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137th out of 947 books
—
1,422 voters
Chasing Fireflies
by
Charles Martin (Goodreads Author)
They have one summer to find what was lost long ago.
"Never settle for less than the truth," she told him.
But when you don't even know your real name, the truth gets a little complicated. It can nestle so close to home it's hard to see. It can even flourish inside a lie. And as Chase Walker discovered, learning the truth about who you are can be as elusive--and as magical
...moreHardcover, 342 pages
Published
May 29th 2007
by Thomas Nelson Publishers
(first published May 25th 2007)
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The story begins with the dramatic scene in which a young (8? 10?) mute boy is savagely kicked from a car just before the driver parks on the tracks in front of an oncoming train. He is discovered two days later when he climbs out of the ditch covered in ant bites...and lots of old scars. A young journalist from the town's newspaper, Chase, is tasked with finding out who the boy is, and more importantly, whose the boy is.
OK, stop right there. The police are too busy to bother with figuring out...more
OK, stop right there. The police are too busy to bother with figuring out...more
Charles Martin, the author of this book, is an extraordinary writer. In a previous review, I compared his writing to that of Nicholas Sparks's; however, upon reading this book, I think he is a much better writer. The story does meander frequently, one chapter dipping into the past while the next continues the present, but the tale plays out so beautifully it is worth the journey. I loved this book.
Some reviewers have noted that Martin did not include many mentions of God or Christianity througho...more
Some reviewers have noted that Martin did not include many mentions of God or Christianity througho...more
I love books about contemporary American people going through real experiences. I am not into books about perfect people, cops, crooks, athletes, or rich people.
I like books about people who are flawed, people who have quirks, people who live contradictions, people who try to be good but sometimes fail, honest people doing the best they can with what life dishes out, people who sometimes can't resist temptations and people who maybe don't understand themselves fully. Those are books I can relate...more
I like books about people who are flawed, people who have quirks, people who live contradictions, people who try to be good but sometimes fail, honest people doing the best they can with what life dishes out, people who sometimes can't resist temptations and people who maybe don't understand themselves fully. Those are books I can relate...more
I picked up this book because I'm reading my way through the list of 2008 Christy Award winners, The central focus of this book is the relationship between fathers and sons and how the secrets of the past can permeate farther than we realize. Chase Walker spent his whole life wondering about his dad. He was raised by Unc and Aunt Lorna as their foster child. Unc spent his life haunted by his past. Both their lives are changed when a horribly abused young boy ends up in their town and by the arri...more
I chose the book because of its high rating and a title which attracted me and seemed inviting. Knowing very little of what the book was actually about when I first started reading it, I was not sure that it was going to be my "type" of book. I quickly got over that thought as I became caught up in the story and grew to love the characters. It was easy to root for each of them as they struggled to conquer their demons. There is a lot of pain and heartache in the story, but there is also a lot of...more
This book is gorgeous, delicious. The characters are round and real; the relationships, exquisite.
So many themes and issues are dealt with, almost too many to keep track of (which accounts for the book's length). There are themes of abandonment, acceptance, fatherhood, abuse, death, integrity, communication, adoption, purpose, sickness, and family, along with the more symbolic themes of baseball, fishing, chess, drawing, fireflies, and orchids. It's an excellent, meaningful piece of literature,...more
So many themes and issues are dealt with, almost too many to keep track of (which accounts for the book's length). There are themes of abandonment, acceptance, fatherhood, abuse, death, integrity, communication, adoption, purpose, sickness, and family, along with the more symbolic themes of baseball, fishing, chess, drawing, fireflies, and orchids. It's an excellent, meaningful piece of literature,...more
I really like this author (my third book). He captures the essence of the characters and the landscape with beautiful descriptions. In this book he also emphasizes the colloquialism of the language of Georgia. (About a gossiper--"She's got enough tongue for ten rows of teeth") (and a rainstorm--I remember was a gully washer but here it's a" frog-strangling turd-floater")
This story is told by a small town reporter who was shuffled from one foster home to another and finally adopted by this Georgi...more
This story is told by a small town reporter who was shuffled from one foster home to another and finally adopted by this Georgi...more
A good read. Martin is a young, prolific writer who is articulate and very talented. This story is very strong and I probably wouldn't have read it if it hadn't been recommended to me by a friend. The setting is a Sea Island, and thereabouts, Georgia and invites the reader into the lives of those whose grandparents came from Europe to settle the marshland of that area. Martin includes a surprising wealth of historical information in this short book, so that the reader becomes well acquainted wit...more
Yet again, Charles Martin amazes me--there aren't enough adequate adjectives. Having said that, I will quote a section of this book that I just loved. It is in response to what Michaelangelo did with his sculptures--keep in mind this is a "monologue" of sorts, by Unc, one of the fabulously rich central characters in this book.
Inside you is a thing worth putting on a pedestal--worth putting out there for all the world to see. That piece of rock might been knocked around, roughed up a bit, conside...more
Inside you is a thing worth putting on a pedestal--worth putting out there for all the world to see. That piece of rock might been knocked around, roughed up a bit, conside...more
Indeed a novel of discovery, both for the story's characters, and for the reader himself.
