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On This Day
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| Item Number |
20238 |
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Item Description...
Overview
another?upholding each other through the pain of postpartum depression, doubts about an upcoming wedding, the discovery of a husband?s affair, reflections on the ups and downs of life as a war bride, and plans to end a 25-year marriage. Through it all, their connection with one another deepens and grows, as does their understanding of themselves and of the healing power of love, perseverance, and friendship
Publishers Description
As One Marriage Begins,
Five Others Are Put to the Test.
Drawn to Lakeside Inn from a variety of locations as diverse as they are, Elizabeth Anderson, Suzette Burke, Ingrid Campbell, Margaret Simpson, and Laura Fairbanks–the bride's aunt, family friend, bridesmaid, grandmother of the bride, and sister of the groom–seemingly share little more than their collective joy for the couple marrying at the mountain resort. During the course of one unforgettable day, however, each woman reaches a point of reckoning in her own most intimate relationship.
As their stories unfold, the women of necessity turn to one another–upholding each other through the pain of postpartum depression, doubts about an upcoming wedding, the discovery of a husband's affair, reflections on the ups and downs of life as a war bride, and plans to end a 25-year marriage. Through it all, their connection with one another deepens and grows, as does their understanding of themselves and of the healing power of love, perseverance, and friendship.
Melody Carlson is the author of numerous titles, including Finding Alice and Crystal Lies. Her best-selling novel, Homeward, won the Rita Award from Romance Writers of America. She and her husband, the parents of two grown sons, make their home in Central Oregon.
Chapter 1- Elizabeth
I've always loved weddings. The smell of orchids, the rustle of a white satin gown, the first strains of the wedding march it rarely fails to bring tears to my eyes. And I never arrive late. Who would want to miss one single minute of this blessed event?
But not today. I would rather be anywhere else on this particular
day. Not that I don't love my niece and wish the very best for
her and her handsome young man, but how do you smile your
way through a wedding when it feels as if your own marriage is in
serious peril? How do you celebrate the holiness of matrimony
when you're questioning whether marriage really works or not? It
feels slightly hypocritical to me. Phony. And I hate being false.
That's why I plan to confront Phil tonight after the wedding festivities
are over. I have no idea how he'll react, or whether he'll even
care. Perhaps he'll be relieved to get whatever it is that's driving us
apart out into the open. I think that's how I'll feel. And if this is
really the end well, I'll deal with that later.
Being a somewhat considerate wife, I have tried to give Phil
some gentle hints that all is not well between us. For one thing, I
came up to this lovely lake with the unrealistic hope that the combination
of these beautiful surroundings, being away from the distractions
of home, and the romance of what promises to be a sweet
wedding would ignite something between us. And in a way, I guess
it did. It ignited my anger when Phil decided to take a before dinner hike that left me sitting alone in the restaurant until nearly
eight. Of course, he had an excuse.
“I'm sorry, Elizabeth,” he said. “I got totally turned around on
the trail.”
“What about your GPS?” I asked with irritation, trying to
remember how much he'd paid for that ridiculous state-of-the-art
compass device, which apparently doesn't even work. We were back
in the room by then, and I'd hastily removed my sexy outfit of a
slinky turquoise dress and an incredible pair of sandals with killer
heels and replaced it with baggy boxer shorts and a T-shirt.
“I forgot it.” He sat on the edge of the bed and began to untie
his shoes, meticulously loosening the laces one by one, then carefully
removed first his shoes and then his socks, as if it were the
most important thing in the world.
I looked back down at my O magazine, quickly flipping past
Dr. Phil's column, titled “Healing Your Marriage,” and sighed
loudly. Why don't men understand how a real apology works? I
mean you can't just say, “I'm sorry,” like that and expect those two
simple words to erase everything. We want sincerity.
Of course, it didn't help matters when I became somewhat
emotional at that point and subsequently got so rattled I'm sure I
failed to make any sense. Why is it so easy to be sidetracked by silly
little things like shoes and shoelaces when there are really big issues
eating away beneath the surface?
“Elizabeth,” he said in that patient tone he uses on me when
he assumes I'm having a hormonal meltdown or being overly dramatic.
“You're just tired. You've been too consumed with helping
out with the wedding lately.”
I tried to explain to him that it was not about the wedding or
about me being tired or even a hormonal ambush, because I knew
that was what he was thinking. “It's about you and me,” I finally
shouted at him, instantly regretting my lack of volume control,
since we are staying in the room right next to my sister and her
husband at the Lakeside Inn.
