Reflection

Author: Diane Chamberlain
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: HarperCollins Publisher, 1996
Pages: 403*
Rating: Recommend

Synopsis: Rachel Huber returns to her hometown of Reflection to care for her ailing grandmother. Twenty years ago, a tragedy occurred in Reflection and the people hold Rachel responsible. Now, she finds herself the object of anger and hostility. She is not without her allies, however. Lily Jackson, a young woman who was personally touched by the tragedy, perplexes everyone by treating Rachel with compassion. And Michael Stoltz, the minister of the Mennonite church, is elated by Rachel's return. He and Rachel were close friends as children, and that childhood bond quickly evolves into a loving relationship that must be hidden. It is Rachel's grandmother, Helen, however, who becomes her strongest advocate, surprising Rachel with her wise counsel and rare sterngth--and with a wealth of secrets she has long been concealing.

Review: Chamberlain's writing has certainly evolved over the years, and now having read a few of her books, I like her newer books better (Reflection was republished in both 2010 and 2014). That isn't to say this wasn't good. I did enjoy it. However, the story line was pretty typical or expected, although there was a bit of a plot twist toward the end. It took me longer to get into this novel than it had several of her others, but as an author I really like, I hung in there knowing it would pick up.

It took me a few days to get 3/4 of the way into it, but the last 1/4 was excellent. I binge read that portion this afternoon while my children "destroyed" the house.

If you're a Diane Chamberlain fan, you will like this. If you haven't read Chamberlain before, this is not the book to read first. I recommend Necessary Lies instead.

I'd like to read all of Chamberlain's novels, and luckily this was set in Pennsylvania, my home state. That was a requirement for my 2016 Reading Challenge.

*My paperback copy, published in 1996, was 403 pages. The hardcover edition published later is shorter because the dimensions of the book itself are larger.

The Stolen Marriage
Summer's Child

Necessary Lies