This is my third Chris Bohjalian book. The first one I read was The Flight Attendant which I loved and could not put down. The second one I read was SThis is my third Chris Bohjalian book. The first one I read was The Flight Attendant which I loved and could not put down. The second one I read was Secrets of Eden which started off strong but dragged in the middle.
The Author's Note at the beginning of the book is fascinating. It is about a true story of a Vermont homeless man who was a world-renowned photographer in the 1950's and 1960's. When he passes away, he leaves behind a box of photographs and negatives. This story provides the basis for the fictional novel, The Double Bind.
The Double Bind starts off with a huge bang. The main character, Laurel, is riding her bicycle on a desolate, wooded area of Vermont when two men pull over in a van directly in front of her. After her assault, Laurel recovers and begins working at a homeless shelter. Bobbie Crocker, a homeless man, passes away and leaves a box of photographs and negatives. Laurel begins exploring how a once successful photographer becomes homeless. And it links to her past.
Unfortunately, the book drags in the middle with scenes, dialogue, and details that seem to distract from the main storyline.
The first Chris Bohjalian book I read was The Flight Attendant and I could not put it down. I immediately added many Bohjalian books to my TBR.
My secoThe first Chris Bohjalian book I read was The Flight Attendant and I could not put it down. I immediately added many Bohjalian books to my TBR.
My second Bohjalian book was Secrets of Eden. I listened to it on audiobook; fabulous narrators. Chris Bohjalian is an incredible storyteller because his first chapter always grabs me.
The book starts with the POV of the pastor. A woman he baptized was found dead the next day, presumably by her abusive husband. And then it appears that her husband killed himself.
It seemed like an easy open and shut case of murder-suicide. Until it becomes possible there are other scenarios.
The book starts off with a bang but drags in the middle. Some chapters and details felt extraneous and unnecessary.
I recently read Freida McFadden's book, The Teacher and could not put it down. I rated it five stars. I quickly added other Freida McFadden books to mI recently read Freida McFadden's book, The Teacher and could not put it down. I rated it five stars. I quickly added other Freida McFadden books to my TBR.
I listened to Ward D on audiobook and had a hard time engaging with it. My rating and review are definitely an outlier, so please read other Goodreads reviews.
Normally, McFadden's books create a huge hook for the reader in the first chapter. It didn't hook me. I felt the main character was a little ditzy or dumb or didn't ask enough questions about being locked up overnight in the ward.
I tried to hang in there, but eventually it ended up in the DNF pile....more
I recently read Freida McFadden's book, The Teacher and could not put it down. I rated it five stars. So then I placed quite a few McFadden books on mI recently read Freida McFadden's book, The Teacher and could not put it down. I rated it five stars. So then I placed quite a few McFadden books on my TBR.
Want to Know a Secret? was okay but not great. It wasn't riveting but I kept hanging in there hoping it would get better. The main protagonist, April, receives creepy text messages about her son, her husband, and herself.
My main dislike of the book was that it felt like catty, mean women doing spiteful things to each other. There were antics around PTA meetings, children's playground fights, and shoplifting as well as more serious situations like extramarital affairs and murder.
Loading...
