MY REVIEW:
The book begins on a lazy Sunday when Rainey and her dad are said to be seated at their patio each engrossed in their own worlds. Rainey into her phone and her dad with the newspapers.
Rainey is physically disabled and has been confined to her wheelchair ever since the tragic accident that took away her mom and her sister Sunny from her. That fateful day is etched in both Rainey and her father’s mind. The incident that occurred due to negligent driving of a drunk driver costed them two lives to be taken away forever.
It did take them quite a lot of time to accept the reality. Rainey needed time to get herself accustomed to being able to do everything with her wheelchair, to get familiar with the landscape and terrain. Natalie is friends with her from three and has been her constant companion through thick and thin. Rainey is into skiing and athletics and teaches at a school and enjoys companionship of kids who do not look at her as an alien being giving her peculiar stares.
After much push from Natalie, Rainey decides to create and profile in an online dating profile. Which is when she gets introduced to Brian. They become pen pals who eventually become interested in each other and fall for each other. Rainey hasn’t disclosed that she’s physically challenged and has inhibitions hiding it from him due to fear of rejection. She decides to meet him not as May belle but as Rainey.
What actually happens after that? Does Brian accept Rainey for the way she is or is she being rejected is the rest of the story.
The part after Rainey creates the profile and starts hunting is where the plot picks up pace. I really loved the exchanges between Rainey and Brian. Each letter between them was filled with love, a mutual concern. The eagerness for each message from Brian crept in through me as well. The narration was done in such a way that made me think what next. I completed the book at a stretch in one go.
Rainey’s father on the other hand completely lost himself after the tragic accident. He confines himself to his university job, books and meeting the students. He avoids getting to feel or see things used by his wife that he completely starts living in the guest room. He is so sober and is uninterested in almost everything which quite annoys Rainey. It is only when Rainey tells him about the dating website and her experience she gives s him a harder push to move on and find someone. He does that and what he’s quick and he gets settled before her.
The writing and presentation is crisp and clear with nothing much of exaggeration anywhere. Characterization of Rainey and Natalie is worth mentioning. Though they were mentioned to be looking like sisters, they are different in their own ways and still stick together. Brian is not an extrovert guy but is deemed to be felling low about himself. He loves spending time with his nephew, Casey and only when Casey meets up with an accident ending up being paralyzed he realizes how Rainey feels.
Overall, the book gave me a good feeling when I was done with it.
That Madras Mom 