Unexpected

Today I skip tradition. Its been two weeks since I posted anything up and I actually really want to tell you about this book I've finished reading just about a week ago. If you know David Baldacci or have read his books, you know that he is good at what he does. And what he does is write one of the best works of fiction I have ever read based mostly on politics, mystery and well, death. Most of his books are in series and it would be difficult not to want to read one after another. I had read three of David's books before this one and was astounded by the difference in genre. This book,'One Summer' did not have politics or mystery but it did have death and probably a little mystery or if you prefer...a life-changing miracle.

One Summer is one of those books that you pause a lot just to take in the whole scenario. You're even tempted to feel some injustice at play. You end up being so attached to characters you forget its fiction. Actually, if you've watched a movie on a family almost at the verge of a breakdown when a parent or even both parents die in an accident and the kids end up either falling into their parent's role(s) or go through through life with so much difficulty..you will immediately connect with this book. Ladies, you might need to get out your tissues. Let me introduce you to the Armstrong family.

Jack Armstrong is loving husband to Lizzie and father of three; Mikki (the moody teenager), Cory (the middle sweet child) and little Jackie (cute three year old). A military man and a war veteran, he had escaped death several times, only to have it knock on his door in the name of terminal illness. With just weeks to live, Jack decides to cherish the few moments he has with his family and promises Lizzie to stay on till Christmas. He writes letters to her so she can read them when he's gone. Only that's not how things happen. Like a twisted movie, Lizzie dies Christmas Eve in a grizzly road accident survived by a dying husband and three shaken kids. Honestly, if this was a movie I'd be crying buckets...wondering why the world is a cruel place then convincing myself its just a movie, its just a book...but is it really? Surely we know someone whose been through an equal or worse tragedy than this... It isn't however this part of the book that striked me, it's the next.

Jack felt cheated. Life had cheated him out of dying. Well, that is dying before his wife. He had thought he would go and Lizzie would move on, find another man to be with and raise the kids. But life ripped that page right out. Now here he was dying and there's nothing that could bring his family back together again. Arrangements were made for his kids to be sent to live with relatives. Another tragedy...his family torn apart and there was nothing he could do. At this point dear readers, I have to tell you. I have a feeling David wanted to imply that the Lord was at work in Jack's life but that would introduce the whole concept of God wouldn't it. Still, am convinced that if this were a real life story...I'd say it was definitely God at work. So, Jack got his miracle. Somehow, and weird enough, Jack began to heal. I know right? The man was dying! This was clearly a man who did not want to lose his family so hope triumphed science and he lived. And soon enough, he was able to go get his kids and become a family again. From here on, its a bitter sweet story with the Armstrong's trying to rebuild their life and we see this happen one summer in South Carolina on a beach side property owned by Lizzie's granny but now passed on to Jack and his kids. It is here that they come to heal and find purpose in life after Lizzie.

I have to say dear readers, I could not possibly tell you everything that happened in this book.What I can however do is make you see the unexpectedness that David so very nicely displays here. Kind of a life lesson...you never know how life goes so live every day as if its your last. Cherish your family. Create memories. And so many more that David showed us through this family. It's my hope that if you get your hands on this particular read, that you will learn that in the face of tragedy, there's despair but hope like sunshine comes new every morning. Now isn't that great? :)