Not that Jeannette isn't somewhat aware of my marital concerns—
although we haven't really spoken of it directly. But sisters
just get these things, and under normal circumstances she's a helpful
and sympathetic listener, that is, when she's not obsessed with
“important” details like getting the bridesmaids' tussie-mussies
arranged perfectly. Consequently, I'm not sure whether she completely
grasps that my marriage may be in serious danger right now.
“I'm sure it can't be too serious,” she commented, somewhat
absently, just last week. We were assembling about a hundred little
net bundles filled with environmentally friendly birdseed. We
securely tied these with burgundy and pink ribbons, which I suspect
will be difficult to open in time to be thrown at the lucky
couple when they climb into the horse-drawn getaway buggy that
the groom's mother insists is necessary (although Jenny says she
thinks Michael may have other plans). “I mean, Phil is about the
sweetest guy on the planet,” my optimistic sister continued.
“Other than the regular stuff we all go through, I can't imagine that
it's possible for you guys to have any real problems.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Okay, then what's going on, Elizabeth?”
“It's hard to explain,” I began. “But it's about those little
things, you know? Those things we all probably take for granted
but notice when they're missing. That's what got my attention at
first. Like the way he used to fix the coffee in the mornings just the
way I like it. Or the way we used to read the Sunday paper in bed
together. Now Phil gets up at the crack of dawn, laces up his running
shoes, and takes off, without even saying boo.”
Jeannette just laughed. “That doesn't sound like grounds for
divorce to me.”
So I decided to keep these disturbing thoughts and suspicions
to myself for a while. Maybe I was imagining things. But then,
especially during these past few weeks, I had become more concerned
than ever. Still, I told myself to simply bottle it up, pretend
everything is okay until this big wedding is over and done with. No
use in burdening others with my marital woes right now. Besides,
what kind of aunt does that to her favorite niece? Jenny deserves
better from me. So like the proverbial kettle that's about to boil, I've
been desperately trying to keep a lid on my pot. And that's probably
the reason I lost it last night. And it wasn't just about the shoes
and socks, either. Although the socks eventually did play the lead
role in our little fight, it was simply a last-straw sort of thing, symptomatic
of all the things that plague our relationship.
For starters, Phil has always been the worst sort of packer. I'm
sure that's only because he knows I will eventually step in and save
him, like I always do. But I'd decided to let him pack his own bags
for this trip. Maybe it was because I was concerned for the future
of our marriage and thought it was about time he got used to doing
this little chore on his own. Naturally, it never occurred to him to
pack a pair of black socks to go with his black suit. Of course, he
did pack hiking socks to go with his hiking boots, as well as several
pairs of short white cotton socks to go with his running shoes,
because it is his goal to jog around the lake every morning while
we're up here. He wouldn't want to get out of shape now, would
he? But did he remember that we're here to attend a wedding and
that he's expected to don a suit and tie for this event, complete with
black socks? Of course not. And as usual, he expected I'd bail him
out. That's what finally pushed me over the edge.
And that's also the reason I had to drive to town first thing this
morning, or so I told myself when I stormed out of there: I have
to find a place to purchase a pair of black dress socks. Trust me, that's
not easily accomplished in a little tourist town that caters primarily
to outdoor enthusiasts and people looking for a trinket to take
home to the kiddies. I found water socks and crew socks and hiking
socks and even skiing socks, although it's late June and not
exactly ski season, but it took three shops before I finally located a
pair of black socks. And even then they were the cheap kind that
show skin if you pull them too tightly and might even allow a toe
to pop through before the evening is over. Naturally they cost as
much or more than the good ones. But that's what I get for letting
Phil pack his own suitcase. Maybe it's a bit like packing your own
parachute.
Still, it was a good excuse to get away from him. So now I'm
sitting in this cute little coffee shop that also sells books, both new
and used, and I am enjoying a calorie-laden snack of a raisin scone
and a cup of café mocha—and not a skinny, either. Suddenly I'm
thinking maybe this is exactly what I need. I don't mean this little
coffee break, although that's welcome enough. But perhaps, after
my marriage falls completely apart just like it seems to be doing,
I'll sell my half of the decorating business to Carmen and invest
my share of the money in a little book-and-coffee shop in a small
tourist town, just like this. And I'll spend my days fixing specialty
coffees and reading good books—like the ones Oprah features in
her book club, those promising books I always bought with great
hopes, started with real enthusiasm, but never seemed to find the
time to finish.
