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Published in USA
Jun 2011
352 pages
Genre: Novels
Publication Information
It's almost Christmas, but there is no joy in the house of terminally ill Jack and his family. With only a short time left to live, he spends his last days preparing to say goodbye to his devoted wife, Lizzie, and their three children. Then, unthinkably, tragedy strikes again: Lizzie is killed in a car accident. With no one able to care for them, the children are separated from each other and sent to live with family members around the country.
Just when all seems lost, Jack begins to recover in a miraculous turn of events. He rises from what should have been his deathbed, determined to bring his fractured family back together. Struggling to rebuild their lives after Lizzie's death, he reunites everyone at Lizzie's childhood home on the oceanfront in South Carolina. And there, over one unforgettable summer, Jack will begin to learn to love again, and he and his children will learn how to become a family once more.
"Yes, it possesses all the subtlety of a dog fight, but it's also choked with pap... and so sappy you'd think Baldacci was earning a commission on each tear jerked." - Publishers Weekly
"Readers completely unfamiliar with this sort of movie-of-the-week story might be entertained, but others will be in for a disappointment. While the writing is competent, the story is predictable and the characters overly familiar." - Booklist
"Baldacci departs from thriller mode to pen this often-maudlin tale of familial reinvention." - Kirkus Reviews
"A change of pace for Baldacci: tear-jerking inspiration." - Library Journal
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David published his first novel, Absolute Power, in 1996. A major motion picture adaptation followed, with Clint Eastwood as its director and star. In total, David has published 32 novels for adults; all have been national and international bestsellers, and several have been adapted for film and television. His novels have been translated into more than 45 languages and sold in more than 80 countries; over 110 million copies are in print worldwide. David has also published five novels for younger readers.
A lifelong Virginian, David received his Bachelor's degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law, after which he practiced law in Washington, D.C.
While David is involved with several philanthropic organizations, ...
... Full Biography
Author Interview
Link to David Baldacci's Website
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