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The Safety of Secrets by DeLaune Michel

October 25, 2008 by Darlene

This novel is about the power of friendships; the loyalty, the trust, and the secrets shared within them.

Fiona and Patricia become best friends in first grade. Their bond is made stronger by the fact that they both have non-mothering mothers; Fiona’s is abusive and Patricia’s neglectful. The girls support each other in everything-even Fiona cutting off her beautiful long red hair which ends up being the catalyst for the biggest secret these girls will keep. It also infuriates Fiona’s mother who does something so awful to her daughter without ever stopping to think or care what her actions will do to a young and impressionable girl.

The women’s friendship continues on into adulthood. They both become actresses. Fiona gets married and becomes pregnant and Patricia rises to stardom on a reality type show. Life begins getting hectic and their friendship suffers. Then in one moment, a secret kept safe between them for years is revealed and everything is threatened-their friendship, careers, even Fiona’s marriage.

It took me a while to get into this novel but once I did I got involved in the story and the outcome. The LA scene and the acting parts really didn’t do much for me but the rest of the story line was interesting. My favorite character was Fiona. I felt she was a really complex person who had suffered a great deal from a bad childhood. I felt for her, secrets were her way of surviving. She grew up keeping secrets from her mother in order to stay out of trouble. Being an actress was her way of getting through life-to me she was acting to get past hurts from long ago. I did care about her and what was happening to her and would happen in her future.

I think this novel shows us how strong the bonds of friendship can be but also how easily these bonds can be shattered. I really enjoyed the dicussion at Book Club Girl with DeLaune Michel and you can listen to that here.

You can see other reviews at these blogs:
Book Chatter and other stuff…
Redlady’s Reading Room
Savvy Verse & Wit
S. Krishna’s Books
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. S. Krishna says

    October 26, 2008 at 12:30 am

    I agree with what you said about the acting part of it not being very interesting…for some reason, that didn’t capture me!

  2. Ti says

    October 26, 2008 at 12:50 am

    I didn’t care too much for this one. I did care about Fiona but her relationship with Patricia (I think that was her name)seemed very shallow to me. They went through a lot as children but from their adult friendship you wouldn’t be able to tell that.

    I could have done without the Hollywood story line. Seemed really trivial to me. I wanted more Fiona and less everything else.

  3. bermudaonion says

    October 26, 2008 at 1:03 am

    This book looks interesting to me. I’ve got it on my wish list.

  4. Dar says

    October 26, 2008 at 1:20 am

    Swapna, I pretty much skimmed those parts.

    Ti, this wasn’t my favorite either. It took me a good long while to get into it. I agree, if the book would have been based mainly on Fiona I would have enjoyed it more.

    Bermudaonion, I’ll be giving away my copy soon.

  5. avisannschild says

    October 26, 2008 at 4:34 am

    I’m very curious about this book, for some reason — I really want to read it. Thanks for the review!

  6. Linda Jacobs says

    October 26, 2008 at 7:07 am

    Thanks for your honesty! I might have been tempted to pick this book up at the library but will avoid it, now.

    Thanks, also for your comment on my poetry blog!

  7. Serena says

    October 26, 2008 at 2:12 pm

    I had a hard time getting into this novel as well…and the LA scene was not my thing.

    I reviewed it here:
    http://savvyverseandwit.blogspot.com/2008/10/safety-of-secrets-by-delaune-michel.html

    I’m also giving away my copy in a contest.

  8. J. Kaye Oldner says

    October 26, 2008 at 2:29 pm

    Dar, I am really glad to read you say that it took time to warm up. I have heard nothing but wonderful things, but I don’t know. It’s a book I’ve been on the fence about.

  9. Dar says

    October 26, 2008 at 2:30 pm

    Avis, I’d be curious to see a review from you once you read it.

    Linda, yeh, it was ok but not a favorite. I’m glad I finished it because it did pick up halfway through.

    Serena, I remember you saying that too. I did link your review here already. I’ll be giving away my copy soon also.

  10. Dar says

    October 26, 2008 at 2:33 pm

    J.Kaye, a few of us have pretty much said the same things that we didn’t like and others have loved it. I hestitate on this one to recommend either way because there is such a mixed opinion.

  11. Shana says

    October 26, 2008 at 3:53 pm

    Dar, as I was reading your review I kept wondering who had just reviewed this and felt the same. Then I read the commnets and saw it was Serena.

    It seems like everyone was lukewarm about the LA/acting part of the storyline. It’s always re-affirming when others feel the same way, isn’t it?

    Nice review!

    Shana
    Literarily

  12. Dar says

    October 26, 2008 at 5:16 pm

    Shana, I think Bonnie (Redlady) felt the same too. It is re-affirming because a lot of the time I think-‘is it just me’ that’s not feeling this. So I don’t feel so bad when there are others. For the most part I can usually always find something I like about a book.

  13. Literary Feline says

    October 26, 2008 at 5:52 pm

    I won a copy of this book in a giveaway not too long ago and am looking forward to reading it. I know its gotten quite a few lukewarm reviews, but I’m still drawn to it. Thank you for a great review!

  14. naida says

    October 26, 2008 at 8:01 pm

    This sounds like an interesting book, great review!
    Now I want to read it.
    http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/

  15. Red lady-Bonnie says

    October 26, 2008 at 11:37 pm

    Dar,

    I agree with you about the LA parts and I thought this book was okay but not a favorite. I actually appreciated the book much more after I participated in the Book Club Girl discussion last week. I enjoyed hearing the author explain why she took the characters certain places and it made a lot of sense. I actually appreciated the book more after the discussion! I think it has a good theme about secrets and friendship and it does give you a lot to think about. I recommend listening to the author discussion after you read the book.

    Thanks for putting a link to my review! I am going to have a giveaway for my copy as well!

  16. samantha.1020 says

    October 27, 2008 at 12:14 am

    This sounds interesting! I love a good story about friendship so I’m going to have to check this out. Great review!

  17. Dar says

    October 27, 2008 at 12:26 am

    Wendy, thanks and you never know how each person will feel about a book-you may absolutely love it-I hope you do.

    Naida 🙂 Keep peaking in, I’ll be having a giveaway soon.

    Bonnie, I agree. I felt differently about the book after listening to the author discussion.

    Samantha, stories of friendships are often my favorites.

  18. Anna says

    October 31, 2008 at 5:22 pm

    I thought this book was okay. I agree that it shows the strength of female friendships. However, I found both of the characters sort of annoying. Still, I did manage to enjoy the book. I’m a bit behind in my reviews, but I’m hoping I’ll get to it soon.

    –Anna
    Diary of an Eccentric

  19. Dar says

    October 31, 2008 at 7:44 pm

    Anna, I really had trouble connecting to either of the women but of the two I did like Fiona and at least felt a little more from her. I’ll be watching for your review.

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