The Hour I First Believed

Perhaps this will be my first Wally Lamb. I suppose he is one of the authors I am “saving.”

DNF. Read about 100 pages. I liked the writing style, but did not care about the characters or what happened to them. Too long of a book to keep going.

It was an interesting read, putting fictional characters into a real situation - Columbine - and following one couple dealing with the aftermath, then interspersing their story with letters that had been written by the main character's great-grandmother many years before, and family history from the Civil War. The supposed letters were written in such old-fashioned language that I just skimmed through them, but the main story, of dealing with secrets and tragedy and feelings of abandonment and spirituality, was captivating. I give it a 3-1/2 star rating.

Bring a box of tissues, but read it. I'm a fan of Lamb's writing, though this is certainly a heavy read (Columbine + women's prison...).