Believe

by Karen Biery

In the heart of historic Hope Cemetery in Salem, Ohio stands a memorial for Goldie Bell Taylor. The tragedy of a small life stolen at only two years of age is magnified in her carved marble eyes. They echo the feeling of desperate longing. Her hands are carved to nearly touching leaving a void that is filled by a gathering of fresh flowers. All seems normal, yet Goldie's suitors are never seen; only their bouquets remain as evidence of their visit.

Suzie is drawn to this 1886 statue as she searches for the resting place of her birth mother. She is pulled into place where past and present are blended into one vision -- a view into a world where its movement is guided by desperate desires to complete their purpose.

As Suzie is drawn from the mayhem, she finds solace with a family she never knew existed. What she finds is not what she desires or expects.

328 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2009

Reviews

[Marley]

I purchased this book specifically because it takes place in Salem, Ohio; probably the only novel ever to be located there. My family is from Salem and I've spent a lot of time there.Much of the book takes place in Hope Cemetery where my family is buried (my parents and grandparents across from Edwin Coppock. a member of John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry for which he was hung) and South Lincoln Ave, the historic district of Salem where my grandparents and other family members lived. And, of course, I'm quite familiar with the Goldie Bell memorial, which is central to the story. In fact, I've spent a lot of time at Hope. E 10th, where my parents lived, leads right in to it. I also was interested in the book, since it's an adoption reunion story.

To be honest, I wasn't expecting much from the book, so I wasn't disappointed. In fact, I enjoyed parts of it. Goldie has always been spooky in extremis to me, though I've never thought of the cemetery itself as particularly haunted--at least no more than other cemeteries. I was glad to see the mausoleums of two of my collateral family members--the Sharp and Thomas families--in a cameo. I was disappointed that the Greiners, Boones, and Lees didn't make the cut. I'm sure that the Greiners, some of whom sat at one time on the Hope Cemetery Association board, would have complained immediately if night riders romped through the place. The constant flower shifting was confusing and almost headache inducing.

It was fun to find the real life Spread Eagle Tavern in Hanoverton featured. I've never been there, but have driven by it many times. And really fun to find Salem historian Dale Shaffer take up several pages early in the book. My mom, who was very active in the Salem Historical Society, and he were friends. I'm not sure, though, that Mr. Schaffer would weep copious tears over Goldie.

Despite my criticism "believe" turned into a page turner for me--probably because of the Salem connection. If you like spooky cemetery tales and pooky little girls even more, you might enjoy this book. It could have been much better written, though. (I found myself mentally editing it). Stephen King or Washington Irving the author is not, though there is Lifetime potential. If you have a Salem connection, it's a must-read.

[Chana]

Honestly? I didn't get it.
Too much time in the cemetery
Too much time describing flowers, antiques and meals
Too little structure
The book is probably like one of her watercolors; misty and mysterious.
Suzie is a live woman, an artist and a writer, come to Salem to search for her birth mother's grave.
She meets her living aunt in the cemetery but she also meets a lot of dead people.
When she isn't in the cemetery she is very often in the bath or sitting before a fire in her room.
I'm assuming Suzie was alive the whole time. I could be wrong. As I said, I didn't get it.