Helpful Score: 3
Should you measure your life by the mistakes youve made? Or whether or not you let those mistakes define your life? Before the Storm by Diane Chamberlain is a gut-wrenching tale of mistakes, forgiveness, and endurance. This story made me cry. No, not just cry, but sob. This is NOT a happily ever after tale. This is a getting through and learning to live with what life throws at you tale. Theres so much more that youll just have to read the book to understand, but Ill do my best to give you an idea of what to expect.
This is the story of Laurel. She met the love of her life in college. Jaime. Jaime who was more saint than sinner. Their life was happy until she bore their first child Maggie and was stuck with a serious case of post partum depression which went untreated but left Laurel unattached to Maggie and feeling like a complete failureat everything! During a separation, Laurel was pulled from her loneliness by Jaimes brother Marcus. Marcus was the black sheep to Jaimes golden boy. He deadened his pain with alcohol, and unintentionally taught Laurel to do the same. Their relationship changed one drunken night, but both agreed NEVER to think about it again. Jaime and Laurel got back togetherjust in time for Laurel to find out shes pregnant again. Still depressed and spiraling out of control, she continues to deaden her pain with wine coolersand gives birth to a child with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Thats Laurels wake-up call to turn her life around.
Fourteen years later Laurel is a survivor. s life is about to fall apart all over again. She survived Jaimes death. She survived single parenthood. But now her life is about to fall apart all over again. Her beloved and special son Andy is accused of setting a fire that killed three people, hurt countless others, and destroyed a church. Now shes fighting to save her son. But there are still secrets to be discovered and the more Laurel learns, the more she wonders if she really knows any of the special people in her life, especially her children.
This novel is written mostly in first person, so if that bothers you, youve been warned! The story moves between time and perspective. From Laurels early life, to Andys view of the world, to Marcus efforts to be involved, to Maggies heartbreaking efforts to become a womantheyre all here and each characters words drive the story and plot to its inevitable conclusion. The reader feels the pureness of spirit behind Andys actions, the enthusiasm and naiveté of Maggie, Laurels desperate attempts to atone for her earlier actions, and Marcus efforts to become a better man for all of them. I keep deleting parts of this review so as not to give too much away, but its so hard. Even with the time and voice changes, I didnt get confused. Ms Chamberlain has a talent for pulling the reader INTO the story. So many times I found myself wanting to comfort one character or warn another. I felt the small-town ties and the burdens of everyone knowing too much about everyone else and how actions of youth in a small town can and do follow you forever into adulthood. The bias of have vs have not, old-timer vs newcomer, normal vs not normal, family vs family, religion vs religion and all those other things that pretty much define small town America.
If I keep writing Ill just give too much away. So if youre looking for a sweet, pleasant read, then you should just move on along. If youre looking for a book that will make you think and worry and cry and laugh and likely hug your loved ones a little harderthen please find a copy of Before the Storm by Diane Chamberlain. Its an emotional, yet cathartic read about life, relationships, and learning.
This is the story of Laurel. She met the love of her life in college. Jaime. Jaime who was more saint than sinner. Their life was happy until she bore their first child Maggie and was stuck with a serious case of post partum depression which went untreated but left Laurel unattached to Maggie and feeling like a complete failureat everything! During a separation, Laurel was pulled from her loneliness by Jaimes brother Marcus. Marcus was the black sheep to Jaimes golden boy. He deadened his pain with alcohol, and unintentionally taught Laurel to do the same. Their relationship changed one drunken night, but both agreed NEVER to think about it again. Jaime and Laurel got back togetherjust in time for Laurel to find out shes pregnant again. Still depressed and spiraling out of control, she continues to deaden her pain with wine coolersand gives birth to a child with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Thats Laurels wake-up call to turn her life around.
Fourteen years later Laurel is a survivor. s life is about to fall apart all over again. She survived Jaimes death. She survived single parenthood. But now her life is about to fall apart all over again. Her beloved and special son Andy is accused of setting a fire that killed three people, hurt countless others, and destroyed a church. Now shes fighting to save her son. But there are still secrets to be discovered and the more Laurel learns, the more she wonders if she really knows any of the special people in her life, especially her children.
