Crossed Wires

When I first read the description of this book, it sounded very much like a girl meets boy and they fall in love sort of book, albeit through the modern convenience of telephones. Not that I have any problem with girl meets boy and they fall in love. I read quite a few books where this is indeed the basic plot. But this is only the plot here in the very strictest of senses. What Thornton has done instead, is to write a lovely, delightful novel focused more on the journey than on the presumed outcome. And that was a happy surprise.

Mina is a single mom who works at a insurance company's call center. Her younger sister, who is still a teenager, lives with her since their mother move out and in with her boyfriend several years ago. Mina's show more daughter is an avid bookworm who is struggling with her peers. They are all sort of treading water in their own lives and while Mina is trying to be the best mother and sister she can be, she is a bit overwhelmed.

Peter is a widowed Cambridge geography professor with two young daughters. He has a pretty good, strong network of friends but he's still lonely and as the only parent, a bit at a loss when it comes to shepherding his twins through some of the inevitabilities of childhood.

When Peter crashes his car into a tree stump, Mina is the one who fields his insurance call. For each of them, there's something different about the person on the other end of the telephone and when Peter has a second accident, he specifically asks for Mina to handle his claim. She copies down his number and follows up his call center call with a call of her own. And a warm, supportive telephone friendship springs up. They use each other as sounding boards for whatever is going on with their children, with Mina's sister, and so much more. Their conversations offer them a sense of belonging, the chance to help and be helped, and to add a bit of spark to someone elses' day. Could they, after all they share, be just what each needs in life?

I expected the phone relationship to be a much smaller part of the story than it is. Peter and mina's relationship is unhurried, mature, and wide-ranging. And while it doesn't always go smoothly, it is a deeply felt, well-imagined, truthful relationship like we should all have with the dear friends and loved ones in our lives. Thornton has created two characters who are as human as characters can be. They are comfortable and easy and the sorts of people I'd love as friends. And once I realized that this was not a novel in a rush to have the characters meet and become a couple, I abandoned myself to the slow and pleasing pace.

The plot ambles along, drawing the reader in as both the everyday and the out of the ordinary punctuate Peter and Mina's lives. There is just enough conflict to keep the novel from becoming too treacly but still stay true to the characters as they are drawn. The final climax is well-timed and leaves the reader fairly certain of and contented by the knowledge of what happens after the last page is turned.

Crossed Wires is original and charming, well-written and captivating, deeply-felt and sincere. The echoes of the numbers one and two, both in Peter and Mina's single-parenthood but also in the people of Mina's daughter and Peter's twins, resonate and challenge the reader to consider notions paired and alone. I thoroughly enjoyed all of it and will definitely be searching out more of Ms. Thornton's work in hopes of capturing the magic she's offered in this novel. show less

Reading Rosy Thornton's Crossed Wires was a little like finding a hundred-dollar bill on the ground: totally unexpected and awesome! I wasn't sure what to expect from this one, but I couldn't be more pleasantly surprised.

So here we meet Mina, auto insurance call center rep and single mother to Sal; and Peter, Cambridge professor and widowed father to twins Kim and Cassie. They live in entirely different worlds, and parts of England, but after a few silly collisions in Peter's Land Rover -- and the subsequent calls to Mina at the insurance company -- the two are brought swiftly into each other's lives.

This story is described as an "old-fashioned fairytale" -- and, like in many great stories, we wonder if our two characters will ever show more meet. Peter and Mina are living out their own stories with friends and family, and we meet many well-drawn, interesting characters: Jess, Mina's wayward baby sister; Jeremy and Martin, Peter's good friends; Trish, a grad student who watches the twins for Peter -- and serves as his personal assistant, at points; Mina's mum and Dave, her boyfriend.

As Peter is still trying to find the balance between being a single father following the death of his wife Bev, Mina is grappling with Sal's reticence and disinterest in anything other than her favorite books. Our romantic leads chat comfortably first about Peter's car, and later about everything else -- a phone relationship, of sorts, begins after Mina calls Peter at home. After their girls are all in bed, their Sunday night chats become a ritual . . . but chatting is as far as it goes. Until fate suddenly brings Peter to Mina.

I really, really loved this book -- the push-and-pull of wondering how the story will play out; if Mina and Peter will ever stand before one another, face-to-face; the realistic, heart-wrenching descriptions of parenthood, friendship and sisterhood. I really related to Mina and Sal, and felt very close to them . . . and I adored the twins and their frantic, close relationship. Thornton deftly draws each character and fashions them into people we feel like we really know, or that we could sit beside in a coffeeshop (should I find myself in England!).

