Rina Mody, Alicja Wesolowska, Jill Wisoff, Eileen Donovan and Rachel Slaiman
Getting a wakeup call from a life changing experience is all that it takes for someone to take charge of their life. The person is now on their own as they figure things out without the help that they always received. So what do they do? Do they do nothing? Do they try to regain their family’s trust? Make amends? After Maddie and Ellis embarrass themselves at the social event of the year in the novel At the Water’s Edge, this is the situation in which they found themselves. What they did next w
Rina Mody, Alicja Wesolowska, Jill Wisoff and Eileen Donovan
as completely up to them.
The Ladies Who Brunch discussed At the Water’s Edge by Sara Gruen, which tells the story of these women and the harsh realities of life, friendship and love.
Like the other books that the group has read and discussed, this focused on expository writing, moving the story along, and character development with suspense. In order to achieve this, the author had to create scenes and images to which people could relate. One example from the novel is the term “a monster” being used as a metaphor for people that are mean, rude, or destructive. These monsters create the challenges that mainly Maddie has to face while being in a foreign country.
Jill Wisoff and Eileen Donovan
A more extreme example is when children are told something at a very young age and believe it throughout adulthood. Throughout the novel, Maddie remembers things her father used to say to her: “I will be back for you” or “you will get this soon.” These empty promises eventually become just that or people make up a story in their head to believe something that is far from the truth.
Collectively, Maddie and Ellis must confront adventure, start over, and gain a new perspective on life in order to regain the life they once had. They have to learn to love themselves and to be able to love others.
The next Ladies Who Brunch discussion was on The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See, a novel about searching and finding answers in the tea that has shaped their family for many generations.
Rachel Slaiman is a published freelance writer of several articles in both print and online as well an editor and copy editor of aspiring author’s manuscripts. She is currently the co-recording secretary for the WNBA and co-chair for the Brooklyn Book Festival. Rachel holds a B.A. in Communications and a M.S. from Pace University. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and writing short stories.
