Secrets of Eden: A Novel by Chris Bohjalian
Buy from Amazon: Secrets of Eden: A Novel by Chris Bohjalian
I have a love/hate relationship with Chris Bohjalian and this book emphasized it even more. It takes forever for me to get myself fully involved in his books.. but I do it. Why? Because the final chapters of the book will punch me in the gut and leave me shaking my head in awe. That’s what keeps me reading.
From Double Bind to Midwives and now to Secrets of Eden, he hasn’t disappointed me. Books that, if I would have only read the first half, I would have given 1-2 stars of rating get 4-5 stars from me by the end of the book. This is mystery as it should be written, unraveled slowly, bits and pieces of information fed to you from various angles and a conclusion that will leave you reeling.
Secrets of Eden is the story of a double-death. The death of an abused woman and her husband. She, by strangulation and he, by gunshot. The story is broken into four sections and told by four separate, but very connected individuals. Pieces of information are given to you from each point of view and.. if you have, in the words of Austen, “delicate sensibilities” they will not be spared.
It was interesting, I hadn’t intended to pick this book up (meaning to read another book before it) but I chose to because of the disappointment I’d had in the book I’d read before it. I wanted a real mystery, something that would jar me and make me think. This book did just that.
I liked this book a lot but they could have done without the angel lady IMO
thanks 4 the great review.
I really liked the ending to this one, glad that you got into it and enjoyed it.