From the bestselling author of The Double Bind, Midwives, and Skeletons at the Feast comes a novel of shattered faith, intimat...
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Feb 08, 2012
Barbara
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I have been an avid follower of Chris Bohjalian's writing for a long time. It pains me to say that this novel was a disappointment to me. My first introduction to this author was "Skeletons at the Feast", which so impressed me that I followed it with many more of his boooks. This could not compare with that first book, or others. The story weaves around the apparent murder/ suicide in a small town in Vermont. It is a tale of wife battering and alcoholism and the effects of these abus
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Nov 21, 2011
Julie
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Chris Bohjalian is one of those authors who are consistently entertaining, and when I opened the book and read the first page I was immediately stuck into the story, which I love. I want to be in love in page one, not page twenty or one hundred.
Reverend Steven Drew begins the story by telling us how a local girl is orphaned after her mother and father are killed in a murder suicide. This begins to make him question his faith, and life changes for him. I would have pr More...
Reverend Steven Drew begins the story by telling us how a local girl is orphaned after her mother and father are killed in a murder suicide. This begins to make him question his faith, and life changes for him. I would have pr More...
Aug 02, 2011
Suze
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"Secrets of Eden," my third Chris Bohjalian book, reinforced why I'm such a fan of this author. Beginning with the deaths of Alice and George Hayward in an apparent murder-suicide, the story devolves into a mystery when it becomes apparent that George died by a hand other than his own.
Told from the perspectives of four characters who are very different from one another, the book reveals interesting personality traits of each, yet keeps each character enigmatic enough that I was ponder More...
Told from the perspectives of four characters who are very different from one another, the book reveals interesting personality traits of each, yet keeps each character enigmatic enough that I was ponder More...
Jul 16, 2011
Steve
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I listened to the audio version of Chris Bohjalian's novel Secrets of Eden and want to recommend it highly. There are multiple readers who all do an excellent job. It's perfect for a long commute, although I found myself driving an extra block or two a couple of times when I couldn't stop listening.
Many writing instructors, especially those who are teaching beginning courses, tell writers to show rather than tell. It's a bit of advice that has always irritated me, because it simpl More...
Many writing instructors, especially those who are teaching beginning courses, tell writers to show rather than tell. It's a bit of advice that has always irritated me, because it simpl More...
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Jun 05, 2011
Margaret
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A teenaged girl's parents are killed in an apparent murder-suicide. Soon after, comes a young-ish woman who has written a few new-age books about angels. She insinuates herself into the investigation, with no other background than that this same thing, parents killed in a murder-suicide, has happened to her and her sister. First she goes to the dead woman's pastor, then to the teenaged daughter.
It would seem that the girl's father has been murdered as well. Everyone implicates More...
It would seem that the girl's father has been murdered as well. Everyone implicates More...
May 31, 2011
Cheri
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"The Buffalo Soldier" was the first of Bohjalian's books I've read, which was followed by "Midwives" and "Double Bind"... and I feel as though I am on a slow downward spiral with Chris Bohjalian's books, although "Secrets of Eden" is, in parts, well written, it is equally torturous to read in others.
The character of the minister starts out with a somewhat weary-of-his-pathetic-excuse-for-parishioners recounting of the typical Sunday whinings m More...
The character of the minister starts out with a somewhat weary-of-his-pathetic-excuse-for-parishioners recounting of the typical Sunday whinings m More...
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May 22, 2011
Jen C (ReadinginWBL)
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Secrets of Eden by Chris Bohjalian raises awareness of the devastating effects of domestic violence on families. The story starts out with the deaths of George and Alice Hayward in a murder/suicide situation. A few members of the small town in Vermont are aware of the spousal abuse that Alice suffered at the hands of George, but many were not. There are many secrets that come to light throughout the book.
The story is told in four parts by four different narrators. Part one is told More...
The story is told in four parts by four different narrators. Part one is told More...