This novel is written mostly in first person, so if that bothers you, youve been warned! The story moves between time and perspective. From Laurels early life, to Andys view of the world, to Marcus efforts to be involved, to Maggies heartbreaking efforts to become a womantheyre all here and each characters words drive the story and plot to its inevitable conclusion. The reader feels the pureness of spirit behind Andys actions, the enthusiasm and naiveté of Maggie, Laurels desperate attempts to atone for her earlier actions, and Marcus efforts to become a better man for all of them. I keep deleting parts of this review so as not to give too much away, but its so hard. Even with the time and voice changes, I didnt get confused. Ms Chamberlain has a talent for pulling the reader INTO the story. So many times I found myself wanting to comfort one character or warn another. I felt the small-town ties and the burdens of everyone knowing too much about everyone else and how actions of youth in a small town can and do follow you forever into adulthood. The bias of have vs have not, old-timer vs newcomer, normal vs not normal, family vs family, religion vs religion and all those other things that pretty much define small town America.
If I keep writing Ill just give too much away. So if youre looking for a sweet, pleasant read, then you should just move on along. If youre looking for a book that will make you think and worry and cry and laugh and likely hug your loved ones a little harderthen please find a copy of Before the Storm by Diane Chamberlain. Its an emotional, yet cathartic read about life, relationships, and learning.
Helpful Score: 1
Excellent book! Hard one to put down without finishing it!
Helpful Score: 1
I have had this book sitting on my counter for over 2 weeks, not thinking about it......now that i finished it in redord time, i cannot beleive what took me so long to start it!
What a fantastic book. A book that grabbed me from the beginnig. Secrets that had you twisting and you have to keep reading, thinking you know what happened....then realizing oh my....you had no idea.
A must read!
What a fantastic book. A book that grabbed me from the beginnig. Secrets that had you twisting and you have to keep reading, thinking you know what happened....then realizing oh my....you had no idea.
A must read!
Helpful Score: 1
Eh?!? It was okay. The flashback part of the story was very interesting and kept me turning pages. But the main story was just okay. I found the emphasis on empathy and the parallels she drew based on that to be contrived.
GAIL L. (my2luvsemmyandmally) reviewed Before the Storm (Before the Storm, Bk 1) on + 758 more book reviews
I thought this book was excellent! Kept me reading all thru the night until I finished it! If you have never tried a Diane Chamberlain book....pick this one up!
Anissa S. (Anissa419) - , reviewed Before the Storm (Before the Storm, Bk 1) on + 69 more book reviews
great book
Another great book by Diane Chamberlain. I found the beginning a little slow, however mid-way through the book it just took off...surprises around every corner!! I was excited to see a sequal was published this past summer.
Carol F. (cactusflowerwomen) reviewed Before the Storm (Before the Storm, Bk 1) on + 628 more book reviews
Excellent story and had me compusively binging on it. Good character and plausible situations.
Heather F. (AZmom875) -
EGADS! I was checking how many pages, and My eyes fell on the last page. DO NOT DO THAT! It ruins the whole thing!!!!
I was 50 pages into the 480 page book, when I skipped to the back to see how many pages this book really was. My eyes fell to the last written page, not an epilogue, so what would you call it? It was even after the epilogue. So dont do that cause then you know who did what. I still kept reading the book and read the whole book in one day.
This story changes perspective depending on who is talking and it also, has the flashbacks. All the stories interweave which is what make Diane Chamberlain a great writer.
I would recommend this book as one worth reading. Just dont ruin it by having the foreknowledge of who did it.
I was 50 pages into the 480 page book, when I skipped to the back to see how many pages this book really was. My eyes fell to the last written page, not an epilogue, so what would you call it? It was even after the epilogue. So dont do that cause then you know who did what. I still kept reading the book and read the whole book in one day.
This story changes perspective depending on who is talking and it also, has the flashbacks. All the stories interweave which is what make Diane Chamberlain a great writer.
I would recommend this book as one worth reading. Just dont ruin it by having the foreknowledge of who did it.
Vivian Q. (bellasgranny) -
I had this one on my Wish List for more than six months before I caved in and borrowed it from my local library. Once again, Diane Chamberlain grabs you from the first page. She does some terrific research on the topics for this novel - post partum depression and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Ms. Chamberlain gives her readers such wonderful characters. Flawed, yes, but definitely genuine. A wonderful story of love, loss, betrayal, redemption and so much more. I'm looking forward to her next release. She's never repetitive, contunues to grow as a writer, and just gets better and better with each book. I highly recommend.
Julie G. (renegadespiritcat) reviewed Before the Storm (Before the Storm, Bk 1) on + 198 more book reviews
EXCELLENT book, this book held my attention so much I could hardly put it down, great descriptive characters and a story/ plot line that held one in awe wanting more. A great wrap up as well not rushed it was a superb book by a talented author.
Great book.
