.
