Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Review-The Language of Secrets, by Dianne Dixon

THE LANGUAGE OF SECRETS
by Dianne Dixon
Doubleday, March 23, 2010
978-0-385-53063-7
272 pages

Justin Fisher stares at the two headstones in the graveyard of his mother and father, but then he notices a third stone etched with his name on it. According to the chiseled inscription he died in 1976, a short time past his third birthday. It was bad enough to discover that his father and mother had passed during his absence, but now staring at his own grave, panic ensues.

Justin is happily married with a young son. He never questioned the gaps in his past, never questioned the holes he could not fill in until recently. Perhaps it was because of his son Zack and his future that precipitated his need to know. He hasn’t seen his parents in years, or his sisters for that matter, and now it is too late. He sometimes recalls the song his mother Caroline sang to him, that offers some details, he lived on Lima Street and he had two sisters. Very little else is clear, yet he remembers his mom smelled like sweet sugar and his father used to run. When he visits Lima Street he learns there are new owners, and is given his father’s address, but later learns his visit is too late, his father died. Now, the shock of seeing his own grave and his inability to remember the past, sets Justin on a collision course with secrets of discovery, a Pandora’s box with no chance of turning back.

The Language of Secrets is one of those books that you just won’t need a bookmark. It calls you back, a challenge to break away. I was compelled to read on past each pause, each chapter, as I had to find out what happened next. Entranced, I lost all sense of time. The tragedy of Justin’s fate at the hands of a gutless disillusioned father is emotionally draining to read as the author captures the toddlers sobbing with sensitivity and realism. This is a superb read because the story appears to be unbelievable, a mystery, quite possibly fantasy. Perhaps a dream. As the reader you play detective trying to put together the puzzle that the author has placed on the table. What makes this so entertaining, is the pieces won’t fit until the final page.

Disclosure: This copy was sent to me by the publisher.

9 comments:

serendipity_viv said...

You have left me in suspense. I want to know more now! Was he adopted or stolen???

bermudaonion said...

This sounds fabulous! I love getting caught up in a book like that especially during these hot summer days.

serendipity_viv said...

You have left me in suspense. I want to know more now! Was he adopted or stolen???

Beth(bookaholicmom) said...

I just started this book and it is very riveting. I have to admit the thought of finding your headstone saying you are dead is kind of creepy! Great review!

rhapsodyinbooks said...

Boy wouldn't that be a shocker, finding your own gravestone and all! This sounds really good!

Iliana said...

Wow, this sounds so good. I like that it's one of those that makes you question things and play a bit of detective. Another one for my list!

wisteria said...

Well here is an update.

I was just cutting and pasting all your comments from my in construction Wordpress page and I went to post it on my blog. When I clicked on comments which says I have none, all your comments were there. So, Thank you everyone for stopping by. I have been having a grand time trying to get this fixed by Blogger on their NO HELP Forum.

wisteria said...

Vivienne...Neither
Beth...I know..I was drawn in totally.
Rhapsody..The way things are going for me, I wouldn't be shocked..LOL
Iliana..You'd like it..I know mysteries are your thing. :)

wisteria said...

Bermuda..Well it certainly is hot around my place. Sizzling. This will probably work. Thanks.