Beautiful character studies, if you're into that kind of thing

We meet this perfectly ordinary family, whose members are all likable, busy, and warm but with some secrets and regrets rattling around in their midst--when the family's three siblings discover a body in a field on their walk home from school. Together they spot a savagely stabbed boy bleeding to death, but they get help and save the boy's life. The remainder of the novel is how this traumatizing experience influences the siblings' behaviors. The oldest boy becomes obsessed with finding out who the attempted killer is. The 16-year-old middle child, the only girl, becomes obsessed with seducing a young adult man she meets in the city. And the youngest child, the only one who is adopted, becomes interested in finding his biological mother. Within and around the children, their parents grapple with their own problems, unaware of how much the children know about what is really going on. I loved the children, especially artistic Duncan and his ESP relationship with his dog, Lilly. Unfortunately, there were many portions of the book that felt like they dragged a bit, simple descriptions of human interactions that I knew were revealing character, but were not necessarily moving the action forward. Still, overall this is a fine novel with a poignant ending that speaks to the longterm effects of severe trauma; my close-up time with this family will stick with me.

Comments

  1. DiwakarJanuary 6, 2021 at 11:13 PM

    Hello Lanette. I am a Pastor from Mumbai India. I am glad to stop by your profile on the blogger and the blog post. I am also blessed and feel privileged and honoured to get connected with you as well as know you and about your interest loving. Your post on the novel depecting the story of three siblings and effect on them of a body that they found out in the field. Seems to be interesting. I love getting connected with the people of God around the globe to be encouraged strengthened and praying for one another. I have been in the Pastoral ministry for last 41 yrs in this great city of Mumbai a city with a great contrast where richest of rich and the poorest of poor live.we reach out to the poorest of poor with the love of Christ to bring healing to the brokenhearted. We also encourage young and the adults from the west to come to Mumbai to work with us during their vacation iime, We would love to have young people from your family and friends circle to come to MUMABI to work with us during their vacation time. I am sure they will have a life changing experience. Looking forward to hear from you very soon. God's richest blessings on you your family and friends also wishing you and your family a blessed and a Christ centered New year. My email id is:dhwankhede(at0gmail(dot)com and my name is Diwakar Wankhede

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