It seems Charles Martin is one of those authors you are left with no adjectives for. Chasing Fireflies was a very clever book, but above it, it was definitely a very moving book.
The story jogged comfortable back and forth between the past and the present and drew me in right from the first chapter. I knew right from the start that this was a book I had to finish reading.
What I really enjoyed was the book'...more
It seems Charles Martin is one of those authors you are left with no adjectives for. Chasing Fireflies was a very clever book, but above it, it was definitely a very moving book.
The story jogged comfortable back and forth between the past and the present and drew me in right from the first chapter. I knew right from the start that this was a book I had to finish reading.
What I really enjoyed was the book'...more
A neighbor recommended Chasing Fireflies: A Novel of Discovery by Charles Martin. I'd never read anything by Martin before, although he was this neighbor's favorite author. "Fireflies" is the story of Chase, a journalist who never knew his parents and was adopted by "Unc," a colorful resident of a small Georgia town whose sayings and kind heart make him a memorable character. Chase is investigating the story of another orphan, this one a mute boy pushed out of a car on train tracks just before a...more
I liked what the author had to say about fatherhood through his characters. He speaks a lot about the "hole" in a child left without a father. All that he portrayed was very true. I do think redemption is not only found in finding an earthly father, but can also be found for the fatherless in turning to the heavenly Father.
I didn't love the ending and felt that the author often creates too many twists and rabbit-trails in his storylines that don't always get resolved in the end. This book was a...more
I didn't love the ending and felt that the author often creates too many twists and rabbit-trails in his storylines that don't always get resolved in the end. This book was a...more
Chasing Fireflies was a beautifully written novel with so many stories told throughout. The underlying story is one of relationships - be it friend, family, blood-relation or not. This story is full of twists and turns and it does jump back and forth between past and present. But it is such an amazing story to be read. Chase Walker, the main character, is a journalist at heart, so the story unfolds layer by layer as more details are uncovered. This is my first book by Charles Martin, but I certa...more
I really liked this book and thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Had many different story lines with an intriguing plot throughout. It took me a while to realize the similarities to my life where probably what drew me into it. It is written from the perspective of a 28-year-old former foster child living above the garage of his former foster parents while they go through the process of accepting another foster child into their home. It wasn't until page 184 that I realized this is not normal life for...more
The opening of this book hooked me right away! I couldn't put the book down until I got deeper in to the story because it was just too good! Chasing Fireflies was the first novel I read by Charles Martin. A friend of mine had been recommending his books for over a year. So, I decided to try one at the beginning of the summer. I am so glad I did! I have now read 3 of his book in the last six weeks, and I'm about to begin a fourth. He is a terrific author. I loved this particular story for so many...more
A very enjoyable novel reminiscent of John Grisham in style and setting. The story takes place in Brunswick, Georgia and weaves themes of family, both the ones we are born into and the ones we create, with the eternal struggle of good vs. evil. A mute, abandoned boy with no name and seemingly no past is the central character. His fate and interactions with the other characters reveals family secrets, truths and lies, and makes for a spellbinding story of hope, redemption, and love. It is an easy...more
A very nice "Oprah-esque" story.... takes a while to get to the good stuff but has some beautiful lessons about the struggles and rewards of family membership. I loved the Georgia coast local color.
What an amazing book! The most moving novel I have had the pleasure of reading in quite a long time. When diving in to the story, it is a little hard to discern which memories are held by which character. The whole book consists of tidbits of information the reader must piece into the bigger puzzle - as a result I think this novel will not be interpreted the same way from reader to reader. It is a very effective way of telling this family mystery, and the method is true to life. Things are never...more
It is with a bittersweet heart that I start to write this review for Chasing Fireflies by Charles Martin. I have with regret finished reading my most favorite book to date! For the last week, I had dragged my feet, completing this book by only allowing myself to read one chapter a day. I just did not want the end to come! I tried to suspend myself, the characters and the story in time to never have it end, but as we all know, eventually time catches up and you must face what will come even if it...more
I've now officially read all of Charles Martin's books. This is one of the best, and that's saying something. The characters are so real, I feel like I have a bunch of friends hanging out on my bookshelf, waiting for me to pick them up again. I will, someday. I promise.
I particularly loved the relationship between Chase and Unc and the picture it paints of what the father-child relationship should look like, juxtaposed with that of Jack and Tommye--the ultimate "what not to do." This lends cred...more
I particularly loved the relationship between Chase and Unc and the picture it paints of what the father-child relationship should look like, juxtaposed with that of Jack and Tommye--the ultimate "what not to do." This lends cred...more
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I had mixed feelings about this book. I think it's by far the best Christian fiction I've read in a long time. It's encouraging to see an author put his energy into writing quality prose. Sometimes it felt a little overboard - not everything has to be a metaphor for something. But I'd rather have that than not. In the end, though I'd really enjoyed it, I couldn't help feeling like one of the main characters made some choices that were completely illogical, and those choices were the crux of the...more
I absolutely loved this book - I am so touched by it and it brought me to tears so many times that I immediately added it to my favorites shelf, which I don't do very often.