I study the twenty-something woman behind the counter and
imagine that it's me. Oh, except for the pierced nose and magenta-
tinged hair—although I might consider rinsing my dark hair in
something more along the color of eggplant, if I really wanted to
feel wild and free. But I do wonder how it would feel to live in a
place that's totally unlike our suburban home in the hills next to
the city. I imagine what it would feel like to be completely on my
own—away from Phil. Maybe I would get a cat. Or maybe even
several cats. Phil has allergies that make pets unrealistic—that and
the fact we're not home very much during the daytime to take care
of them. His allergies also cause him to snore at night if he forgets
to take his little yellow decongestant pill. I try to imagine how it
would feel to sleep alone in my own bed without any snoring to
awaken me. This idea is surprisingly appealing to me. And I'm
slightly shocked at myself. Am I actually planning an end to our
marriage? Or perhaps it's already over, and I'm simply going to be
the last one to know.
Although it cuts deeply to think that this could really happen
to us, yet I know it happens to couples all the time, I decide to continue
playing this little what-if game. What if our marriage did
end? I wonder how we'd tell the kids our sad news. Of course,
they're grown now, with lives of their own; maybe it wouldn't matter
so much. And Conner's been talking about taking a job overseas,
and Patrick is consumed with his new job. They'd probably
get over it—in time. Okay, holidays might be tricky, but I assume
these things can be worked out. Other people manage.
I tell myself to stop these foolish imaginings, that nothing
good will come from it and that I should get back to the lake and
the ongoing wedding festivities, which will last late into the
evening. But this padded window-seat bench is begging me to stay
longer, and the girl with the magenta hair just put in a Norah Jones
CD, one that I haven't heard before. So I lean back into the cushions
and take a nice deep breath, followed by another. How often
I forget to really breathe.
Seriously, will anyone out at the lake really miss me for another
thirty minutes or so? I'm sure Phil is relieved that I'm gone.
Besides, the first actual activity on the wedding day schedule isn't
until 12:30. It was supposed to be an “intimate” luncheon (only
“close family and friends”) to be served lakeside. But according to
Jeannette, “It's really just an excuse for a schmoozy affair that's
being hosted by the in-laws-to-be.” She knows they've invited
some “important” people, wealthy people who are potential clients
for their son, and my poor sister is terrified that she will embarrass
Jenny in front of them. So she made me promise to come and
make a “good impression.”
“I don't see what difference my presence will make to anyone,”
I told her last week.
“But you're so much more polished than I am,” she said. “And
you're good with people. And you can talk about your design studio
and even drop names if you need to.”
I laughed. “You must really be desperate, Jeannette.”
Naturally, I promised to be there. I can't see how that will make
her look any better, but these are the kinds of requests a good sister
doesn't question at times like this. I glance at my watch. By my calculations, Phil should've finished his jog around the lake an hour
ago, and he's had enough time to cool down and take his shower
as well. If I'm lucky, I might even get the room to myself for a bit.
Just long enough to get my bearings and brace myself for the day
ahead. I have a feeling it'll be a long one.
So I force myself to leave this sweet little bookish oasis, and I
slowly drive back to the inn. I love this winding road that climbs
up toward the mountainside lake. I've got all the windows down
as I breathe in the fresh smell of pines warmed by sunshine. As I
drive, I go back to my what-if game. If my marriage really does fall
apart and if I quit the design business, perhaps I can get a different
car, something small and sporty. Maybe a convertible or at least
something with a sunroof. I won't need this bulky SUV when I
start running my little coffee-and-book shop. Maybe I'll get an
older European car. Maybe even a Jaguar, if it's never been smoked
in. Most of the Jaguars I see are driven by older people, who all
seem to be smokers. I'm not sure why that is or why it bothers me
that it is. Maybe I'll settle for a BMW, a classic that's in mint condition,
the style with the boxy body design, and with leather that's
nicely broken in. I can see myself driving something like that. Phil
would give me his old line: “Cars like that are the owners' nightmares
and the mechanics' dreams come true.” But if my marriage
was over and I was forced to live on my own, well, I'd learn not to
worry about such things. I would learn to simply live and let live.
Now if only I can make it through this day.
At GoodNews Christian Bookstore, we have possibly the lowest prices anywhere! Discount on books and bibles is 25%. Checkout our church supplies page! We are cheaper than Lifeway and Family Christian. Shop with confidence! Blessings, Bill |
Item Specifications...
