3 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
Have you ever wondered if your mail carrier thinks about you and your family? Worse still, have you ever suspected that he (or she) reads your mail? At the End of the Day by Madelyn Killion is a novel that explores the lives of five people over the course of one day. Frank is a postman who has an unusual and secret hobby. He reads the mail of the people on his route. It is more of an obsession than a fleeting nosiness, as he jots down notes and maintains detailed files on them. As much as he is interested in other people’s behavior, Frank is not nearly as attentive to his own family.
The writing in this book is something to savor. The author gets to the heart of the unfulfilled lives the characters lead. However, I was surprised to discover a somewhat different story than I expected from the summary. The plot is not about people from five different households along a mail route. Instead, the characters are all from two families – one on Frank’s mail route and his own family. Although their stories are interesting, the premise of reading other people's mail is more of an initial plot device; it is a relatively small part of the book rather than the central storyline. As a result, the story is not as original as I anticipated.
The author does a good job of switching between the lives of these families. The imagery is vivid to the point where I could picture even the minor aspects of each scene. The characters are well drawn and intriguing, even though I sometimes felt like I was watching a car accident in slow motion. No one is particularly likable. They lead unhappy lives and the short bursts of excitement often come at the expense of others. There doesn’t seem to be anyone to root for other than a sad teenager who deserves a lot more than the hand he was dealt. Even he is not the nicest person; for example, he refuses to return a younger child’s ball after it rolls toward him in the park.
A few sections of the book are more than a little uncomfortable to read. There are two incestuous relationships, one of which is described in flashbacks to the distant past. Although the subject matter fits into the overall theme of what goes on behind closed doors, it is over the top to include two such relationships in a book that is not primarily about incest. Although there are no graphic scenes, the overuse of this topic is a queasy turn-off.
I found only one pesky error (“as if her were made”) in this well-written book. Also, there are two instances where a sentence is highlighted, which made me wonder if the Kindle download was a draft.
The book moves forward at a steady pace, which is impressive considering the mix of several characters’ stories. There are also a few plot twists that are creatively written. I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. Although the concept is interesting, I enjoyed the story a little less as I kept reading. Still, the writing is top-notch and readers who favor books about family secrets may want to check this one out.
******
At The End of The Day
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like bookowlie's review? Post a comment saying so!
Though the book seems interesting, I think I'll pass.