Apr 27, 2011
Jen C (ReadinginWBL)
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Secrets of Eden by Chris Bohjalian raises awareness of the devastating effects of domestic violence on families. The story starts out with the deaths of George and Alice Hayward in a murder/suicide situation. A few members of the small town in Vermont are aware of the spousal abuse that Alice suffered at the hands of George, but many were not. There are many secrets that come to light throughout the book.
The story is told in four parts by four different narrators. Part one is tol More...
The story is told in four parts by four different narrators. Part one is tol More...
Feb 18, 2011
Suzka
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This was the February selection for OLBC, and I read it because I'm committed to the OLBC.
What I enjoyed:
* The story was told from the point of view of four different characters, weaving perceptions into an interesting braid for the reader. Nice touch.
* The setting (small rural northern New England town) was fun, especially as it felt like the author was translating this specific flavor of Small Town (which is where I live) for the rest of the world.
What I d More...
What I enjoyed:
* The story was told from the point of view of four different characters, weaving perceptions into an interesting braid for the reader. Nice touch.
* The setting (small rural northern New England town) was fun, especially as it felt like the author was translating this specific flavor of Small Town (which is where I live) for the rest of the world.
What I d More...
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Feb 01, 2011
Amygrace
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This is the type of book that I want to discuss with a group after finishing. I've got questions. I read the literary guide at the end and felt lost by many of the questions. I felt like I really got some of it... and really missed some other parts.I took time to reread some parts. I carefully reread the end (for sometimes I get a little anxious and start speed reading ...)however I still give four stars for I enjoyed and continue to think about the characters, the setting, and the story lin
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Jan 10, 2011
Judy
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This is the first book that I've read by Chris Bohjlian and it won't be my last. This book grabbed me in the first few pages and kept my interest until the end. In order to prevent spoilers, this review will be very general. In essence the plot revolves around an abused woman who is killed by her husband in a murder-suicide. Slowly the story begins to unfold in a small town in Vermont and the culture of the town, the beliefs of the residents, and individual attitudes and prejudices are slowl
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Oct 10, 2010
Wanda
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Here is the plot of this book: The victim of domestic violence and her husband are found dead in a small town in Vermont, apparently a murder suicide. The woman had been having an affair with the pastor of her church. The pastor feels guilty that he did not intervene more strongly and he takes off with a best-selling author of a book about angels. We don’t know why he has an affair with her, as she is a kook who is so into angels that she can barely utter dialogue without bringing them into a co
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Aug 27, 2010
Emily
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This book was on the "recommended to read" shelf at the library and sounded interesting enough, so I decided to give it a try.
Secrets of Eden is mainly about domestic violence...wife/mother Alice is strangled by her husband and the he shoots himself. Her pastor(& later we find out brief lover), Stephen, is consumed by guilt & feels that he should have seen this coming. An author (Heather, whose parents suffered about the same fate) shows up and saves him from his despair. L More...
Secrets of Eden is mainly about domestic violence...wife/mother Alice is strangled by her husband and the he shoots himself. Her pastor(& later we find out brief lover), Stephen, is consumed by guilt & feels that he should have seen this coming. An author (Heather, whose parents suffered about the same fate) shows up and saves him from his despair. L More...
Jul 15, 2010
Perrel
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This started off with a wonderful narrator, a minister, who described many in his congregation needing Prozac more than prayer. What's not to love about a line like that? Sadly, the narrators change in this murder mystery that deals with spousal abuse and commitment issues.
The most irritating narrator is a writer of best-selling angel books, and her talk becomes tedious, except for brief appearances of her anorexic sisters who is in recovery for drug addiction. After a while, I found my More...
The most irritating narrator is a writer of best-selling angel books, and her talk becomes tedious, except for brief appearances of her anorexic sisters who is in recovery for drug addiction. After a while, I found my More...
