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debs4jc's review against another edition
3.0
A powerful story that explores the effect secrets can have on us. Elizabeth Gunnar accepts a teaching position at the preparatory school she attended as a girl and she ends up returning to memories, mysteries, and an old love. The mystery if what really happened to her favorite teacher--right before the end of her senior year he tried to commit suicide and they never saw him again. The official story was that he had a heart attack--but Elizabeth and her friends were the ones who found him, and they know better. Now that Elizabeth is back at the school and with her old friends she keeps wondering what really happened to him. She also befriends one of her students--a precocious girl with a terrible home life. As a mentor to this young girl she hopes not to fail her in the same way she feels her teacher failed her. Fans of fiction that makes you think, especially with a Christian influence, will enjoy this one.
reneesmith's review against another edition
4.0
A gentle story about how God brings meaning & joy as folks live everyday, ordinary lives.
megancrusante's review against another edition
3.0
I love boarding school mysteries- this one was pretty good!
tracy_j's review against another edition
2.0
Decent story but didn't keep my attention, I only finished it because it was for a book club lol.
mandyb_75's review
4.0
I enjoyed every page and the characters stayed with me for days. It started out a little slow, but once a few chapters in, I was hooked.
whatallisonwrote's review against another edition
4.0
Always a pleasure
Tatlock's books are always a pleasure. Every Secret Thing seems more overtly Christian than others I've read, but it's not beat you over the head, it's just there. Simple and easy.
I had a harder time getting into the groove of this story, but the characters grew on me and I loved the parallels with Woolf's writings.
Tatlock's books are always a pleasure. Every Secret Thing seems more overtly Christian than others I've read, but it's not beat you over the head, it's just there. Simple and easy.
I had a harder time getting into the groove of this story, but the characters grew on me and I loved the parallels with Woolf's writings.
maigahannatu's review
4.0
Beth is a new teacher at the school she attended in high school. Taking on the new job and living on campus (the school is both a day school and a boarding school), memories of one of her teachers come to the surface. At the same time, one of her students and her bond over their love for writing and of books. The old teacher comes back into her life and her troubled student and he help each other in unusual ways.
The book is good. There are a lot of references to classic literature, but the author gives enough explanation and quotes that she doesn't assume her readers know what she's talking about. The book is written in 2007. Written in 2019 with today's Child Safety Policies at schools, she would surely have been fired for having a student alone at her house. Even in 2007 she should have known better even though in this instance it is a positive helpful relationship. It surprised me a bit, though, that the author seemed clueless about the dangers of one-on-one relationships with students, especially in a boarding school situation.
The book is good. There are a lot of references to classic literature, but the author gives enough explanation and quotes that she doesn't assume her readers know what she's talking about. The book is written in 2007. Written in 2019 with today's Child Safety Policies at schools, she would surely have been fired for having a student alone at her house. Even in 2007 she should have known better even though in this instance it is a positive helpful relationship. It surprised me a bit, though, that the author seemed clueless about the dangers of one-on-one relationships with students, especially in a boarding school situation.
evamadera1's review
4.0
A review from my old blog...
Ann Tatlock continues to be one of my absolute favorite authors. If she publishes a new book I will buy the book even without knowing what the book is about.
This book chronicles a time in the life of an English teacher at a prep school in Delaware. Beth loves books, even more than I do. I totally identified with her. I also identified with the really normal pace of the story and the completely believable pacing in the story.
Ann Tatlock weaves together Beth's memories, one of her student's writing and interweaving stories in the present time concerning Beth's search to understand why a favorite teacher would try to commit suicide and her favorite student's desire to be loved.
While some may say that the pacing is too slow I considered the pacing appropriate for the nature of the story. A true book lover will become absolutely infatuated with this book.
*Update*
I think that I identified with this book even more now that I am an English teacher myself. This book definitely stays in my collection.
Ann Tatlock continues to be one of my absolute favorite authors. If she publishes a new book I will buy the book even without knowing what the book is about.
This book chronicles a time in the life of an English teacher at a prep school in Delaware. Beth loves books, even more than I do. I totally identified with her. I also identified with the really normal pace of the story and the completely believable pacing in the story.
Ann Tatlock weaves together Beth's memories, one of her student's writing and interweaving stories in the present time concerning Beth's search to understand why a favorite teacher would try to commit suicide and her favorite student's desire to be loved.
While some may say that the pacing is too slow I considered the pacing appropriate for the nature of the story. A true book lover will become absolutely infatuated with this book.
*Update*
I think that I identified with this book even more now that I am an English teacher myself. This book definitely stays in my collection.
heidigrimshaw's review
4.0
I have read several books by this author and I really like her style. Her books are not preachy, but thoughtful. She tackles difficult topics in a hopeful way.
holtkaren's review against another edition
3.0
Christain fiction for the bibliophile. Pleasant story. Audio version good listen.
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