I'm not one to write reviews for books, not even those I really like, but I feel compelled to weigh in on A SECRET WORD. I read it weeks ago and told my sisters and my mother and some friends at work about it, telling them that they would have to read it, and some have, and those who did loved it, too. But what I have to weigh in on is its remarkable story, or plot, which couldn't be more energized or more thorough in its representation of all aspects of female life, or maybe all life in general really. Between the plotlines of the three main characters, we've got two tragic deaths (one accidental, one intentional), a multitude of failed love affairs, love-at-first sight, a good marriage, a bad marriage, divorce, mother/daughter relationships, father/daughter relationships, brother/sister relationships, girlfriend friendships, a gay guy/straight girl friendship, drug use, rock 'n roll, tennis, dance, acting, abortion, depression, 9-11, and countless coming-of-age situations that are immensely funny or sad and always memorable and inspirational and which occur in locales as diverse as Florence, Italy; Destin, Florida; Washington, D.C.; Fort Smith, Arkansas; and New York, NY. Yet, somehow, with all this activity and diversity, the plotlines merge and develop in subtle ways that some readers, if they read too fast, won't be able to appreciate. If you're wanting to race through this book, and think you can or you should because it isn't long and because the language is clear and conversational, be warned: you will be missing out on much beauty, much music, much art, much real life. Be good to yourself, is my advice, and take in everything. If you race through the Metropolitan Museum of Art, you might think a Monet is just a simple blur of color and not much else. This book, I assure you, deserves either to be read slowly or to be reread. I opted, incidentally, to do both.Click Here to see more reviews about: A Secret Word: A Novel (Paperback)
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