For me, reading The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes was a bit like eating fruit for dessert – it tastes good, but it doesn’t really completely satisfy.
I have never read anything by Diane Chamberlain, who appears to be quite prolific. Some of the reviews of this book on Amazon indicated it took a bit longer to get into this book than some of the others she has written. I can’t compare, but I will say that it took some time for me to get into this book. Once I did, I found the author’s writing to be quite good, drawing me into wanting to read the next chapter.
Having said this, I struggled with this book on a number of accounts. I have said before, if one wants to enjoy reading, one has to very often suspend reality. And so I tried very hard to convince myself that it was possible that a 16-year-old girl with no parents could be convinced to become involved in a kidnapping. And not just an ordinary kidnapping (is there such a thing?), but the kidnapping of a very well known public figure. However, CeeCee seemed to be so sensible in all other aspects of her life that it really was hard for me to overcome this nagging doubt that this basic element of the book would happen.
I was intrigued by the underground network that helped her escape with Cori, and wondered if such a thing actually exists. Don’t know. Seems unlikely.
The other thing that I really struggled with was Cori’s rejection of her mother during her college years and after. I recognize that the boyfriend was largely responsible for this rejection, but I felt as if the author didn’t present Cori and Eve’s relationship in such a way to indicate that Eve had been very overprotective. There were a few comments by Eve’s husband that he should allow Cori to be hurt, experience shyness, etc., but not to the extent that you would totally reject your mother.
Furthermore, it seemed somewhat unrealistic that the governor/university president would so quickly fall in love with his daughter; likewise, the sister. Finally, recognizing Cori’s intense dislike for her mother, it troubled me to see just how quickly she forgave her and came around to her side. Though, maybe that just indicated that her anger was never really genuine.
This review makes it sound as though I heartily disliked this book, and I didn’t. As I said, I found it very readable once I got into it. I liked most of the characters (not Timothy and his brother, of course). I enjoyed Marian very much, and also liked Eve’s husband (though I have to admit he was much more forgiving of someone who had fed him so many untruths than I would have been).
Having Eve be so sick with rheumatoid arthritis provided depth to the book that I liked. It provided a realistic element.
I’m curious to know if all of you were able to suspend reality better than me. Also, who were your favorite characters and your least favorite characters, and why? Would you read anything else by Diane Chamberlain?
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I really love your post because I second your thoughts!
ReplyDeleteThe secret life of ceecee Wilkes
I got totally hooked on this book. I could not believe I found myself rooting for the naive and stupid 16 year old who was easily manipulated by a 22 year old psycho. But in the end it was ceecee I was crying for. How does a writer take you into the life of this woman and make you forget about the torture of the poor innocent pregnant victim and her family who experienced such tragedy?
I often tried to put myself back to when I was 16. And I have to say I had a lot of friends who were lost and impulsive. Down right dangerous and destructive. How did I not fall into that rap? I had very loving and supportive parents. At times they were far too overprotective. But looking back I am grateful for their insight and intuition about the motel company I could have kept. Ceecee didn't have that luxury. She was smart and savvy, but she was still 16 and completely unaware of the evil this world.
Does anyone else feel like Cory's fears came out of nowhere? While it was obvious that she was a very careful, and cautious child, was there any indication that Eve created or instilled that. I feel like I missed that, other than when it was mentioned by Jack.
Also, while I did like this book and I wad completely drawn in, sometimes I felt Iike i was watching a lifetime made for TV movie. While I know that this could and probably has happened, was this just too fantastical? Was this over-dramatized?
My favorite characters were Dru and Jack. While Dru was mostly a supporting character, I loved her spunk, her intelligence and her unconditional love for her family. She seemed almost the most realistic character or should I say relatable character in the book. Someone who had not been marred by Cancer, kidnapping, and conspiracy.
I give this book an 8.5.
I did like this book. I was a little worried because a friend kept recommending it and I was thinking of Jenny's experience, but I haven't had to avoid this friend.
ReplyDeleteI was probably at a point in my year where I was ready to sink into a book and forget the world around me and when I am in that mood I can become absorbed by books that may not usually engage me, but I did pretty much read this book cover to cover.
I liked the story even though a lot of it was difficult to believe. I was interested in each phase of the story. I agree that Eve's protectiveness of Cori was told to the reader rather than shown. I didn't think Eve was too different from a lot of mothers I've known. She sent her on the camping trip. A lot of mothers wouldn't have even done that. I think Cori was really unlikeable as an adult. And yes, I did think she forgave pretty easily considering all the anger she seemed to have. Perhaps she was angry because she wasn't naturally as comfortable in her own skin as others and she knew that she unfairly blamed Eve for that.
