Searching for Paradise in Parker, PA

With her young son off in college, Addy Lipton is suffering from the almost thirty year itch. Luckily the 30 year itch doesn't require one to buy a sports car or meet dashing silver haired gentlemen in divy bars. But it does force one take a good hard look at their life and wonder "What the Hell Happened?" and "Is this what I want for my life?"

Back of Book:
After twenty-eight years of marriage to her husband Lucky, Addy Lipton feels anything but happily married. In fact, just thinking of their garage, filled to the brim with Lucky's useless junk collection, drives Addy dangerously close to plowing her car through it. But when Lucky wins a trip to paradise--aka Costa Rica--Addy has a faint hope they may be able to turn things around. Or maybe they won't. Either way, Addy never gets the chance to find out.  On the morning of their departure, Lucky fractures his back tossing their luggage into his truck. Now, with the man she feels she barely knows anymore parked indefinitely on her couch, Addy can't see their already shaky relationship surviving much longer. It's time to make some big changes--and some drastic choices.  

My Thoughts:
I've certainly been in Addy's shoes. You're in a relationship for a longtime. Certain small little things start to bug you. The oil stain on the driveway. If only that oil stain on the driveway wasn't there. If your spouse loved you, they'd get rid of that oil stain. Pretty soon you're awake in the middle of the night, imaging all the ways you could get rid of that oil stain. Then resentful...Doesn't he understand? Why doesn't he do something about that oil stain. He's not getting rid of that oil stain, he must not love you. Then suddenly you're on a beach in Mexico chatting up the Lothario in the pool bar and wondering how the hell you got divorced after years of marriage.

Well not exactly but you get my meaning. Poor Addy knows she's not happy. She just not sure what to do about it. between fixating on her husband's flaws and imaging driving the car through the bane of her existence (the garage) she doesn't really take the time to figure it out until she reaches her breaking point. Searching for Paradise in Parker, PA ia a novel of discovery, her to found yourself...after marriage, after kids, after career. To re-discover what it means to be person in your own right. 


Well I enjoyed the basic premise, I felt much of the novel simply being sad for the poor husband. He is basically at heart a good guy who has little idea he's done anything wrong and he basically get railroaded the entire book. All I could think the entire time- "Why did they just not talk to each other?" 


People who've been in a marriage for a long-time will certainly be able to relate to Addy plight. Those who haven't been lucky enough to find the spouse of their dreams will probably simply want to slap her upside the head.