The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb

I really enjoy reading Wally Lamb, from his first, She's Come Undone, to his most recent, The Hour I First Believed. They're always so well written and despite the length, I always finish them quickly, probably because they're hard to put down. The Hour I First Believed is the story of Caelum and Maureen Quirk, who have recently relocated from Connecticut to Colorado to start over after Maureen's infidelity. Although they both get jobs at the same school, their struggles have only just begun; in April of 1999, Caelum returns to Connecticut after his aunt has a stroke only to just miss the Columbine shootings. While Maureen somehow survives the massacre, she is unable to recover from the traumatic experience and suffers from PTSD. This time they flee Colorado for the safety of the Quirk family farm in Connecticut. A change of scenery, however, can't undo the damage that has been done and more is on the way. While Maureen struggles to come to grips with the event, Caelum discovers boxes full of old diaries, letters and newspaper clippings throughout the house. Not only do these reveal the Quirk family history, but they also unearth some secrets, long buried. And Caelum struggles to come to terms with this past while struggling with his future. This book is extraordinary - the way he interweaves actual fact with fiction makes you feel that every word could be true. I highly recommend that everyone read this book. If you like this, please try some of his other books, especially I Know This Much Is True.