Name: The Book of Secrets
ISBN: 9780553592535

Elizabeth Arnold

After 25 years of marriage, Chloe and Nate Sinclair, bound by their love of literature, must finally come to terms with a tragic event from their past that they have turned their back on for so long and their failing bookstore that they once loved. Original.

A Novel

The Book of Secrets

Melissa Palmer

Book #64 Read in 2014
The Book of Secrets by Elizabeth Joy Arnold

I finished this book just now and am wondering how much can one family go through and live to tell the tale? Chloe and Nate were childhood sweethearts...Nate from a ultra-religious family; Chloe's mother was a teenager who became pregnant. Chloe becomes a part of Nate's family...as long as their scary father isn't home...and they exposure her to books and reading. Chloe tries to not expose them to the realities outside of their safe haven home. Worlds collide when 18 year old Chloe becomes pregnant with Nate's child. Obstacles are thrown at them constantly. 

At the start of the book, adult Chloe and Nate are having marital problems and Nate has returned back to their hometown. He did not share details of why with Chloe. She uncovers a notebook that he has been keeping in code and begins to decipher the code and Nate's feelings. Chloe follows him back to their hometown.

I enjoyed Arnold's writing style and the way she wove books into the story. Her characters were flawed but interesting. I wanted to keep reading to find out what happened to them. All in all, a very good read.

http://melissasbookpicks.blogspot.com

Jane Krauss

I love books about books. I love the mystery that this narrative holds; I found it a little hard to get into the story, but I got invested. Another tale about religious fundamentalism, and I'm glad this is different. All I wanted to do was figure out the mysterious Sinclaire's. The concept of suffering to atone is one that I have heard a lot, even in my own life. The apparent fear and comments on Mr Sinclaire said a lot and added a feeling of tension and thrill to the narrative. 
I enjoyed this book. It took me to places far darker than I imagined, but it felt so realistic and sad. It encapsulated every fear of parenthood I’ve ever had.

The Book of Secrets A Novel

Reviews

Highlights