Interesting story, but took too long to tell it. The progression of the main character, Hattie, was interesting as she goes from denial to complete acceptance of her situation. One aspect of the story I found odd was the unfinished details of when Hattie's daughter tells her that she will be home for Christmas and hopes Hattie will be there. Clearly Hattie does not go home and yet we never hear from the daughter or the consequences of her being ignored. It felt like the author forgot about it. “Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.” Hattie Darling’s husband dies suddenly, and she sets out on a quest to find out what he was trying to tell her before he died. It’s a good story, but one that drags on for too long with no good resolution. He’s a bigamist with a child and a whole other life. His secret life soon becomes her secret life. Her secret keeping, though, seems more cruel than his. His other wife, Anya, is dying and she & her daughter are hoping Ben will soon come home. Hattie knows Ben is dead, yet, she stands by and let’s this family wonder where he is. She has so many opportunities to tell them, but makes excuses as to why she doesn’t or shouldn’t.By the end, you’re angry with Hattie, no matter how much good she’s done throughout the story. She should have told them, shared some of the insurance money, and gone home. End of story.
What do You think about A Trick Of Light (2000)?
I enjoyed this book. A little predictable at times, but a bit of a surprise at the end.
—Orangecat
What would you do? A thought that replays over and over after the last word.
—BeautyBaseZero1
Interesting take on the common theme of another woman.
—Bulldog1113