Jun 08, 2010
Kathleen
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Once again, the author takes a social issue about which the reader probably has strong feelings and turns the reader's opinion around several times through the characters, layers of plot, and careful research. His writing is so well crafted; there were so many points during the novel that I stopped reading to reflect upon the insights he shared..."Sometimes you just expect the waves and waves of sorrow to wash over you. Swamp you completely. That, in my mind, is real grief. And mourning
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May 29, 2010
Jen
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I wasn't really sure what exactly to expect when my library director first commented I may like this book since I've never read any Chris Bohjalian before, but I was pleasantly surprised that it was, all and all, a fair read.
In some reviews of the book I checked out beforehand I kept hearing over and over about what a fine job Chris does writing his female characters and I really have to agree. The ladies that take center stage in this book really do take center stage, no damsels in distre More...
In some reviews of the book I checked out beforehand I kept hearing over and over about what a fine job Chris does writing his female characters and I really have to agree. The ladies that take center stage in this book really do take center stage, no damsels in distre More...
May 28, 2010
Andy
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This novel is based on the murder of a young mother by her husband. It is broken into four narratives by four different characters; the woman's minister who baptized her the morning of the murder, the new age author who writes about angels and is drawn to the crime because she lost her own parents to a murder/suicide when she was young, the assistant district attorney who investigates the crime including the shooting death of the abusive husband which was initially thought to be suicide and fina
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Apr 29, 2010
Elevate Difference
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Like Midwives and The Double Bind, Chris Bohjalian's newest suspense novel, Secrets of Eden, was (no exaggeration) nearly impossible for me to put down.
Set against the beautiful backdrop of a small town in rural Vermont is the horrific murder-suicide of a local couple. Businessman George Hayward, who has a history of abusing his wife Alice, murders her while their teenage daughter, Katie, is out at a concert, and then turns the gun on himself. Holding the family—and the town—together i More...
Set against the beautiful backdrop of a small town in rural Vermont is the horrific murder-suicide of a local couple. Businessman George Hayward, who has a history of abusing his wife Alice, murders her while their teenage daughter, Katie, is out at a concert, and then turns the gun on himself. Holding the family—and the town—together i More...
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Apr 15, 2010
Shannon
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After reading the first chapter of Secrets of Eden, I knew this was going to be a good book. In a mere ten pages, Bohjalian laid the foundation for a mystery that wouldn't be completely resolved until the very last page. The story of a seemingly straightforward murder suicide is told through four narrators who offer unique views of the events surrounding the deaths of Alice and George Hayward. The reader learns early on that Alice was regularly beaten by George and was strangled to death at h
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Apr 10, 2010
Becca
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Dear Mr. Bohjalian,
Tell me, what happened to the man who skillfully channeled 360 degrees of the female soul in "Midwives"? Where might the author be who so cleverly knit elements of Gatsby in with a modern story in "The Double Bind"? What has become of the writer who bravely took on the tired topic of WWII and crafted a gorgeous story in "Skeletons at the Feast"?
Because certainly - the same fellow did not write this dimestore paperback d More...
Tell me, what happened to the man who skillfully channeled 360 degrees of the female soul in "Midwives"? Where might the author be who so cleverly knit elements of Gatsby in with a modern story in "The Double Bind"? What has become of the writer who bravely took on the tired topic of WWII and crafted a gorgeous story in "Skeletons at the Feast"?
Because certainly - the same fellow did not write this dimestore paperback d More...
Mar 26, 2010
Lydia
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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 More...
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 More...
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Mar 22, 2010
This was a fascinating read, one of Bohjalian's best. We learn in the beginning of the murder and apparent suicide of a couple in a small town in Vermont. On the surface, it seems
thaat the husband has been abusive for years. The story unfolds at first through the voice of the local pastor is straightforward until other narrators enter the scene: A young woman author who researches and writes about angels, an assistant prosecutor, and the teen aged daughter of the deceased couple. It becom More...
thaat the husband has been abusive for years. The story unfolds at first through the voice of the local pastor is straightforward until other narrators enter the scene: A young woman author who researches and writes about angels, an assistant prosecutor, and the teen aged daughter of the deceased couple. It becom More...
Mar 21, 2010
Diane
rated it:
Ooooh. This is the second book in a row on domestic abuse. My brain needs to read something light.