Pages 336
Dimensions: Length: 8.1" Width: 5.92" Height: 0.88"
Weight: 0.67 lbs.
Binding Softcover
Release Date Feb 21, 2006
Publisher WaterBrook Press
ISBN 1578568412
EAN 9781578568413
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Availability 3 units.
Availability accurate as of May 26, 2012 06:03.
Usually ships within one to two business days from La Vergne, TN.
Orders shipping to an address other than a confirmed Credit Card / Paypal Billing address may incur and additional processing delay.
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Reviews - What do our customers think?
 | A Fly On the Wall Apr 30, 2008 |
| I enjoyed reading from the perspective of each character - ladies connected to the bride one way or another. Each woman is going through a different phase in life. You have the aunt of the bride, the grandmother of the bride, a friend of the family's, the bride's best friend, and the bride's soon-to-be sister-in-law. All have their "angst" that day. It shows how weddings bring out the stress in people, particularly with this one being a "grand" event with the fussy mother-of-the-groom being an "everything in life must be perfect" kind of woman. I felt privy to the day's events - like a fly on the wall. | | |  | Disappointingly Average Jan 1, 2008 |
At their best, Melody Carlson's stories are crisply written and filled with the kind of realistic, mind-grabbing plots that force readers to keep reading just one more page. Unfortunately, this "quieter" story by Carlson is the opposite of the above description. "On This Day" chronicles the intertwined stories of five seemingly unconnected women who attend a lavish wedding while struggling to come to terms with their separate issues. Aunt of the bride Elizabeth feels certain that her marriage is quietly crumbling, grandmother Margaret confronts her mortality, bridesmaid Ingrid questions the wisdom of her engagement, sister-in-law Laura struggles with feelings of inadequacy in the face of her husband's wealthy family, and family acquaintance Suzette hides fury over her husband's affair behind an impeccable appearance.
While each of their stories began promisingly, and were potentially the sort of situations that could easily have crafted into compelling reading, somehow each fell flat. One glaring problem, especially as the novel continued, was the amount of repetition. Each woman's problem was discussed so thoroughly and continuously that I often felt like skipping a few pages to get to a part where something fresh happened. Yes, I know that these detailed revelations were meant to draw the reader deeply into each woman's mind, but in this case, the tactic failed too often. Furthermore, these separate yet connected stories often slowly wound their way toward a sadly weak conclusion. Suzette had a snobbish, dramatic nature that could have made her one the most interesting characters, but her storyline fizzled out in a hasty way that seemed almost purposeless. Elizabeth's worries at first evoked sympathy, yet after being so "built up" but ultimately so tidily resolved, they seemed slightly silly. Ingrid's story had satisfying twists and in general, a resolution that would satisfy most readers. Laura's honesty was refreshing throughout "On this Day," although her story suffered some of the same "tidy resolution" problem that Elizabeth's had. As for Margaret, her quiet, sweet wisdom made her a loveable character (and one had to enjoy the small surprise she received at the end of the wedding day).
"On This Day" just doesn't come together as a truly engaging novel. The premise of strikingly different characters thrown together for a single day was intriguing, but was not fully developed, and while flashes of Carlson's best writing occasionally emerged, she failed to craft the kind of captivating plotlines that made previous "Finding Alice" and "Looking For Cassandra Jane" the kind of books that I carried with me until I finished them. Solidly average and unfortunately forgettable, I can only give "On This Day" 2.5 stars. | | | | A good book! May 10, 2006 |
Melody Carlson's latest novel tells the story of one young couple's wedding day from the perspectives of five women at different stages of their own marriages.
From a young woman newly engaged, to a grandmother recently widowed after almost 50 years of marriage, Carlson craftily weaves together the five women's stories over the course of the wedding day as the women meet, interact, and share their life experiences.
On This Day is a lovely story that is all at once interesting, touching, insightful and thought-provoking. Readers will find themselves easily engaged by Carlson's characters and hoping for a happy ending.
Melody Carlson is a freelance writer and the author of many works of fiction, including Finding Alice and Crystal Lies.
Armchair Interviews says: The perfect summer read.
| | |  | With gentle surprises, a very satisfying read Mar 29, 2006 |
What would happen if you were able to follow five unrelated women around for a day as they attend a grand, expensive wedding at a remote mountain lake resort? Well, if you were Melody Carlson you would write a delightful book about it called On This Day, which completely immerses the reader into the thoughts and feelings of each woman.
