"Wreck" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider

Sometimes a new book awakens our interest in an author’s earlier works, especially when the characters remain the same. This happened to me with the recently published novel, “Wreck,” by Catherine Newman. The newbie’s protagonist, middle-aged Rocky, narrates “Wreck” and also is the voice of Newman’s previous, companion novel “Sandwich” (2024) now available in paperback.

I remain surprised that “Sandwich” slipped past me. I nearly missed the chance to get to know Rocky, a down-home nice, quirky and personable, Massachusetts gal facing menopause, a member of the sandwich generation trying to raise teenagers and care for elderly parents, a female in a happy marriage to Nick, who doesn’t quite “get” her all the time.

“Sandwich” is an easy read, a slim novel many will identify with. The story is especially poignant as Rocky waxes eloquent on the family’s vacation in Cape Cod, remembering her teenagers as little ones at the beach with pails and shovels. Rocky pines for old times just like so many of us do.

“Wreck” is a continuation of Rocky’s ups and downs in her day-to-day-life, as she grieves the loss of her mother, adjusts to having her father living with them, and learns to let go of her young adult offspring, Jamie, a son who works in New York, and Willa, a gay daughter living at home after college.

Rocky faces major issues too, unexpected surprises that throw her off course. The sudden death of Miles Zapf, a young man her kids knew from school, forces her to face the uncertainty and lack of control any of us have to skate through life undeterred.

In a blink of an eye, Miles is gone. Was his death an accident or did Miles drive onto the tracks to commit suicide? When the tragedy hits close to home, Jamie must make a decision, and Rocky must allow her son to do so without interference.

Later in the book, a health crises occurs that puts Rocky and Nick in a tailspin.

“Life is a near-death experience. And death is a real-life one,” Rocky says. “There is only this, now. One day, will we look back and think: wow that was a hard year? Will we be damaged and scarred, but okay? Or will we think: That was when things first started to get bad? There’s no telling. Only this—loving each other like there’s plenty of room on the life raft…”

“Sandwich” and “Wreck” both impacted me, left me mulling the passage of time, the acceptance of what is, the trap-door of aging, and the calls that start, “Did you hear about…”  

These two simple, wise books gently bring reality and life’s uncertainty into light using the voice of Rocky, a protagonist who grows to feel like a trusted friend.

Buy the book.