R.J.
King’s second book is a companion to The Wheeler Sign. In
this powerful, moving family drama, King writes about every man,
every woman, and the everyday struggle and pain of life. Are the
seeds of destruction already sown in us or are we merely the
straw in the winds of life’s fortunes? King’s restrained and
powerful style guides the reader through a compelling and
complex interweaving of several narratives, clearly delineated,
but connected through the main character.
John
Davis’ family and friends are starting to pressure him into
'finding someone.’ On a blind date, he meets Melissa Reid. They
start seeing each other and gradually form a relationship, which
culminates in a bohemian marriage, an overseas trip, two
children, house and car. They are both professional, modern
parents, and they are considered to be well-suited. But this
harmonious existence is gradually and insidiously eroded from
within. As power struggles and vicious arguments develop, John
and Melissa struggle to retain the harmony through counseling
and intellectualization. But they talk the relationship into
further implosion, and the tension mounts. Finally, the
inevitable happens and they separate. John Davis threatens to
disintegrate, but instead he finds relief and a surprising
outcome.
