The Secret Life Of CeeCee Wilkes (2008) - Plot & Excerpts
What makes a mother? Genes? Childbirth? Love? And once a mother bonds with her child, is there anything that can break that bond? Diane Chamberlain’s novel “The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes” gives us the story of a teenage mother and her child. But there’s a lot more to it than just that and one small review can’t possibly describe the incredible and fascinating twists and turns the story takes.CeeCee’s mother died when she was just twelve. But she left her daughter a legacy of letters. Each letter intended for different days, some special some not, in CeeCee’s future life. And each chapter in this book that’s about CeeCee opens with quotes or paragraphs from one of those letters. An intelligent and gifted child, CeeCee completes her schooling early and is currently working towards getting into college and waiting tables when the book opens. But CeeCee is starving for love and naïve as only a 16 year old can be. Even when the reader sees the train wreck coming, you still wince and want to rail at CeeCee for her actions. Her love and longing for love results in her involvement in an unspeakable crime—at 16. Now, she’s on the run with a newborn and before she can figure a way out of this mess, she’s in love again…with the newborn she names Cory. Thus begins the live of Eve, formerly CeeCee.Eve lives as a single mother and eventually loves and marries. But she can never stop looking over her shoulder. And 26 years later, the dead mother’s body is discovered. Now a man stands accused of murder and CeeCee/Eve is the only one who can prevent his death. To admit her involvement will destroy her family and their careers. To do nothing will destroy her.As I read this story, I found myself trying to think of what I would have done if I were CeeCee. Lured into something she would never have considered…except for love. Forced into circumstances she could never have imagined…except for love. Then trying to build a life and find some happiness. And finally having to make decisions I couldn’t imagine in my worst nightmare. Does this make her strong? Or weak? Ms. Chamberlain’s ability to blur the absolute lines of right and wrong is incredible. Her portrayal of life in a southern college town is scarily bang on. Her characters become people you know or people you would like to know, to talk to, to ask questions of. But you’re still aware it’s fiction. And you quietly thank whatever deity you prefer that it is. “the Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes” is about motherhood and mothers. It’s about family and what makes a family. It’s about love and forgiveness and repentance. This is a book I’m glad I read. It made me think and made me reconsider absolutes. This is one I can’t recommend highly enough for those who are looking for more than a quick escape read…because this is surely not that. But it is a book that will draw out your emotions from one end of the scale to the other. And sometimes…that’s just what we need.
This was my introduction to Diane Chamberlain. I'll be reading more of her books because this one tugged at my heart a little. The story is about a young mother, Eve Elliot and her daughter Corinne. Eve has been living a life of lies and her daughter is heavily tangled within them. Corinne loves her mother and has lived a mostly normal life until the day she learns the truth. Throughout the book, Eve is forced to relive her past and make the decision whether or not to open up about what actually happened that day 28 years ago when a woman was murdered and Timothy Gleason was charged for it. The only person who can disprove this charge is CeeCee Wilkes, who mysteriously fell off the map a few years after. So this was a book about skeletons in the closet. The mistakes we make while young will haunt us into out adulthood. You pray that your children don't make the same mistakes, nor find out about yours. This is the case with CeeCee Wilkes. Chamberlain is a master storyteller, and this story moved fast and kept me interested throughout. The nicest touch was the beginning of each chapter, with an excerpt from one of the letters left to CeeCee by her dying mother. They're touching words of wisdom that well, let's just say CeeCee didn't heed!All in all, this was an interesting and absorbing story that made me care about the characters. There was a little romance and a little mystery, intrigue and adventure all rolled into one book. The ending was a little farfetched, but that's very subjective and others may see it differently. I will definitely read more from Diane Chamberlain. I see she has a very extensive backlist, so I'm looking forward to exploring it in the near future.
What do You think about The Secret Life Of CeeCee Wilkes (2008)?
Am I ever so glad I picked up this book, in Kroger and started reading it. I didn't buy it. But I did track it down at the library and check it out. :)One thing I learned or was reinforced from this book was how family is not just nature. Mothers and fathers are people that raise you, and make you who you grow up to be, the good and the bad. Genetics are a smaller part of who we grow up to be, and possibly more superficial - hair & eye color and such.I actually got chills while reading this book towards the end. My grandma read it before I did, and I really liked how we were able to talk about it. She enjoyed the book as well, and was eager for me to read it. I hope we can read more books and talk about them like we did this one.
—Robin
What a twisted web of lies that was spun... slowly loosing control, and finally letting it catch up to you...CeeCee Wilkes met a handsome man while waitressing at a diner. Tim Gleason was 12 years older than her and quickly had CeeCee wrapped around his finger. She was sixteen, and made a decision that would haunt the rest of her life. A scheme to kidnap the Governor's wife goes horribly wrong and CeeCee makes a decision that will impact everyone's future. Twenty years pass, and just when she thinks she's put this behind her-- It comes back up into the news.I was wavering between 3-4 stars on this one. Couldn't put it down once I started it, but the ending felt rushed and a little too perfect for me. I struggled to believe that Cory would completely abandon her family to fall for Ken- didn't seem realistic to me, and while I appreciated the ending, I also felt rushed through it all, and it didn't feel quite as legitimate as the rest of the book was.One thing is certain: I will be reading more by Ms. Chamberlain!
—Britany
This is my first Diane Chamberlain novel and it tells us the story of CeeCee Wilkes, a sixteen year old girl who lost her mother at the age of twelve. She is needy and eager to love and be loved and makes some bad choices which she has to live with for the rest of her life. Her over-protectiveness makes her first daughter, Cory, into a nervous woman who blames her mother for making her fearful as a child. CeeCee lives a lie for her adult years and eventually her past mistakes catch up with her. I knew her youthful decisions were mistakes but the writing was convincing and I was swept along with it. This is a thriller rather than a mystery, as the reader knows what happened but the rest of the world is in ignorance. I found it an exciting and engrossing read and was disappointed when it finished - especially when the final 5% consisted of excerpts. I really hate that! The story itself I loved.
—Kath Middleton