I actually can believe that someone who seemingly has her head on her shoulders could get mixed up in something so misguided as kidnapping someone. She was so in love with that guy and she was willing to believe anything he told her.
I did like the lady who took her in when she got to the little college town where she ended up staying. I liked that relationship a lot. I bet there are groups that are kind of like that who help parents who go "underground" with their kids when they think they are going to lose them in a custody hearing etc. I also really liked Cori's sister. I did like CeeCee/Eve. I did not like Timothy or his brother. I didn't like the governor but I didn't totally dislike him.
Since reading this book I have read another book by this author called Before the Storm. I'm not sure if I liked it better, but I liked it in a different way. I think it was more believable. It tackled an interesting subject and I liked the characters. I don't want to make anyone not read it MAGGIE by saying this, but if you like Jodi Picoult's style you'd probably like Before the Storm.
Also, I really recommend the The Kitchen House which was another one of our choices for this month. I think all of you will like it. At least all of the people In the group who usually respond will probably like it.
Well, maybe I’m just an old grump, but I simply didn’t care for this novel. As a long-time English teacher, I certainly understand the need for a “willing suspension of disbelief.” But, I also need a good reason to do it, and this book didn’t give me that motivation.
ReplyDeleteI’ve enjoyed everyone’s comments, and I concur with many of them. I felt like the author wanted it both ways: CeeCee was this amazingly mature and intelligent 16-year old, but she was gullible enough to go along with—yes, that’s right—a kidnapping scheme. I felt like the whole kidnapping episode was bizarre and unbelievable. Like others, however, I did like the interlude where she was living with Marian. The concept of that sort of underground was fascinating, and Marian was, for me, the most likeable character in the book.
I also agree that, while Eve was protective of Cori, I don’t think the reader was shown enough to believe that Cori would turn on her mother so completely. Obviously, her husband was responsible for a lot of that dynamic.
In fact, in the end what I most disliked about the book was that both CeeCee/Eve and Cori were victims of men. I couldn’t summon up any admiration or sympathy for these women who were too weak or pliable to do what they knew was right. Both of them were manipulated by men, to the extent that they made truly life-changing negative decisions, decisions that had far-reaching fallouts. A Sunday-Night Movie, indeed!
Having said all that, I did finish the book and found the writing to be pretty good. However, not good enough for me ever to read anything else by this author!
I will recommend another one of our choices. I had already put Alias Grace on reserve at the library, so I ended up reading it and liking it very much. If anyone else decides to read it, I’d like to do a mini-discussion.
Welcome back, Josey! I'm happy that you read this book because I always love your perspective.
ReplyDeleteJosey is much closer (MUCH closer) to 16 than am I, so I take seriously her contention that it would be possible for an unloved and unsupervised 16-year-old to fall for the wiles of a bad, but handsome and attentive, boyfriend. I must remind myself that morals and understandings of what is right and what is wrong are a lot different in 2011 than in the late 60s and early 70s, when I was a teenager. But don't get me started there. It will make me sound like my brother, who constantly says Facebook is the work of the devil!
I liked Diane Chamberlain's writing style. I realized that when I like an author's writing style, I am more likely to excuse underdeveloped plot areas.
ReplyDeleteI kept wondering if there were substantial edits left on the cutting room floor. I'd like a "deleted scenes" mini-book. It felt like there were critical pieces left out. Were they never written, or were they edited out?
I really disliked Ken -- more than I disliked Tim. At least Tim had family-oriented "reasons" for what he did. And he would have covered for Cee Cee! Ken was just a jerk. Did anyone see it coming that Tim was a contender for being Cori's dad?
This book hooked me from the beginning. Like Josey, I would rate it an 8.5.
ReplyDeleteI made choices when I was high school age that changed my life. They were decisions that I reflect back on now and still think, "what was I thinking?" So for me it was believable that CeeCee got sucked into the kidnapping. And I found myself wondering if that were me, could I keep that secret until death.
Jack was my favorite character. He brought unconditional love and happiness into Eve's life. Tim was a creep for preying on a much younger person and using her vulnerability to his advantage.
I agree with everyone about the storyline involving Cori distancing herself from her family. I'm not sure why the author felt that storyline necessary.
I didn't like Cori's biological father. While he went thru a horrible ordeal in losing his wife and child, I thought he should respect her feelings for the only parents she had known and the fact that Eve's part was random and she hadn't lived a life filled with evil.
