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Dramatic,
Interesting,
Insightful

8 reviews

Secrets of Eden: A Novel
by Chris Bohjalian

Published: 2010-01-28
Kindle Edition : 386 pages
7 members reading this now
16 clubs reading this now
13 members have read this book
Recommended to book clubs by 6 of 8 members

NOW A LIFETIME TV MOVIE STARRING JOHN STAMOS

From the bestselling author of The Double Bind, Midwives, and Skeletons at the Feast comes a novel of shattered faith, intimate secrets, and the delicate nature of sacrifice.

"There," says Alice Hayward to Reverend Stephen Drew, just after her ...

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Introduction

NOW A LIFETIME TV MOVIE STARRING JOHN STAMOS

From the bestselling author of The Double Bind, Midwives, and Skeletons at the Feast comes a novel of shattered faith, intimate secrets, and the delicate nature of sacrifice.

"There," says Alice Hayward to Reverend Stephen Drew, just after her baptism, and just before going home to the husband who will kill her that evening and then shoot himself. Drew, tortured by the cryptic finality of that short utterance, feels his faith in God slipping away and is saved from despair only by a meeting with Heather Laurent, the author of wildly successful, inspirational books about . . . angels. 

Heather survived a childhood that culminated in her own parents' murder-suicide, so she identifies deeply with Alice’s daughter, Katie, offering herself as a mentor to the girl and a shoulder for Stephen – who flees the pulpit to be with Heather and see if there is anything to be salvaged from the spiritual wreckage around him.
But then the State's Attorney begins to suspect that Alice's husband may not have killed himself. . .and finds out that Alice had secrets only her minister knew.

Secrets of Eden is both a haunting literary thriller and a deeply evocative testament to the inner complexities that mark all of our lives.  Once again Chris Bohjalian has given us a riveting page-turner in which nothing is precisely what it seems.  As one character remarks, “Believe no one.  Trust no one.  Assume all of our stories are suspect.”

Editorial Review

No editorial review at this time.

Excerpt

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Discussion Questions

Suggested by Members

We used mainly the discussion topics/questions contained in the Reader's Guide in the back of the book. Our group is less structured and we let the conversation go wherever members take it.
by lucydog (see profile) 10/01/14

Notes From the Author to the Bookclub

No notes at this time.

Book Club Recommendations

We chose Vermont Potluck as our food theme
by lucydog (see profile) 10/01/14
Members brought Vermont Cheddar spread, Maple Applesauce, New England Bean Dip, Meatballs, Muffins with Maple Syrup, and soft maple candy that I ordered from Mount Mansfield Maple Products in Vermont...the food was delicious!
Arrange a call with the author, if possible.
by Bruce (see profile) 08/16/11

Member Reviews

Overall rating:
 
 
  "Mesmeriziing Literary Thriller"by ELIZABETH V. (see profile) 02/13/19

I cannot emphasize enough how wonderful SECRETS OF EDEN is. Every sentence is so well written, and the story is arranged so well.

SECRETS OF EDEN begins with the first-person account of

... (read more)

 
by Nash N. (see profile) 12/10/18

 
  "Secrets of Eden "by Deb K. (see profile) 10/10/14

Repetitive. Tedious to listen to because of this.

 
  "Secrets of Eden"by Angela C. (see profile) 10/01/14

Our book club was split between a few who really liked this book and many who strongly disliked it. Overall the group felt the characters were well developed but that they were very unlikeable. They... (read more)

 
  "Bohjalian weaves"by Linda J. (see profile) 02/06/12

tales which wrap around the reader's mind and seduce the reader into a comfort that both know is false. There is upheaval to come, but when and how?

 
  "Don't waste your time on these characters or the story."by robin W. (see profile) 10/04/11

 
  "Secrets of Eden"by Diane L. (see profile) 08/16/11

For the most part, everyone in the club really enjoyed reading this book. They found the characters very interesting and the story unusual. Our meeting was made more exciting by the fact that we were... (read more)

 
  "Secrets of Eden"by Karen H. (see profile) 05/20/10

Love the way he writes!

 
  "Secrets of Eden"by Lora Glass N. (see profile) 04/20/10

Like all of Bohjalian's books this was addictive. This was a great selection for a book discussion.

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