I believe that Charles Martin is a truly gifted writer and I'm just at a loss for words right now as to how to even review this book.
Just know that the blurb does it no justice. I almost passed it up because of the part about baseball and fishing, thinking it would not interest me, too much boy stuff. I was wrong, so wholly w...more
I believe that Charles Martin is a truly gifted writer and I'm just at a loss for words right now as to how to even review this book.
Just know that the blurb does it no justice. I almost passed it up because of the part about baseball and fishing, thinking it would not interest me, too much boy stuff. I was wrong, so wholly w...more
My wife urged me to read a Charles Martin book, so I opted for Fireflies. Glad I did! His style is at times lyrical and other times sharp and punctuated. But had me in stitches (as well as turning the page) was the character "Unc." Between his "Countryism" and his riddled past, this character truly came to life on the page.
My only qualm about Fireflies was some back story he interjected. I know it was necessary per the character's motives,but it just kept going and going and going... I eventual...more
My only qualm about Fireflies was some back story he interjected. I know it was necessary per the character's motives,but it just kept going and going and going... I eventual...more
This novel intertwines several stories, that of a six year old abandoned boy, that of the journalist named Chase who takes an interest in his story, and that of Chase's adopted family--who have a whole mess of secrets that Chase is bound and determined to uncover. As Chase finds the answers to his questions he also grapples with issues like justice and forgiveness and how he feels about fathers. [return]This book has many memorable characters, especially "Uncle Willie" and it the way the stories...more
Jul 13, 2010
Pamela Barrett
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
everyone
Recommended to Pamela by:
Nancy Clifford
Charles Martin introduces us to an old man with a huge heart and a shady past full of unanswered questions, a young man looking for his past, a young woman lost because of her past, and a young boy with an unknown past and an uncertain future. In a setting rich with summertime memories, splashed with the light of fireflies on warm dark nights in Georgia, he lays out a story that rings true and lands straight in your heart.
Adding this to my favorites—it’s why I read—a book of healing, and hope t...more
Adding this to my favorites—it’s why I read—a book of healing, and hope t...more
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Mar 02, 2012
Rebecca
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
bookclub,
writing-inspiration
While I found this book enjoyable, and it had some great writing at times (the cinematic opening in particular is to be admired), nt to mention the fact that it explores a lot of the themes I find in my own writing--family, identity, sacrifice--in some ways it felt a little unpolished. Like it could have used one more draft. For one thing, and I won't spoil anything, the ending felt a little anticlimactic and unfulfilling, because it's almost like one of those old mysteries in which everything i...more
Really enjoyed this book. Told by a 39-yr old man, who was fostered by a man who had gone through many hardships. The foster father took in another orphaned boy who was found naked by the railroad tracks in a small town. The boy had been pushed out of a car whose driver then drove onto the tracks in front of a train. Sounds a bit depressing, but the book isn't. There's about 3 stories being told, and they all mesh together throughout the book. I'm going to read all the others by this man. He tel...more
I also picked up this book because I'm reading my way through the list of 2008 Christy Award winners – but was disappointed that God was really not mentioned this book – not sure what made this book “Christian”. However that said I loved this book – great story about how only a father can fill that whole in your heart. (Not mentioned but you can draw a parallel that only Jesus, your heavenly Father, can fill the whole in your heart.) Interesting story line about family secrets, long lost friends...more
I enjoyed this book once I got into it a bit and the author stopped rattling on. It really hits home how important a father's role is in their son's lives and how important it is to spend some quality time with your children so they know you love them and that they are important. My favorite quote from the book is, "Every boy is born with a hole in his belly. If his dad don't fill it, it festers and becomes an aching black hole- one that he'll spend his waking hours trying to fill. Mostly with t...more
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I grew up in Jacksonville, FL, on the St. John’s river. Somewhat of a Huck Finn childhood. Most afternoons were spent mullet fishing, canoeing, pegging cars with overripe tangerines—it really got fun when the red tail lights lit and the reverse gears ground metal on metal, or the backyard Superbowl which we replayed most everyday. Through high school, football was my life. School was the avenue th...more
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“Never judge someone by their relatives.”
—
60 people liked it
“I had this dream that my life was a rolling canvas. Everyday it rolled off the sheet, bleached white, into the beach of my life. Come sunup, I'd begin to paint it with my thoughts and actions. My breathing, my living, and my dying. Some days the pictures pleased me, maybe pleased others, pleased God himself, but some days, some months, even some years, they didn't, and I didn't ever want to look at them again. But the thing is this . . . every day, no matter what I'd painted the day before, I got a new canvas, washed white. 'Cause each night the tide rolled in, scrubbed it clean, and receded, taking it's stains with it. And my dreams . . . I just stood on the beach and watched all that stuff wash out to sea.- Nothing more than ripples in the water. No canvas is ever stained clean through. Not one.”
—
26 people liked it
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Dec 11, 2012 07:00am