I thought it was quite a twist that Tim had been involved with Cori's mother and was a contender for being her father.
I liked how the book ended and because I had put myself in Eve's shoes throughout the book, I had a good cry in the end that she wasn't put in prison for the rest of her life. Many times in life we punish ourselves with regret more than anyone else ever could.
I'm not a Sunday night T.V. person, but I enjoyed this author's writing style and that it was a quick read. I will definitely read more of her books.
Oh I had completely forgotten about the surprise plot action regarding Tim potentially being Cori's father. I did wonder why he kept sending money. I wasn't shocked...because of the whole Lifetime Made for TV Movie thing. Initially, I just thought that he actually had a conscience for what he had done to CeeCee.
ReplyDeleteI presumed all along that Tim sent the money because he felt guilty about CeeCee, but maybe he thought he was the baby's father. Hmmmm.
ReplyDeleteI also thought Tim was sending the money out of guilt. it hadn't occurred to me that he thought he may have been the father until I read that part.
ReplyDeleteThis comment is from Darlene, who was unable to post a comment:
ReplyDeleteI have not read the last two books, lack of time these days...but Jennie told me to read this book even if I did not get it done in time for book chat, so here goes.
I finished the book in record time because once I started reading I was hooked, I really enjoyed the book and thought it was a fast read for me. I feel Eve was used obviously by Tim and at 16 with thinking back on past experiences with myself, friends and family that is definitely a very vunerable age and we are so naieve and know so little, I think this could happen, not so sure about the decision to keep the baby though, common sense would have been to return the baby, but it was a story...
I loved Marian, Jack and Dru, what fun characters they were. Tim and Ken were both creeps and I was not fond of the Gov either. I feel Cori had anxiety issues through out her life, not sure they were all caused by Eve, but Ken definitely used the situation to his benefit himself. Not quite sure why Cori was so up and down about her relationship with Eve, maybe the betrayal and anger, but I believe she was right in backing Eve, she was her mother and I don't think it would be instant love with your biological family when you do not know them, that would be a process over time. I liked the way the book ended, did not want to see Eve in prison for the rest of her life, it would not have made things better, forgiveness sets the soul free. Sunday night movie, probably, but I always read the book and rarely see the movies:):) Thank you Jennie for encouraging me to read this book!!!
One last comment from me. Since I put myself in Eve's place while reading the book and wondered through out what I would have done.......I would have somehow found a way to return the baby to her father!
ReplyDeleteI kept thinking that aboutd myself. I kept thinking that there would have been a way. But I might have ended up being too scared since I would have constantly been worrying that someone would link me with the crime.
ReplyDeleteI must have read the book like Jennie, because I was reading through Eve the whole time also and I sided with her in the book through out, but the keeping of the baby....not so sure about that, but now I think how I would have felt if the story was told from the biological family...hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
ReplyDeleteRebecca, I am half way through Alias Grace. I started it last night. I have so many other things to do, but I am so weak when I am reading a book that I like. My son is coming over for Father's Day and I bet that he and my husband end up making dinner. I will probably be done in the next few days. I am liking it too. Andrea aka Anonymous
ReplyDeleteOkay. I finished the book. I guess we should wait and see if anyone else is interested in joining the mini discussion. I highly recommend the book. Rebecca, have you read anything else by Margaret Atwood? I read The Robber Bride and Cat's Eye. I was hooked by both books, but neither one was uplifting. I found Cat's Eye to be so sad in parts and there were times that I was so mad a characters in both books. If you like her style I think you should try one of those books. Let me know if you have read anything else by her and what you thought.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read anything else by Margaret Atwood, although her name is familiar. I think I will try another one; perhaps after the summer, though. They don't sound like beach reading!
ReplyDeleteIs anyone else reading Alias Grace? If not, Andrea and I will carry on our own little book club. :)
Haha...they are definitely not beach reading! I have another book for you, though. I have not read it, but it is described as a beach read for intellectuals by the NY Daily News. It was recommended to me by the same person who recommended Alias Grace. From your posts I get the feeling you have higher expectations from the books you read than some of us have. That may be right and it may be wrong, but I think you are the former English teacher, so that would make sense. Anyway, just check this out because it may be your kind of beach read. Maybe you've already read it. The Club Dumas bt Arturo Perez-Reverte. Also by him are The Flanders Panel and The Seville Communion.I have never heard of those books. Anyway, happy beach time.
ReplyDelete