A novel that is filled with, and powered by, a winning blend of pathos and humor ... Newman tempers her bouts of darkness with frequent bursts of light in the form of Rocky’s dry or sparkling wit ... This steady strain of comedy is necessary as it animates passages that could otherwise have been dull ... A captivating protagonist ... [A] bittersweet gem of a book.
Just like Sandwich,Wreck is really about having some excellent hang time with these amiable people ... It’s a wise book, in addition to being a funny one.
So, much of the family is still sandwiched together, a perfect setup for Newman to show off her witty insights on, among other subjects, generational differences ... Many hilarious moments ... Rocky in Wreck continues to do what Newman is great at: capturing the messy domestic life of the organic peanut butter set. She presents their feelings and concerns with spiky insight ... What doesn’t shine brightly in Wreck is the setting ... An emotionally packed reminder that much of our lives is spent with spouse, kids and parents.
Even funnier, yet also more earnest in its explorations of life's fundamental impermanence ... Newman's novel is animated more by wit, warmth, and worry than by plot ... One of Newman's strengths as a writer is her ability to evoke widely shared predicaments with fresh images ... Newman can veer sentimental, but she mostly pulls off another mix of irreverent quips and heartfelt reverence.
[A] likable, readily-recognizable family ... Wreck’s life-affirming conclusion will leave readers grateful for this helping of Rocky’s gentle wisdom and, almost certainly, hungry for more.
