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Summary
When high school teacher Caelum Quirk and his wife, Maureen, move to Littleton, Colorado, they both get jobs at Columbine High School. In April 1999, while Caelum is away, Maureen finds herself in the library at Columbine, cowering in a cabinet and expecting to be killed. Miraculously, she survives. But when Caelum and Maureen flee to an illusion of safety on the Quirk family's Connecticut farm, they discover that the effects of chaos are not easily put right.
Guidall really gives it his all with this book. It's not the absolute worst book I've ever listened to, and there are definitely some things about it that I find appealing. However, when all is said and done, I would say it's just average or slightly above average, if I had to rate it.
I had high hopes for this book. It was highly praised, and everyone knows that Wally Lamb is a talented writer. However, life is too short for me to waste time and money on a story that only brings me down. I really should have just skimmed through a few chapters at the library before committing. It just wasn't my thing.
On a positive note, I thoroughly appreciated the narrator's performance and will definitely seek out other books he has narrated.
The author of this book seems to have a bit of an attitude problem.
Firstly, I was not a fan of their writing style, which came off as arrogant and self-important. It felt like they were trying to teach readers a lesson about how much smarter they are by making the main character a teacher, professor, or a literature critic.
Secondly, it appears that the author has had some incredibly traumatizing experiences with child sexual assault. By the time I reached the fourth chapter, it seemed like every important character had been victimized by a family member or trusted adult. The fact that this is a reality that happens far too often in real life is truly horrifying, but I can't say it made for an enjoyable read during my free time. In fact, it was quite disturbing.
Overall, I didn't like the author enough to continue investing my time in their story, and I certainly didn't feel connected enough to the main character to invest any more of my emotions into his sad life.
Similar to the author's previous work, "I Know This Much Is True," this novel delves into the theme of survivor's guilt and its impact on individuals. Against the backdrop of the Columbine shooting survivors, the narrative follows the characters as they navigate a challenging and emotionally charged journey in the aftermath of the tragedy. The narrator's performance was outstanding, and the story itself was captivating and exquisitely written. I found myself shedding tears frequently while reading this heartfelt book.
Although it dragged on at certain moments, I'm a huge fan of lengthy reads. By the time I finished it, I was a complete mess, but not in a depressing manner, rather in an amazing manner. Wally Lamb is absolutely fantastic!
Rephrased:
Negative: There were numerous distractions and unnecessary plot elements throughout the latter half of the book. It seemed like Lamb struggled to wrap up the story and instead introduced concepts that may be explored in his future books.
Positive: Lamb's writing is exceptional, with a straightforward yet elegant prose. The narration was outstanding. Despite some flaws in the plot, I found myself reluctant for this audiobook to come to a close.
Once again, I am absolutely amazed by Mr. Lamb's exceptional ability to captivate with his storytelling. The way he expertly integrates various details to create a compelling and perfectly paced narrative is truly unmatched.
The performance was also incredibly well done. The narrator's voice felt completely authentic, as if I were truly hearing Caelum personally recounting his life and experiences.
I used to be a huge fan of Wally Lamb, loving "She's Come Undone" and "I Know This Much is True". Naturally, I was eagerly anticipating the release of his latest book. However, upon starting "The Hour I First Believed: A Novel", I found it to be an overwhelmingly depressing read. Just when you think it can't get any more dismal, it manages to become even more so. Personally, I fail to understand why anyone would want to write or read such a downcast story. Unfortunately, despite my attempts, I simply cannot bring myself to finish listening to it. To make matters worse, I found the narrator's performance unappealing as well. His monotonous and uninspiring voice was used for all the characters, leaving the overall experience dull and uninteresting. Out of the numerous books I've listened to on this service, this is the first one that I genuinely did not enjoy, both in terms of the story and the narration. Needless to say, I am extremely let down.
I always find myself curious about the kind of life Wally Lamb has experienced. His novels delve into the depths of mental illness and present unimaginable challenges. The characters lead sorrowful lives that span across generations, yet somehow find resilience in the face of loss. At times, it became overwhelming to read due to its raw and authentic portrayal. However, the book is skillfully written and manages to captivate the reader's attention throughout.
I really enjoyed this book for a few reasons, but one of the main things I liked was how the author skillfully intertwined the lives of the fictional characters with real-life events. It made for a clever and engaging read. The exploration of the concept of "victims" was also intriguing. The story made me think about who can be considered a victim in a tragedy and how the effects of such events can ripple out to impact more than just those directly involved. It also made me reflect on the idea that people can be both victims and perpetrators at the same time. It reminded me that even when we think we're in control of our own lives, chance, fate, and bad luck can throw us off course. The characters were relatable, and I sympathized with them throughout the story. However, I did feel that the book could have benefited from some editing to tighten the narrative, and some of the historical passages were overly detailed without much purpose. In my opinion, this isn't the author's best book; for a truly exceptional read by Lamb, I recommend the unabridged version of "I Know This Much Is True." Nonetheless, "The Hour I First Believed" is still an excellent story that is worth listening to.
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