Elizabeth's beloved niece, Jenny, is getting married, and she is determined that nothing will spoil Jenny's day. Elizabeth's worries that her own marriage is falling apart and that her husband is having an affair, but confronting him today of all days is definitely out. When Elizabeth is assigned the task of making sure high maintenance Suzette Burke doesn't cause a scene during any of the festivities, she is forced to hear about Suzette's marital problems. Suzette has just discovered her husband is having a fling with his secretary, and she isn't about to let the floozy have him without a fight.
The maid of honor, Ingrid, is having serious doubts about her own upcoming marriage to her fiancé, especially when she sees Jenny's handsome cousin, Patrick, for the first time in two years. Sister-in-law to the groom, Laura, has just had her first baby and is having her own issues, what with rushing upstairs to feed her baby, leaking breast milk all over her new dress during the luncheon, and worrying that she's underdressed and outclassed at this overly fancy wedding.
Margaret is the grandmother of the bride, and she worries that she is just in the way. She's already had one heart attack, and her doctor has warned her she doesn't have much time left unless she has heart surgery. However, she doesn't want to have the surgery. Her husband is already gone, "So," she wonders, "why would I prolong my reunion in heaven with my beloved Calvin?"
This book delivers a few gentle surprises at the end, which makes it a satisfying read. - Melanie Dickerson, Christian Book Previews.com
| | | | A fun, enjoyable read that will appeal to women of all ages Mar 2, 2006 |
The adept and talented Melody Carlson (FINDING ALICE, CRYSTAL LIES, HOMEWARD) turns her pen to this contemporary romance about the multi-generational struggles of women that coalesce at a destination wedding in ON THIS DAY.
The point of view of each chapter rotates among several interesting women of varying ages and stages in life. Laura Fairbanks is a frumpy schoolteacher and brand new mom who married the groom's brother David three years ago and has found she doesn't fit into her in-laws' high-powered, wealthy world. Rife with insecurities, the elaborate wedding for David's brother Michael makes her question her own simple lifestyle choices. Elizabeth Anderson is the middle-aged aunt of the bride who is bitter toward her handsome husband Phil because she believes he is interested in a young, attractive divorcee. Women will identify with her frustrations over getting older while wishing she'd just stop complaining long enough to give her husband a chance to explain (which would ruin the tension, of course, so never mind).
The hard-drinking Suzette Burke, middle-aged wife of the groom's boss, is there to keep up appearances and cast a watchful eye on her husband Jim's romance with his secretary. Ingrid Campbell is the cute maid of honor who, caught up in Jennifer Simpson's wedding plans, has gotten engaged. Now, eying one of the handsome groomsmen, she questions her impulse. Readers will love bride Jennifer's grandmother, Margaret Simpson, whose own nearly 60-year-old marriage ended with her husband's death a year previous. Her sweetness, wisdom and vulnerability will help the other women as they sort through their various issues.
It takes a few chapters to get the hang of the novel and fix each character firmly in mind. That said, the joy of this book is Carlson's smooth switches back and forth from various distinctive points of view, and her ability to keep each character from turning into a caricature. Suzette has our sympathy because of her philandering husband, but we shake our head over her own grasping, selfish ways and embarrassing drunken episodes. Ingrid comes across as young and uncertain, but trying to figure out the right thing to do. We want Laura to stop whining, but any woman whose ever had a baby will reluctantly remember how it felt to be postpartum, complete with leaky breasts.
Although the wise sage Margaret's generosity and willingness to share her own imperfect life story changes the lives of some of the other women, she still has her own battle with hopelessness that isn't resolved until the very last pages. This makes for some nice plot tension. Of all the characters, perhaps Elizabeth deserves the least sympathy and the most impatience. (Just talk to your husband, Elizabeth! Puh-leeze!)
The choice of a wedding setting is perfect, since what woman doesn't re-evaluate her marriage or dating relationship when attending another woman's Big Event? As Margaret says, "I suppose weddings do that to us, make us remember when we were young brides." The faith touches are extraordinarily light and fit seamlessly into the text. Carlson also throws in a few nice twists that will catch the reader by surprise, and doesn't feel that she has to tie up the loose ends for every character. This is a fun, enjoyable read that should appeal to women of all ages.
--- Reviewed by Cindy Crosby. Contact Cindy at [...]. | | | Write your own review about On This Day
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