As I have gotten more accustomed to the demands of my first year of teaching, I have had a little more free time than I did at the beginning of the school year. It also helps that cross country is over, so that's an extra hour and a half back to my day.
I 'joined' a book club of teachers at my school. It's a group of 10-12 women, and each month they read a book--then, get together and talk about it! Sounds like fun to me.
For November, the book chosen was "The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes" by Diane Chamberlain. I had already read another novel by Chamberlain over the summer (post-wedding, pre-teaching job), "The Lies We Told". I enjoyed it very much, so I looked forward to reading this one.
Synopsis:
Eve Elliot is a successful therapist to troubled students, a loving wife, a mother deeply invested in her family. But her happiness is built on a lie. When she was a lonely, vulnerable young woman, a single decision made in innocence led to a dark night of unimaginable consequences. Now, forced to confront her past, she faces another terrible choice: reveal to her family that she is not who she seems, or allow a man to take the blame for a crime she knows he did not commit. If the choice affected only her life, Eve is certain she would do what is right. But though inaction means condemning an innocent man, it also means protecting her family from the mistakes of her past.
Corinne Elliot has always known she was different: the only redhead in a family of brunettes, the paralyzing shyness that contrasts with her sister's vivaciousness, the many fears-of highways, of bridges, of public spaces-that constrict her daily life. Still, with a new job possibility and a baby on the way, she's found some measure of happiness-until the day she turns on the television and finds her mother's image on screen.
Now, as the past explodes into the present, Corinne must confront the secrets she has always intuited, and find answers from the one person who knows the truth of what happened over two decades ago--CeeCee Wilkes.
The second half of the book (when Eve is a grown woman) was not quite as intriguing to me. I don't know if I couldn't relate as well because I don't have children, or if it was because the plot-line slowed down quite a bit. In fact, I just barely finished the book this afternoon during my study hall. (Before our meeting at 4:15pm. Ha!)
All in all, I would recommend the read. It gets you thinking about family relationships/dynamics, and the consequences of unintentional actions. It is easy to relate to the two main characters in the story.
I plan on recapping all the books I read for book club! Just a little something to spice up the life of this blog.
Off to research some Thanksgiving recipes!
Comments