Wayward

Synopsis: Samantha Raymond has reached her tipping point. Life just isn’t making sense anymore! Her mother is ill, but also not sharing much with Sam about it which amplifies Sam’s anxiety. Her teenage daughter is becoming more and more remote, and her part time work as a guide at the home of the fictional 19th century feminist Clara Loomis is not the source of joy she would like for it to be. Her response to her midlife feminine rage is an impulsive purchase of a run down home in an inner city neighborhood of Syracuse. She moves out of the comfortable suburban family home and tries to figure herself out.

Review: Dana Spiotta wastes no time cutting to the heart of what it is to be 50-ish woman in today’s world. Somewhat invisible, unneeded by both your children and your parents (at least for now), sweaty and sleepless. I know that many readers did not care for Sam as a heroine. She does at times seem to be overthinking things and ungrateful for the many great things she DOES have in her life. However, what I did like is that she had enough insight to recognize her own bourgeois privilege! A second narrative thread is told from the perspective of her teenage daughter Ally. We see Sam as her daughter sees her: a controlling, obsessive helicopter parent. The run down house, unappreciated and in need of renovation was a bit obvious as a metaphor for the struggles of menopause, but it worked for me.

Rating: 4/5

Recipe: I’d never heard the term “spiedie” until introduced to this by my friend Mary Ellen. She is a Binghamton NY native, and a spiedie is a marinated kabob of meat that gets grilled and served on a sub roll, or piece of soft white bread. The word derives from the Italian spiedo, meaning spit. The regional dish of spiedini in Abbruzzo, Italy most closely resembles this. This originated in Binghamton, but was made famous at the New York State Fair in Syracuse. In Wayward, a pivotal scene occurs at the State Fair where Sam sees her daughter, from whom she is now estranged, and naturally I thought, “I wonder what they’re eating?” Let’s face it, eating is why we go to the fair! In my area, you can buy a bottled marinade that is actually titled State Fair Spiedie Sauce, but why not make your own?

1 cup canola oil

1/4 cup white vinegar

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

1 clove garlic, chopped

1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil

1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1/2 teaspoon dried parsley

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

2 bay leaves

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1) combine all ingredients

2) makes enough marinade for about 2 pounds of beef, chicken or whatever you like

3) thread on skewers and grill.