I will say that as an American, I struggled with many of the British references and jargon -- calling dinner "tea," a flashlight being a "torch," etc. Though I'm an Anglophile beyond a doubt and could clearly hear the cadence of each character's vocal patterns, it was still a little jarring and hard to focus sometimes one what was going on. I almost felt like I was reading a foreign language! But that was part of the fun. Mid-way through the story, I'd gotten the hang of it . . . and can probably imitate some of sayings now!

Overall, a really great, fun and moving novel -- and not just light and fluffy fare. After finishing it, I feel like I've really been on an emotional journey with Mina and Peter . . . and I love where Thornton leaves us. Great read! show less

Synopsis on the jacket of the book:

"This is the story of Mina, a girl at a Sheffield call centre, whose next customer in the queue is Peter, a Cambridge geography don, who has crashed his car into a tree stumo when swerving to avoid a cat.

Despite their obvious differences, they've got a lot in common - both single, both parents, both looking for love. Could it be that they've just found it?

Crossed Wires is an old-fashioned fairy tale. It is about the small joys and tribulations of parenthood; about one-ness and two-ness; about symmetry and coincidence; about the things that separate us and the things that bring us together."

I really enjoyed this novel. Peter and especially Mina, are very well drawn and believable characters. Although a show more lot of the book is about the problems they face in bringing up their respective children, many of the issues are ones which we can all identify with, parents or not.

All of the supporting cast of characters - from Peter's friends Jeremy, Martin and Trish, to Mina's mom, stepdad and sister are brought effectively to life, and I found myself really starting to care about them.

The reader gets to see far more of Peter and Mina's respective lives than they do of each other, and therefore when misunderstandings arise between the two of them, the reader is able to see the truth behind certain events before the characters do. I found myself rooting for both Mina and Peter, and groaning when things went awry.

The book is very well written, and is both an intelligent novel and a real page turner. I am definitely going to be looking out for more by this author! show less

Crossed Wires is a light romance that isn’t quite chick lit. It has a lot of what I want in chick lit and none of what annoys me. It’s easy to read and has a straightforward plot that you pretty much know is going to end well. It has characters who would obviously be good for each other if they could just find a way to get together. There’s just enough dramatic tension to keep you reading and wondering what’s going to happen. It’s a lovely comfort read. There are perhaps not as many laughs as I’d expect when reading chick lit, but there are plenty of smiles—and frankly, I’d rather the characters keep their dignity than become slapsticky messes just to elicit a laugh.

Thornton manages to entertain while avoiding the show more familiar, obnoxious tropes of so much chick lit. The leading characters are not overly neurotic, although they do have problems and worries. When they go into crisis mode, they have a good reason to. The main characters, Mina and Peter, are depicted as equals—not in social status but certainly in desire for a partner. And they get roughly the same amount of “page time,” which keeps this from being a book about the needy woman finding her prince (or “earning” her prince by finding herself or some such nonsense). Peter and Mina’s friends and family members feel like authentic people with inner lives of their own. I liked them.

So what’s the story? Well, it begins with Peter, a Cambridge geography professor, calling his insurance company to file a claim for a car accident in which he hit the stump of a tree while swerving to avoid the neighbors’ cat. Mina takes the call. She appreciates his self-deprecating sense of humor, even if his jokes aren’t very good. He appreciates her reassuring tone, so much so that when he gets into another accident not long after, he asks for her when filing his claim. Before long, they’re exchanging calls regularly—a ritual that gives them each a brief respite from the stresses of their daily lives that comprise most of the book. They commiserate about being single parents and share what’s going on, never talking about what’s happening between them and where these conversations might lead. There are other threads involving Peter and Mina’s friends and family that explore the connections we make and the ones we sever, whether we choose to travel as ones or twos or threes or in a pack. And it’s all very well done.

See my complete review at my blog. show less

Mina, a single mother, lives in Sheffield and works at an auto call center processing insurance information. One ordinary day she gets a call from Peter Kendrick, a Cambridge professor, who needs to report an auto accident…and something happens during the call – a connection is made. Soft spoken Peter, who laughs self-consciously, draws Mina to him in a way she cannot explain. When she later snoops into his policy and discovers he is a widower, she finds an excuse to contact him at his home after work hours. As Peter and Mina tentatively reach out to each other they discover that despite their obvious differences (not the least is where they reside), they have much more in common…most importantly that they are both parents show more struggling to raise their children alone.

