Review: Short stories about repeating mistakes
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 27, 2013
Second Chance Sister contains two short stories dealing with the flaws of two very different people.Ashley is a young woman who was provided opportunities her parents didn't have. but due to her mother's shielding her from several truths she is a little naive and idealistic. She breaks off her engagement to one man for another, and it turns out the man she married is selfish, greedy, and uncaring for her feelings. What's worse, Ashley feels trapped because she spurned her mother to marry him.The second story is about a man named Peyton, who is a far less sympathetic character than Ashley. He reminded me of Ashley's husband in a few ways. He meets several women through dating sites who are all strange or damaged in some way. Peyton is unable to figure out why he keeps getting involved with such people, and at the end of the story a surprising character reveals the source of his problems.Prevalent themes include various human shortcomings, and the cyclical nature of repeating mistakes (within one's life or across generations). The writing was generally good; stylistically it didn't amaze me but it was engaging enough. A lot of the character's nature is shown to us through their actions rather than just talked about. It's a quick read, and shouldn't take more than an afternoon to read through for slower readers. It's not very subtle; you'll be able to get the message without much reflection. The straightforwardness of the message might be a good thing to some people. If you like literature with a focus on relationships, Second Chance Sister might be a good fit for you.