Mirror Lake

Rating:
Summary: AN ABSORBING TALE VERY WELL READ
Review: "Mirror Lake" is an exemplary debut novel which explores the full range of human emotions. Christopher Burns offers a powerful reading.

In this story we meet two men who would probably have never even taken notice of each other had it not been for a dangerous quirk of nature. The younger of the two, Nathan Carter is still in his twenties. He's come to Vermont following his father's death. When his jeep runs off the road during a blinding snow storm, 79-year-old Wallace Fiske becomes his care giver. But Wallace gives more than nursing, he tells Nathan his story which centers on his marriage to Nora.

Is Wallace embellishing the truth or is he relating his past life as it actually took place? When Nathan begins to try to discover for himself what really happened some half a century before he discovers a number of surprising things about himself.

Greene's absorbing tale is both entertaining and thought provoking.

- Gail Cooke

Rating:
Summary: Lyrical, memorable; a wonderful debut novel
Review: "Mirror Lake" is an exemplary debut novel which explores the full range of human emotions. Christopher Burns offers a powerful reading.

In this story we meet two men who would probably have never even taken notice of each other had it not been for a dangerous quirk of nature. The younger of the two, Nathan Carter is still in his twenties. He's come to Vermont following his father's death. When his jeep runs off the road during a blinding snow storm, 79-year-old Wallace Fiske becomes his care giver. But Wallace gives more than nursing, he tells Nathan his story which centers on his marriage to Nora.

Is Wallace embellishing the truth or is he relating his past life as it actually took place? When Nathan begins to try to discover for himself what really happened some half a century before he discovers a number of surprising things about himself.

Greene's absorbing tale is both entertaining and thought provoking.

- Gail Cooke

Rating:
Summary: Great Summer Reading
Review: Greene is a natural born storyteller. I fell quickly under the spell of "Mirror Lake" and its story within a story. The prose is very lyrical, with lovely descriptions of the Vermont landscape. There's a little bit of everything: romance, suspense, drama. I read the whole thing in one weekend - I just kept coming back to it! Summer reading at its best...

Rating:
Summary: the mystery of the lake
Review: I couldn't put this book down. It was riveting as so little fiction is. Beautiful writing, suspenseful and really teaches something about life and love. one of the best books I've read in years.

Rating:
Summary: Lyrical, memorable; a wonderful debut novel
Review: I was enraptured with this book - from the prose to the seasons - so vividly described in the Vermont countryside.
Moreover, it goes to the heart of living, loving and leaving
a legacy, even something as simple and profound as a tale well told.

Rating:
Summary: Lonely until their story is told
Review: Mirror Lake is an exceptional novel. The two main characters are incredibly "human", the conflicts compelling. Greene's descriptions of the Vermont countryside convey the ruggedness and beauty of that landscape as effectively as any I have read. The frequent juxtaposition of descriptions of the foreboding and flawed yet wondrous natural setting perfectly serves to emphasize the development of character and plot in a way that is both moving and natural. Greene's characters, exceptional pacing and melancholy voice captured me, both in terms of emotional impact and taut story telling, as few novels have. I plan to revisit "Mirror Lake" in the near future. A fine achievement. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Lonely until their story is told
Review: Mirror Lake tempted my own desires as each character pulled a different emotion. I connected most with Nora, a woman captured by the beauty of nature while enjoying a life lived off the land. An uncomplicated woman at first, her life becomes more three dimensional with each page - many moments dealing with love and grief.

My most loved aspect of the book is the description of drink and scenery. It allowed me to close my eyes and relax into a winter slumber in the middle of July.