Crossed Wires is a delightful and charming novel which caught me up in its pages very quickly. Although the story is a simple one (two people meet accidentally and develop a relationship which starts initially over the phone wires), there is a deeper meaning which radiates from the book…that of biases and expectations impacting our impressions of others. Not only do Mina and Peter develop impressions (sight unseen) of each other which lead to some misunderstandings, but other characters also fall victim to bias and prejudice. There is a poor Irish couple referred to as “travelers” (ie: gypsies) who find it difficult to settle into Cambridge with their family because of the ignorance of their neighbors; and Mina’s ten year old daughter Sal is isolated because she is different from other children. Mina’s wayward sister is quickly judged by her family when her behavior is misinterpreted. This unexpected theme elevated this novel past a simple romantic comedy. Who among us has never been misunderstood or judged because of another’s ignorance, prejudice, or bias? How many times have relationships broken down because expectations overshadowed reality?

Crossed Wires is a character driven novel about ordinary people living their lives and muddling through; it is about connections with others and how those connections can unravel through mishaps and misunderstandings; and it is about finding someone special to share one’s life with.

Rosy Thornton has an easy style of writing and a clear understanding of not only her protagonists, but her minor characters as well. She clearly understands children – and the child characters are not only well-observed, but also lovable. The novel is set in England…and the language of the novel is very British. Given that I reside in the United States, I must admit to some difficulty understanding the descriptions of certain things…and the choice of words for various foods and activities. Despite my ignorance of British vocabulary, I still was able to easily slip into the story of Mina and Peter and enjoy this book. This is a comfort read on many levels – Thornton’s family scenes of parent and child are warm and genuine, and I could imagine the lives being lived behind the doors of the characters’ homes. The story is heartwarming and funny, and although the ending was a bit predictable, it struck just the right note for me.

For those readers looking for a light, yet engaging read, Crossed Wires is one that will satisfy. Thorton has written two previous novels (More Than Love Letters, and Hearts and Minds), both of which I would not hesitate to pick up.

Recommended.

http://www.caribousmom.com/2009/11/23/crossed-wires-book-review/ show less

Crossed Wires is the story of Mina, a woman who works in a car insurance call centre. She lives in Sheffield with her daughter, Sal, and her 17-year-old sister, Jess. The novel’s other main character is Peter, a geography professor in Cambridge, who has twin daughters, Cassie and Kim. Mina and Peter “meet” over the phone after Peter crashes his car into a tree stump, and the novel is told from their alternating points of view. This is a sweet (but never sappy) story that addresses several serious themes (loss, prejudice, and the trials and tribulations of single parenthood, among others) with a light and funny touch.

For plot-related reasons, Thornton doesn’t initially describe her characters physically (at least not in detail), show more but she’s great at providing those quirky little details that make you feel like you really know them. For example, here’s how we’re introduced to Mina’s mum: “She always used too much detergent and never rinsed, comfortable in the belief that soap was clean and that swallowing quantities of it could therefore not be bad for you. The convictions of her generation came from before they’d invented the environment . . .” (p. 13). And here’s a great detail about Peter: “Peter moved behind Jeremy, careful not to obstruct his soft northerly light, and watched the bold, black strokes appearing. He himself would have hated to be watched—even playing Pictionary gave him stage fright—but Jeremy never seemed to mind” (p. 67). (I particularly love this detail about Peter because I can completely relate—Pictionary gives me stage fright too!) The only character I felt I didn’t get to know well enough was Jess, Mina’s younger sister, and perhaps for that reason the resolution to her story seemed a bit too quick and tidy in the end, but this is a minor quibble.

Although the cover to this book makes it look like fluff, don’t let that fool you. I highly recommend this wise and funny novel.

A slightly different version of this review can be found on my blog, she reads and reads. show less

‘Crossed Wires’ is a light and gentle character-based story featuring two main people. Mina, who’s in her twenties, works in an auto insurance call centre in Sheffield. Peter, who’s around forty, is a lecturer in Cambridge. Both are single parents - Mina to a shy ten-year-old bookworm called Sal; Peter to identical nine-year-old twins called Kim and Cassie. But that’s about all they have in common until they 'meet' by phone...

The story is told alternately from Mina’s and Peter’s points of view, charting their lives as they struggle with day-to-day problems. I found most of the characters likeable, even if one or two were a bit caricatured. I thought the three girls were well-drawn and believable, and enjoyed their show more interactions with their parents and others.

It's a gentle book, but there’s some drama in the middle of the book, and various crises; I found it quite hard to put down during the latter half. I felt that one or two threads weren’t really resolved at the end even though the conclusion is hopeful and mostly satisfying.

Recommended if you want a pleasant, undemanding read. show less