What do You think about After The Fire (2001)?
I hated the character, honestly who could be so stupid and lie so much to everyone. The end though honestly surprised me. I haven't decided if I like this book or not. I've never read a book where I dislike the main character as much as this one.
—Jennifer Hillier
I had never even heard of Belva Plain when I saw this novel for sale at our library, but I thought the synopsis was intriguing and boy was I right. And I've since learned that several of you have read and loved Plain's books, and if they are all like this one I can understand why.Where to begin? The characters were wonderful--full of real life emotion and actions and often complex. The writing was also well done--admittedly the story started off a bit slow for me, but that is because the real drama of the story was yet to come. Once things really got dicey, it was tough to put this book down (though sadly I had to a few times with everything going on for the holiday weekend). In some ways, the story is part mystery, though mainly it is about a woman, Hyacinth, who is coping with a nasty divorce, limited time with her own children, and an inability to really trust people and sometimes even be around them. She lives in daily fear that her ex-husband will expose a secret that she can hardly believe even happened. Eventually another man comes into her life, but as much as she loves him, her inability to trust him and disclose what has happened in her past ultimately comes between them. Of course, there is her ex-husband's partner, Arnie, who we know is in love with her throughout the entire story, though she doesn't feel that she can reciprocate those feelings. Do you see how the story quickly becomes complicated and heart-wrenching at times? Oh, and as for that ex-husband, Gerald... boy do you love to hate him, or at least I did. A more condescending, unreasonable, unfaithful jerk you'll be hard-pressed to find, though he tries so hard to cover it all up with his "charm."When the truth about that tragic secret was finally revealed, I have to admit I was pretty surprised. I suppose I ought to have seen it coming, but I think that in many ways I am as naive as our protagonist, Hyacinth. Plain really did a brilliant job weaving an incredible story that at times seems almost unbelievable, though in reality stranger things have happened. It is rewarding to see Hyacinth's life start to turn around, though her road is certainly bumpy as she tries to move on from what has happened to her.
—Melissa
Please give me back the hours I spent reading this book. Starting with the horrid title (because the fire is gone from their marriage, you see?) and ending after 300+ pages of dramadramadrama. The main character, Hyacinth, is supposedly an artist in a happy marriage. Then suddenly she loses her husband and the custody of the kids (and of course finds that lost artsy side of herself in the process). I feel for her, but even more I'm annoyed by her whining and crying and uselessness. She seems content on being a victim, waiting to be rescued by someone. She's also boring and not very nice (at one point she thinks to herself how her friend will be fat in a few years, the poor thing...because that's the kind of thing you notice about your friends right?). The book has the word "heartwarming" in the backcover. I usually know to avoid these books...we are never friends.
—Helmisade
