Bird in Hand
By: Christina Baker Kline
Pages: 288
Read: 8/29/14
"The
accident was just that -- an accident. It was dark, it was raining,
ALISON had two drinks in her, and the other car ran the stop sign. She
just didn't get out of the way fast enough. But now a little boy -- not
her own -- is dead, and Alison finds herself trapped under the twin
burdens of grief and guilt, and feeling increasingly estranged from her
husband . . .
CHARLIE, who has his own burdens. He's in a job he doesn't love so that Alison can stay home with the kids (and why isn't she more grateful for that?); he has a house in the suburbs and a long commute to and from the city each day. And the only thing can focus on these days is his secret, sudden affair with . . .
CLAIRE, Alison's best friend. Bold where Alison is reserved; vibrant where Alison is demure, Claire has just had her first novel published, a thinly-veiled retelling of her childhood in South Carolina (which is also Alison's, in a sense). But even in the whirlwind of publication, Claire can't stop wondering if she should leave her husband . . .
BEN, an architect who is thoughtful, kind, and patient. And who wants nothing more than a baby, or two -- in fact, exactly the kind of life that Charlie and Alison have . . .
Four people, two marriages, one lifelong friendship: everything is about to change."
CHARLIE, who has his own burdens. He's in a job he doesn't love so that Alison can stay home with the kids (and why isn't she more grateful for that?); he has a house in the suburbs and a long commute to and from the city each day. And the only thing can focus on these days is his secret, sudden affair with . . .
CLAIRE, Alison's best friend. Bold where Alison is reserved; vibrant where Alison is demure, Claire has just had her first novel published, a thinly-veiled retelling of her childhood in South Carolina (which is also Alison's, in a sense). But even in the whirlwind of publication, Claire can't stop wondering if she should leave her husband . . .
BEN, an architect who is thoughtful, kind, and patient. And who wants nothing more than a baby, or two -- in fact, exactly the kind of life that Charlie and Alison have . . .
Four people, two marriages, one lifelong friendship: everything is about to change."
I had extremely high hopes for this book because I loved Orphan Train. Unfortunately, I wasn't as impressed with this book. I think the main issue I had was that I didn't like any of the characters. Ben was the only one who was semi OK and who I didn't want to punch in the face through the whole thing. I will say that the plot is pretty realistic, what happens in the book could happen to anyone. And unfortunately, cheating husbands and wives seems to be all too common these days. I imagine the story is very relatable for people in the same stage of life as the characters (midlife, deciding on kids, job issues etc.), but I just couldn't get past the fact that I disliked all of the characters immensely.
I gave this book a 3/5 on my GoodReads.
this book sounds.... crazy. i liked orphan train but i didn't love it, and this book doesn't sound like my cup of tea. love your honesty!
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