This story is told by four voices - the minister, the detective, the "lover" and the daughter of the murdered couple.
Once again, a woman is killed by her abusive husband and then dies himself. It turns out, though, that he did not commit suicide - someone shot him. The minister is suspect because he had an affair with the murdered woman. After the murders, he leaves the town More...
This story is told by four voices - the minister, the detective, the "lover" and the daughter of the murdered couple.
Once again, a woman is killed by her abusive husband and then dies himself. It turns out, though, that he did not commit suicide - someone shot him. The minister is suspect because he had an affair with the murdered woman. After the murders, he leaves the town More...
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Mar 16, 2010
Jlaurenmc
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Reading time has been at a minimum for me the past few days, but every second I had to spare, I was reading Chris Bohjalian's new release Secrets of Eden. I'm still stunned by my reading, by the ending, and by the craftsmanship that went into the creation of this novel. I've read almost everything published by Bohjalian. His claim to fame was the novel Midwives when it was chosen as an Oprah's Book Club selection in October of 1998. Although it was not his first novel, it was the first novel tha
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Feb 27, 2010
Louise
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I haven't really enjoyed Bohjalian's books lately. His writing seems to be taking a nose-dive.
From back cover:
"There, says Alice Hayward to Reverend Stephen Drew, just after her baptism, and just before going home to the husband who will kill her that evening and then shoot himself. Drew, tortured by the cryptic finality of that short utterance, feels his faith in God slipping away and is saved from despair only by a meeting with Heather Laurent, the author of wildly More...
From back cover:
"There, says Alice Hayward to Reverend Stephen Drew, just after her baptism, and just before going home to the husband who will kill her that evening and then shoot himself. Drew, tortured by the cryptic finality of that short utterance, feels his faith in God slipping away and is saved from despair only by a meeting with Heather Laurent, the author of wildly More...
Feb 26, 2010
Steven
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Feb 10, 2010
RNOCEAN
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Bohjalian (Law of Similars) has built a reputation on his rich characters and immersing readers in diverse subjects—homeopathy, animal rights activism, midwifery—and his latest surely won’t disappoint. The morning after her baptism into the Rev. Stephen Drew’s Vermont Baptist church, Alice Hayward and her abusive husband are found dead in their home, an apparent murder-suicide. Stephen, the novel’s first narrator, is so racked with guilt over his failure to save Alice that he leaves town. Soon,
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Mar 27, 2011
Jacquelyn
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i was reading this on the bus, on the mrt, in the kitchen, in my bed, at burger king, at kfc, heck, even while waiting for the traffic light to turn green from red. i would've read it in the shower if i could. i was that hooked. good plot. great writer. interesting ending. it also made me realize that if this were a true story, if i were watching the whole investigation thing on tv, merely digesting what the media was feeding, i would probably be one of those people easily convicting Stephen in
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Mar 01, 2011
Patricia
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It was a good mystery novel, with more emphasis on psychological suspense than mystery. The author presents profiles of four of the major characters by allowing them to tell their stories in their own way.
When a married couple are found dead in the living room of their home in rural Vermont, the police initially regard the case as a murder-suicide. George Hayward, a successful businessman, is a leader in his small community. He operates a restaurant, clothing store and toy store in a More...
When a married couple are found dead in the living room of their home in rural Vermont, the police initially regard the case as a murder-suicide. George Hayward, a successful businessman, is a leader in his small community. He operates a restaurant, clothing store and toy store in a More...
Nov 25, 2010
Lisa
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Let me start off by saying that if you don't like TV programs such as CSI, Law and Order SVU or the Dateline specials exploring various murder cases, then this probably isn't the book for you. Bohjalian explores the murder/suicide that takes place in a small Virgina town through the eyes of 4 people associated with the crime: the pastor of the local church, the DA, an author of angel stories and the daughter of the murder/suicide.
The concept is a fun and interesting one and I think tha More...
The concept is a fun and interesting one and I think tha More...
