Helpful Score: 6
Wow, can you imagine the shock of coming home after years abroad to find that your parents are dead, your sisters dont know who you are, and theres a tombstone next to your parents with your name on it declaring that you had died at age 3. It would be enough to send you screaming into the night with the guys in white coats chasing you.
When I first read the book blurb, I thought okay, he probably had a twin brother or something. Well, as you travel down the road in search of the something you will not be able to lay this book down. I found myself picking up this book while in the kitchen cooking (well actually waiting for water to boil). Any free moment, I grabbed it as I had to know what happened next.
At first I was a bit discombobulated as each chapter told the story from Justins point of view, both as a 3 year old and as an adult, and from his parents point of view. (Sadly, Im one of those people who tend not to read the chapter heading; I just want to jump right in. Once, I realized I really needed to do that, it was so much more enjoyable.)
As the horror that was Justins young life begins to unfold, you just want to take that poor innocent child and hug him tight. Oh, and I cant even express what Id do to the sorry as*** that were responsible for his plight cause that would ruin the whole story.
Dixon has such a marvelous voice that made me forget that I was reading a story; I felt the pain and confusion right along with the characters. This is truly an amazing story within a story; it will not let you go. I hope to see many more books by this debut author. This one was a grand slam!
There is a readers guide included, which makes this an awesome book for book club discussions. It will definitely get you into some incredible conversations on family dynamics and the complexity of family secrets.
When I first read the book blurb, I thought okay, he probably had a twin brother or something. Well, as you travel down the road in search of the something you will not be able to lay this book down. I found myself picking up this book while in the kitchen cooking (well actually waiting for water to boil). Any free moment, I grabbed it as I had to know what happened next.
At first I was a bit discombobulated as each chapter told the story from Justins point of view, both as a 3 year old and as an adult, and from his parents point of view. (Sadly, Im one of those people who tend not to read the chapter heading; I just want to jump right in. Once, I realized I really needed to do that, it was so much more enjoyable.)
As the horror that was Justins young life begins to unfold, you just want to take that poor innocent child and hug him tight. Oh, and I cant even express what Id do to the sorry as*** that were responsible for his plight cause that would ruin the whole story.
Dixon has such a marvelous voice that made me forget that I was reading a story; I felt the pain and confusion right along with the characters. This is truly an amazing story within a story; it will not let you go. I hope to see many more books by this debut author. This one was a grand slam!
There is a readers guide included, which makes this an awesome book for book club discussions. It will definitely get you into some incredible conversations on family dynamics and the complexity of family secrets.
Helpful Score: 3
This was a great book, little Justin had a life no one should have. Can you imagine what you would do if you went to the cemetery and found your tombstone. I loved this book from first page to last. When I read the ending I could not believe it, you will never even see it coming.
Great Book fantasic read. Do pass this one up
Great Book fantasic read. Do pass this one up
Helpful Score: 3
This story was one step ahead of me all the time. Each time I thought I knew what the next turn was going to be, it took a different turn. I finished in one day. I could not put it down. It gave me everything I wanted in a novel I was happy, sad, & in awe. It was suspenseful and it made me angry. There was a lot of emotion within these pages & I loved every page. It was well written the story flowed without hitting those sometimes boring bumps you often hit in a novel. The ending knocked me over, nothing I was expecting. Still after reading this 2 weeks ago I am wondering how I missed how this read would end. It was well worth the point & entertained me with loads of suspense.
Helpful Score: 1
I am not really sure I liked the book but I did read it in one setting. Parts of it reminded me of The Memory Keeper's Daughter, except not as well done as that book. Maybe because this book did not create an empathy for the characters. There seemed to be some pieces of this book that I felt did not really need to be there.
This is a debut novel with an intriguing premise. It is rife with secrets that lead a grown man to his own grave with a tombstone stating that he was four years old when he died. It is told in chapters alternating between the relationship his parents had and his own life with his wife and daughter. As the truth behind the lies surfaces, so do his memories of his earliest years. The ending is the revelation of the consummate secret. This is a captivating book from an author whose next book I look forward to reading.
Excellent book - this was one I couldn't put down, had to keep reading to find out what had happened in the past.
This is the story of a young man trying to reconcile his past who had been taken from his mother and put in foster care/several families over the years. It was a real cruel reason while he was taken away. I was disappointed in the ending as it didn't seem to solve anything. It shows the cruelty towards the child in the story. But the mother taught her son a song that I thought was wonderful and taught it to my grandson. I think this author has promise. This is her first book.
Man this book wasn't what I thought it was going to be. and I kept expecting it to get happier as I got closer to the end but it didn't. The story was really good but it leaves you with a profound sadness.
I like how the chapters in this book indicated the date/place as this story goes back and forth between the two.
I also liked the way this book was one step ahead of me, just when I thought I'd figured it out - it changed...it wasn't predictable.
My thoughts after I read this: communication is everything.
I also liked the way this book was one step ahead of me, just when I thought I'd figured it out - it changed...it wasn't predictable.
My thoughts after I read this: communication is everything.
