Lifelong Letters Reveal Secrets and Strengths of Relationships
Written: Apr 24 '09
Product Rating:
Pros: Cliffhangers, character development, inspirational aspects, unputdownable quality, epilogue letter
Cons: Epilogue letter, easy resolutions
The Bottom Line:
It is inspirational, shows what love can be, and encourages readers to begin their own way of revealing feelings in a lifelong way that can be shared with future generations.
dandj's Full Review: Jason F. Wright - The Wednesday Letters
Dear Jason Wright,
You have crafted the kind of story that remains in one's mind for some time to come. It is that rare book that makes picking up the next one too soon after feel wrong. In fact, the only thing I could pick up was paper and pen to write this letter.
When I first met Laurel and Jack shortly before their deaths in the opening chapter, I never imagined I would feel so connected to them and their loved ones in the subsequent few days of fictional time. Just as their family trickles in over the course of the funeral weekend, so does their story via a lifetime of letters written by Jack every Wednesday since the day they were married.
Plucked randomly, the letters act as puzzle pieces that have secrets to tell. As they begin to come together, and more pieces are filled in, they will reveal a picture that was fractured in a way not one of the three Cooper children could have imagined. It is a family portrait of guilt, forgiveness and redemption.
But it is not just Jack and Laurel's story we learn. We are also made privy to the relationships of their children. Samantha, no longer with her husband, has her own personal issues with allowing him to have extensive communication with their daughter. Matthew, the eldest, is married and hoping to adopt, but there is some haziness hanging over his marriage. What could possibly be more important to his wife than providing support to him during his parents' funeral? In the youngest, Malcolm, you gave us a rebel dealing with unrequited love, feelings of inadequacy compared to Matthew, and a potential jail sentence he had previously run from. It is Malcolm's life which will be most affected by the letters' revelations. He is the one we become closest to outside of the deceased.
None of this is to say you do not introduce us to some very interesting, and sometimes amusing, secondary characters. Their development is certainly not lacking. We meet the object of Malcom's affections, a loyal employee of Jack and Laurel. Jack's brother, a recovering alcoholic, comes to stay. The most entertaining would have to be the rich, eccentric woman who seems to make it her goal in life to spend all of her money at the Cooper's inn. Readers will wish they could know someone like her when they see how much she tips for a glass of milk.
I have to tell you, in all honesty, I cannot remember the last time that I had such a difficult time putting a book down. I even took it to a dinner out with family members so that I could read it while I waited for everyone to arrive. It is not often that one finds cliffhanger chapter endings in a book of this type, but you made it nearly impossible to find a chance to do anything besides feed the need to know how this tale works itself out. The envelope at the end bearing the word "epilogue" and containing a letter only added to my eagerness.
I must admit to feeling a tiny bit letdown with that final letter for reasons that I cannot reveal here for fear of spoiling anything for future readers (of whom I hope there will be many). I also think that the situation involving Malcolm's issues was, perhaps, too easily resolved in one particular scene.
Something that I was not in the least disappointed with was the way in which you incorporated the spiritual aspect of the story. We were always sure of the faith held by the family members without having it seem preachy. It was there, and it was strong. That's all we needed to know, and that's all you gave us. It was included perfectly without turning away any potential readers that do not have as strong a faith base or do not want it to be "in your face."
I thank you for having written The Wednesday Letters. It is certainly inspirational and shows what love can be, encouraging readers to begin their own way of revealing their feelings in a lifelong way that can be shared with future generations.
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