THE WEDNESDAY SISTERS by Meg Waite Clayton

by Karen Haney
(Daytona Beach, FL, USA)

Genre: Fiction

Number of Pages: 304 pages

Year of Publication: 2008

Recognition: NY Times Best Seller

Crown Book Rating: 4 Crowns

Short Summary: THE WEDNESDAY SISTERS is a delightful tale for readers young and old. Frankie, the narrator begins to spin the enchanting tale of five women meeting at the playground with their children in the late 1960's, around the Palo Alto area of California, and tells of their developing a long remarkable bond.

This bond will take them though history both nationally and their own. Meeting at a time when women's lib was on the horizon, these ladies were a long way from burning their bras. As they get to know each other, they realize they share more than just a love of their families, but also of the The Miss America Pageant. This somewhat quirky mutual amusement becomes a staple that the story can be measured by year after year.

Each year, as the story progresses, the growth of the characters is exemplified in the way they celebrate, and relate to the changes in the pageant representative of the changes in America for many but even more so for women.

The Wednesday Sisters, as they name their group, are made up of Frankie, the narrator Kath, Brett, Linda, and Ally. When these women discover they love books and really like to write, they tentatively begin writing during their playground meeting times. They compare each others work, quite often some being more brutally honest than others. It takes a while for them to realize this is a good thing to have a friend who can be so honest with them, especially about something so special to each of them. The women all seem to know each other so well but slowly secrets in their lives are puzzled over, and then finally revealed to each other. Through their love of books and writing, they are able to get through some of the most painful times of their lives, with the support of their other sisters.

While the sisters experience life and grow with the history of the times, living through assassinations, moon walks, and marching for women's rights, these five women remain friends and are constant support in their writing as well as in each others lives. As their story evolves, these characters go through crises of their own...from infidelity and cheating husbands, critical in-laws to cancer, from being unable to bear children to the rejections of their writing. All through it, however, the women are there for each other.

Short Opinion: Meg Waite Clayton writes a story readers will cherish and want to share with all their good friends. She has written a book- lover's book, a writer's delight, and a friendship's friend. This is a book club's dream and for anyone who loves to read and aspires to write.

I am a lover of books and reading, and love to write and this book was very enjoyable and a special book to me.