Tuesday, July 30, 2013

"Necessary Lies" by Diane Chamberlain - REVIEW


My Take
5+ Stars!
NEW RELEASE! Physical and ebook release date is September 3rd, 2013! 
A story that will touch your heart forever.
When I got this book for review, Necessary Lies, the first thing I did was visit this authors website. I couldn't tell you why I did, but I did. I am SO glad I did because while there I found this novella, a prequel to this book called, "The First Lie". I bought that one, read it, and I fell in love with the characters. You can find that review HERE. I knew I was going to love this book, and I did. Oh, did I ever! 
After reading this book, "Necessary Lies", it demands we stand up, start clapping, and yell "BRAVO" to this author for writing such a moving, and thoroughly outstanding piece of fictional literature, based on true life, the life history of probably thousands of people in total. This book was screaming out loud to be written! To know what we are reading is a part of history, even though fictional, causes us to become so much more emotionally invested in the story this book has to tell. This book is full of shocking, striking, amazing, unbelievably heart wrenching moments, soul searching, sadness, empathy, anger and more scenarios that truly did happen in real life. This book is based upon real characters in real life, and real things that really did happen. This book also demands a second read through after you are finished, too. This is how moving this book truly is.
The writing was so realistic, it absorbs the reader into the story so much that my Kindle went with me everywhere because I literally could not stop reading this book! I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN! The story and writing, both, in this book, is outstanding. It demanded to be read.
I was so drawn into this story of Ivy, who is fifteen, Mary Ella who is seventeen and mother to baby William. No one knows who the father to baby William is. Then there is Nonnie, the mean, nasty, and ornery Grandmother. She just rubs us the wrong way from the beginning. I did not like her at all. 
These 4 people live in Grace County, North Carolina, on a farm in the middle of all those acres and acres of pure tobacco crops. 
All of these people lived in rags of clothing, and baby William in his diaper. The house wasn't much at all. It was a shack with no running water and an outhouse outside. Ivy hated to walk through all that tobacco at dusk to trying to find Mary Ella sometimes when she disappeared and couldn't be found. It kind of scared her, walking in between the tobacco. Mary Ella had had her appendix out right after baby William was born. Ivy was glad it didn't burst while it was still inside of Mary Ella. Ivy was worried about it bursting because they talked about it when Mary Ella was still pregnant with baby William. Ivy knew of someone in school whose Appendix burst, and she didn't want that happening to Mary Ella.
She saw all the lights on at Henry Allen's house, but didn't think she'd be there. That was Mr Gardiner's house, and he was the one who provided their house to them free of rent on account of Mr. Gardiner being so close of friends to someone in their family. The girls also worked in the tobacco fields for him, too. Mr. Gardiner put electric in their house when they were little, at least. Mr. Gardiner was also the daddy to Henry Allen, a boyfriend of Ivy's, but shhh. People could only think her and Henry Allen only knew each other and not like boyfriend and girlfriend. His daddy would not like that at all, not his son. Mr Gardiner was nice sometimes as he would give Mary Ella a few extra pieces of food every now and then. The family started to count on it, so they always tried to be as good as they could so the extras would keep coming. They could tell no one that any extras came, either, because if the Social Worker, Mrs. Werkman, or Nurse Ann got wind of it, they would take more money out of their monthly check for welfare they got, even if it was only two turnips. Lately a new Social Worker started to come by. Her name was Jane. Ivy didn't know if she liked her or not yet. She was trying. She was kind of funny, though, wearing high heels where no one would have done that. Ivy got wind that her appendix might need to come out, too, and she was confused because she didn't think there was anythng wrong with it. Why would she need hers out?
With as much as Mary Ella ran around, at least she hadn't come back home pregnant again. That was kind of odd that she didn't. Hmmm. . . ?
This is one story that has been the MOST emotionally moving stories of my life. Speaking of 'crying', I "never" cry while reading a book, but I ended up getting so emotionally invested in these characters in this story, every part felt so REAL, and it was! I cried, I laughed, I sobbed, I yelled, I talked to these characters as the story went along, nor could I hold the tears back, which turned into those sobs!
Some scenes, when I think about them, I still get choked up about even after this story is finished. I miss these characters.
Have you ever heard of the Eugenics Board? That is when the state considered sterilization as an end to poverty and welfare. They would have to find the people 'feeble minded' first. Well . . . that is what they tried with a lot of these people. It is very prolific throughout this book. Sad. Very sad.
Just when I thought nothing worse could happen to them, it did. Another thing comes along to throw a wrench into the story of their lives. Not one part of this story drags, it never failed to surprise me coming out of left field. and the ending was so SPECTACULAR! I will never forget this story, EVER, nor should we!
The title could not be anymore fitting! 
This is one of the BEST books of 2013 and into the future, a story that was crying to get out there and be told, even though this one is Fiction, so much truth comes out of it. Don't let this fool you, either, as it is based on factual history. Diane Chamberlain explains how she researched this, and where this stands today, as well. It's quite amazing.
This book is going to bring original and many NEW fans to this authors writing to light!
To know this story IS based upon true factual events that went well into a time when we should have known better, and to give that kind of power to the people they did IS utterly jaw dropping.
This book is going to take the world by storm, as it should! They won't know what hit them, NOR will the people who make the decisions in the state of North Carolina as Readers write to them! I highly suggest this. You will be so shocked. This shall be in limbo no longer! There is a link in the back of the book where you can watch the victims of Eugenics come forward to discuss what happened and how they feel about it. You will have to make it a point to read this book! It keeps you glued to the page, for sure!
Congratulations to this author, again, BRAVO! An gripping story, one you will NOT soon forget b
FAR!! I received this book for FREE from St Martins Press, through NetGalley, in exchange to read and write a review about it. It is NOT required for this review to be either positive or negative, but of my own honest opinion. "Free" means I was provided with ZERO MONIES to read this book nor to write this review, but to enjoy the pure pleasure of reading it. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

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