A first novel by a Minnesota author. I loved it! The author did a wonderful job of developing the characters while driving the plot. Many books seems to have one or the other: the development of characters or a fast-paced plot, so this was a really good read. The title's meaning is significant to nearly every single character in the book. Each person had something in their history that they wanted to forget, but couldn't, and most of them were punishing themselves for it. Even though they were each trying to "bury" it in their own ways - certainly by not acknowledging it to others - they were living their lives and making decisions based on those same things.
I really liked both Joe and Lila. I think they were really good for each other. They both had things in their past that caused them a lot of guilt, so it was great that they found someone who wouldn't judge them for their past actions. I thought Joe made some questionable decisions, like bailing his mother out of jail with his college money and going after DJ on his own, but there were reasons, that were actually understandable, for his actions. On top of that, he was a college kid, and people that age sometimes think they are invincible! I loved how resourceful he was when he had to be though. His will to survive was apparent in the most direst of situations! He persevered and definitely had his McGyver moments in the cabin! ;)
Carl was the most tragic character in the novel of course. Talk about someone living with his guilt. He certainly did not deserve to spend his live in prison or die a painful death from cancer. It's interesting that he could put a positive spin on his imprisonment though. He lived a life in prison when he most likely wouldn't have lived at all if he hadn't been sent to prison. In his mind, he deserved to be there anyway for what he did in Vietnam.
I loved the code used by Crystal in her diary. I think it's appalling that the police used the diary to convict Carl without even breaking the code though. Talk about assumptions! What's even more interesting to me is that the book I am currently reading - set in a completely different country, culture and time - is also about a woman who journals using a code. It's so weird that subject matters in common pop up so often in books I read consecutively, although there is no prior indication they would have a common theme. Anyway, it's too bad that Crystal didn't have a trusted person she could confide in. Very sad.
The only thing I wasn't crazy about was the ending. It wasn't exactly a "neat and tidy" ending in one respect, because after all, Joe found himself the primary caregiver for his autistic brother while trying to attend college and work. But in another respect, the rewards seemed too neat and tidy. Not that I didn't want the best for Joe and Jeremy, but the rewards did seem to tie things up in a neat little bow....
All in all, a great read. The author has a second book out called "The Guise of Another", which I will definitely read.
Wendy's Rating: *****
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