Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Believe

I finished Wally Lamb's The Hour I First Believed finally and I'm pleased to announce that it is going on my short list of books I have loved which is saying a lot, considering it jumps from adultery to Columbine to the Civil War to women's prisons to dead babies to... and the list goes on.

Somehow, Lamb manages to weave a clusterf@#$ of events and experiences into one fluid tale that is disturbing yet compelling, heartbreaking yet life affirming.

On the way to work this morning, the sun was so bright, the air so crisp, that for the first time since turning the clock back, I actually believe spring will come and that once again, I'll be renewed.  In the past weeks, I've tried to force its arrival by buying brightly colored tops and making plans for summer travel but still didn't trust that anything would - or could - ever change. 

But today, the sun on the snow lit the world in a way I had forgotten; that show of light and Mr. Lamb's words have made all the difference.

3 comments:

  1. I haven't read that one, but I read "She's Come Undone" and I know what you mean. That book was one big cluster#$%# of events happening to one person. I found it a little to depressing for my taste.

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  2. I am halfway through and am thoroughly enjoying it. Depressing, yes, but I love how real it is. The characters are wading through difficult things, and showing how fragile humanity is in the process.

    I am looking forward to pressing forward, and may even continue with other Wally Lamb books in the future. A couple passages I have read, and then reread because they captured the idea so beautifully.

    Curious as to what else is on you "short list."

    Amen to the fact that this winter has felt like IT WILL NEVER END, and that all hope is lost.

    PS-Love that you walked Matt to the train station for work on your snow day.

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  3. Love that sign......there isn't enough of that these days right? :)

    stopping by from SITS!

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