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3.32 AVERAGE
3.32 AVERAGE
Wayward is a very well-written novel, and I read it pretty quickly, eager to see what happens. This is a book I'd file under "not for everyone" in that I found much of it extremely depressing (yet a bit hopeful at times) and a little bit frustrating.
Dana Spiotta expertly crafted the main character of Sam, a wealthy, white, menopausal woman who is basically in the middle of a mid-life crisis. Given all this, she isn't the easiest person to root for and I kept wondering if her story was really necessary. But Spiotta is a skilled enough writer to address Sam's privilege while also treating the character with enough respect to make me feel sympathy for her, despite my initial aversion to her.
Sam is also a familiar character in the book's setting of 2017. She's one of those women who was utterly shocked when Trump was elected and is bent on proving she is not one of those white women who actually voted for him. This on top of her other issues - worrying about her teenage daughter and her aging mother, not getting much out of her marriage - cause her take some drastic steps to change her current situation. Spiotta doesn't condone or condemn Sam's behavior (I mean, the woman impulse-buys a house for heaven's sake!) and lets readers decide for themselves how to feel about her. Later in the book, we get the welcome perspective of her daughter Ally, and I thought those sections were not only a nice break from Sam's neurosis but it also provided some of the more hopeful moments that the next generation might actually get it right.
I came away from the novel feeling oddly hopeful, and that my time reading about Sam was well-spent. I don't know if every reader would come away having those same thoughts, but this novel can definitely spark some interesting discussions.
Dana Spiotta expertly crafted the main character of Sam, a wealthy, white, menopausal woman who is basically in the middle of a mid-life crisis. Given all this, she isn't the easiest person to root for and I kept wondering if her story was really necessary. But Spiotta is a skilled enough writer to address Sam's privilege while also treating the character with enough respect to make me feel sympathy for her, despite my initial aversion to her.
Sam is also a familiar character in the book's setting of 2017. She's one of those women who was utterly shocked when Trump was elected and is bent on proving she is not one of those white women who actually voted for him. This on top of her other issues - worrying about her teenage daughter and her aging mother, not getting much out of her marriage - cause her take some drastic steps to change her current situation. Spiotta doesn't condone or condemn Sam's behavior (I mean, the woman impulse-buys a house for heaven's sake!) and lets readers decide for themselves how to feel about her. Later in the book, we get the welcome perspective of her daughter Ally, and I thought those sections were not only a nice break from Sam's neurosis but it also provided some of the more hopeful moments that the next generation might actually get it right.
I came away from the novel feeling oddly hopeful, and that my time reading about Sam was well-spent. I don't know if every reader would come away having those same thoughts, but this novel can definitely spark some interesting discussions.
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mid life crisis, home renovation, a little close to home?
Didn't vibe with this. A struggle to pick it up and engage with it.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Child death, Gun violence, Blood, Police brutality
The first half felt like an excuse to ramble about the authors various opinions and random things they know. Then it got weird and disjointed. The characters were extremely dull and there was literally no difference between the moms voice and Ally’s. Also, why was there that whole section with the pamphlet and stuff? Bizarre.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes