2011 February 09

Book Review: These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf

Title: These Things Hidden
Author: Heather Gudenkauf
Publisher: Mira; Original edition
Publication Date: January 18, 2011
Paperback: 352 pages
ISBN: 978-0778328797
Genre: Literary Fiction

From the Publisher:

When teenager Allison Glenn is sent to prison for a heinous crime, she leaves behind her reputation as Linden Falls’ golden girl forever. Her parents deny the existence of their once-perfect child. Her former friends exult in her downfall. Her sister, Brynn, faces whispered rumors every day in the hallways of their small Iowa high school. It’s Brynn—shy, quiet Brynn—who carries the burden of what really happened that night. All she wants is to forget Allison and the past that haunts her.

But then Allison is released to a halfway house, and is more determined than ever to speak with her estranged sister.

Now their legacy of secrets is focused on one little boy. And if the truth is revealed, the consequences will be unimaginable for the adoptive mother who loves him, the girl who tried to protect him and the two sisters who hold the key to all that is hidden.

My Review:

This is appearing to be the week of books dealing with familial relationships and at first I was concerned, is it possible to overdose on books surrounding deeply buried family secrets? Thankfully it is not and These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf proved to be a phenomenal book. Gudenkauf not only has an extraordinary talent for beautiful prose but also for constructing deep, emotional, and realistic characters and life events. The reader will quickly be drawn into These Things Hidden and will not want the book to end. Secrets can bind us together or can tear us apart and for Allison and Brynn Glenn, there is a fine line between the two. Allison goes from being exceedingly popular and an all-around American girl to being imprisoned for murder, disowned and upon her release to a half-way house, Allison learns even her sister wants nothing to do with her. Gudenkauf has a flair for character development and Allison is one tough heroine and the reader quickly discovers many strong female characters in this book. Throughout the book I kept trying to put myself in Allison’s shoes and I do not think I would have made it. Allison is courageous, hard working, and absolutely lovely. As she begins to make a new life for herself, long buried secrets start to become revealed, but saying any more and I will spoil this remarkable story, which I have no intention of doing. These Things Hidden captivated me from the first page and I quite literally was unable to do anything other than read the book, the story line captivated me and held onto me in a manner not many books can. I have had the pleasure of reading Gudenkauf’s The Weight of Silence and These Things Hidden and cannot wait to see what she pens next. Gudenkauf is a gifted storyteller with the ability to fully engage the reader from beginning to end. I would recommend These Things Hidden to every reader and discussion group.

About the Author:

Heather Gudenkauf lives in Dubuque, Iowa, with her husband, three children and a very spoiled German shorthaired pointer. She is currently working on her next novel. For more information please visit the author’s website.

I received a complimentary copy of These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf from The Book Trib to offer my honest review of the book. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned book.

Book Review: Amaryllis In Blueberry by Christina Meldrum

Title: Amaryllis in Blueberry
Author: Christina Meldrum
Publisher: Gallery; Original edition
Publication Date: February 8, 2011
Paperback: 384 pages
ISBN: 978-1439156896
Genre: Literary Fiction

From the Publisher:

In the stirring tradition of The Secret Life of Bees and The Poisonwood Bible, Amaryllis in Blueberry explores the complexity of human relationships set against an unforgettable backdrop. Told through the haunting voices of Dick and Seena Slepy and their four daughters, Christina Meldrum’s soulful novel weaves together the past and the present of a family harmed—and healed—by buried secrets.

“Maybe, unlike hope, truth couldn’t be contained in a jar. . . .”

Meet the Slepys: Dick, the stern doctor, the naÏve husband, a man devoted to both facts and faith; Seena, the storyteller, the restless wife, a mother of four, a lover of myth. And their children, the Marys: Mary Grace, the devastating beauty; Mary Tessa, the insistent inquisitor; Mary Catherine, the saintly, lost soul; and finally, Amaryllis, Seena’s unspoken favorite, born with the mystifying ability to sense the future, touch the past, and distinguish the truth tellers from the most convincing liar of all.

When Dick insists his family move from Michigan to the unfamiliar world of Africa for missionary work, he can’t possibly foresee how this new land and its people will entrance and change his daughters—and himself—forever.

Nor can he predict how Africa will spur his wife Seena toward an old but unforgotten obsession. In fact, Seena may be falling into a trance of her own. . . .

My Review:

Amaryllis in Blueberry by Christina Meldrum is a deep and complex novel that the reader will probably either really enjoy or not care for all that much, I am uncertain if there will be many who are in the middle of the road, although that is exactly where I place myself. I try very hard not to compare books, yet the entire time I was reading Amaryllis in Blueberry I kept thinking of the parallels to the extraordinary book The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, a comparison that is not entirely fair, as each writer clearly has their own sense of style, yet the outline is there and Amaryllis in Blueberry paled in comparison. Now one may easily get the impression I did not like Amaryllis in Blueberry, which would be incorrect. Meldrum has constructed an excellent story in her own right. Dick and Seena Slepy have four daughters ranging from eighteen to eleven, their four Marys, each with very distinct personalities; the youngest of the daughters is Amaryllis. Dick decides to relocate his family from Michigan to West Africa in order to work as a missionary with his cousin. Meldrum exquisitely and vividly describes life not only in Michigan but also West Africa, it is not difficult for the reader to feel as though they are there with the characters. The Slepys are a family mired in secrets, various ranges of beliefs, and personalities which are clearly shown through their voices as each tells a part of the story. I was extremely intrigued in the details of events that took place in Africa, the rituals and customs, and I also enjoyed how Meldrum had each character react to a life so very different from the one they had known. Amaryllis in Blueberry kept my attention and I did get caught up in the Slepys lives, however I do not think this is a book for everyone. I do believe it would make for an excellent book discussion group pick.

About the Author:

Christina Meldrum received her Bachelor of Arts in religious studies and political science from the University of Michigan. After working in grassroots development in Africa, she earned her Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School. She has worked for the International Commission of Jurists in Geneva, Switzerland, and as a litigator at the law firm of Shearman & Sterling. She currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family and is on the advisory board of Women of the World Investments.

I received a complimentary copy of Amaryllis in Blueberry by Christina Meldrum from InkWell as well as Gallery Books to offer my honest review of the book. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned book.