Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Tuesday Night Miracles-Kris Radish

Tuesday Night Miracles


Kris Radish

Bantam, Jan 3 2012, $15.00

ISBN: 9780553384765



In Ellington County Psychologist Dr. Olivia Bayer, as she nears retirement, facilitates a court mandated anger management class. Blue Dot Grace Collins the fiftyish single overworked mom of two daughters explodes with rage at the boyfriend of one of her children by driving her car into his. Red Dot fortyish realtor Jane Castoria struggles with the recession until she uses her stiletto on a peer John who let her down on a deal. Green Dot fiftyish Kit Ferranti mourns and rejoices with the death of her mom, but drunken brother Mark accuses her of letting their mother die before shoving her violently until she grabbed a broken piece of glass and attacked back. Leah joins the group after hitting her children and being hospitalized after being abused.



Assisted by Phyllis the cocker spaniel, Dr. Bayer uses unconventional means that would give a heart attack to her superior if her supervisor knew. Painting birdhouses, bowling, shooting as well as individual soirees, the five females go through the stages of group formation as they bond and heal.



This is a strong look into what drives five women; four who have used violence in response to relationships and in two cases received abuse. Thus each woman comes across as incredibly developed as individuals with issues that surface over the course of the quintet going through the group formation stages. The Olivia anger management methodology lacks depth hinting at customizing to the individualized complex negative motivations of each of her four students with a sort of one for all and all for one seems naivety. Still this is a super concept with a strong cast who will keep readers enthralled.



Harriet Klausner

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