Search - The Hour I First Believed

I know Mr. Lamb has been sitting on a big pile of cash for the last ten years, but he should have written the four books he apparently started instead of shoveling them all into this one. I wanted to beat myself with this book half-way through in the hopes my husband would take it away and throw it in the trash. This was a complete disappointment. Lucky for you all you are getting it free rather than to waste your hard earned money on this train wreck of a book.

The critic reviews of this book were less than outstanding. I honestly don't understand why. Yes, this book covers several stories at the same time, and yes, parts of it seem to blast out unexpectedly. But isn't that how the real world works? Things you never expect come flying at you and the average person juggles several different concerns at a time. You have to pay attention to this book, it isn't a fluffy filler like a grocery store paperback romance. But Wally Lamb has always gone off on tangents, so this shouldn't surprise anyone. Worth the energy it takes to appreciate a good book.

I love Wally Lamb books, and this was no exception. It is over 700 pages, but keeps your interest all the way through. There is the story of the couple whose lives are uprooted by the wife's being involved in the Columbine massacre and her PTSD, (the "main" story), the one about the husband's family life and illustrious heritage as the descendent of a crusader for women's rights and prison reform, the one about Velvet, another victim of Columbine,(but messed up before that), who comes to heal through her association with Maureen and Caelum, the protagonists in the "main" story. Then there is the story of family secrets and illegitimate birth, alcoholism and "love addiction", mores of the 19th century, and on and on. It is like life, ongoing and complex, with multiple influences intertwined and impinging on each other. Read it!

This book is about a married couple; the wife of whom is a teacher at Columbine High School. As a result of her experience she suffers greatly from post traumatic stress disorder. She and her husband both have to learn to cope with this. Other tragedies befall them. The husband's beloved deceased aunt leaves behind a history of family letters. A boarder living at the husband's home discovers the letter and writes a dissertation through which the husband learns a great deal about his family history. It becomes sort of a book within a book. Most of the book is written from the husband's perspective and how he learns to cope with things and ultimately learns to believe in hope. I enjoyed the book although I think it was a bit too long. I am impressed with Wally Lamb's writing ability.

Heavy in weight and thought.

Wally Lamb has done it again!! Great book!