Believe Me: A Novel [Paperback]

Nina Killham (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 27, 2009

In the tradition of Jodi Picoult?a fresh, smart, and deeply moving novel about the power of faith, love, and family

Thirteen-year-old Nic Delano has a lot of questions. Like why does he have a babysitter at his age-and where did she get such long legs? But mostly, what exactly is the meaning of life?

His mother, Lucy, an astrophysicist and atheist, has always encouraged Nic to ask questions. But lately she doesn?t like the answers he?s getting. Nic has been hanging out with a group of devout Christians and is starting to embrace the Bible?and a very different view of the heavens.

But when unexpected tragedy strikes, Nic and Lucy?s beliefs are truly to put to the test. And they need each other now more than ever. But will a mother and her son be able to find a common ground where faith meets understanding and love is, ultimately, what endures?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The overpublished religion vs. atheism debate takes a refreshing turn here. In an understated way, Killham (How to Cook a Tart) takes a modest run at the great questions: does God exist? if so, where is he when people get ill or get mugged? These are the matters chewed on by 13-year-old narrator Nic (as in Nicolaus Copernicus) Delano, whose astrophysicist mother, Lucy, is an atheist who believes in nature. Nics teen hormones make his curiosity more than intellectual, and hes as interested in girls as he is in the Bible, a suitably rebellious topic for an atheists kid. Nic is attracted to things about the Bible-believing Christian lifestyle: for one thing, his friends mom bakes cookies. But many things forge the ties that bind. Minor characters could be more memorably drawn, and the interfaith range of beliefs (the Muslim babysitter, the Jewish relatives) is more convenient than convincing. But for those who prefer stories of love, faith and pain to a theological argument about them, this is a sweet, engaging read. (Jan.)
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About the Author

Nina Killham was born in Washington, D.C., the daughter of an American Foreign Service officer, and lived overseas much of her childhood. She is a graduate of the College of William and Mary, which she fled her junior year to live in Paris and eat. One of her first writing stints was for the Washington Post Food Section where she wrote about local food personalities and tested endless recipes.

After writing about travel and lifestyle for national magazines, she went off to Los Angeles to gain fame and fortune as a screenwriter and ended up working as an assistant for Columbia Pictures where grown men fought like children over parking spaces and made their secretaries pick peanut M&M’s out of a mixed candy dish because well…they don’t like peanut M&Ms. She finally left the studio to write the screenplay that was going to make her famous and rich, ending up six months later as a secretary in an ear plug factory.

She is now married to an Australian who is a senior lecturer at the London School of Economics. They live in London, have two young children and like to bicker about the meaning of life. She is also the author of How to Cook a Tart, and Mounting Desire. Believe Me is her third novel.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 291 pages
• Publisher: Plume; Original edition (January 27, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0452289769
• ISBN-13: 978-0452289765
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,996,012 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Hi, I'm Nina Killham. I'm the author of three books: How to Cook a Tart (Bloomsbury), Mounting Desire (Bloomsbury) and Believe Me (Penguin). I was born in Washington DC but now live in London with my Australian husband and children. Before writing full time I had a variety of jobs, including working for ABC News, The Washington Post, Columbia Pictures and an earplug factory. I hope you enjoy my books. I always love feedback which you can give to me through my website www.ninakillham.com. Thanks!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I hope you will "Believe Me", February 10, 2009

By 

Timothy Gossett "DifferentVoice.com" (Ames, IA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Believe Me: A Novel (Paperback)

We live in an age and time when we're often more likely to emphasize and get stuck on being right than on understanding the point of view of another person. During the election season, most conservatives read conservative blogs, while liberals read liberal blogs, and neither group gets very good at really listening to the other. The same thing is often true in religious circles; several times in the past week I've had progressive friends lament the upcoming discussions they'd have with their conservative family members. It seems to be a rare individual who really "gets" people on the other side of the proverbial fence.

After reading Nina's book, I suspect that she might be one of these rare folks. Her novel is told from the perspective and in the voice of Nic, a thirteen year-old boy who is an only child. Nic lives with his mother, Lucy, an astrophysicist and a devout atheist who has very little tolerance for matters of faith. She's very content to study the stars, live a good life, and do the best that she can as a mom.

Nic, on the other hand, is at that age in life where he's forming an identity of his own. He befriends the local pastor of a small independent church, a Nigerian man named Dele, and begins secretly attending a Bible study at his best friend's house. Of course, it's not long before Lucy finds out about everything, and things begin to spiral out of control in her world. Life for the two of them gets ever more interesting when Dele ends up living with them in a spare bedroom, and everyone is forced to rethink a few of their long-held attitudes, beliefs, and habits about many topics.

Late in the book, tragedy strikes the family, and Nic and Lucy struggle to maintain their belief systems in the midst of the pain. Ultimately, the story becomes a meditation on faith, love, gratitude, and compassion--values that transcend any one particular worldview or religious expression.

It would be easy for a book like this to become filled with stereotypes, playing on our emotional trigger points or strongly emphasizing one worldview as "correct." (After all, Nic is named for Nicolas Copernicus, and Lucy is the name of a famous fossil hominid.) Fortunately, Believe Me presents each of these contrasting belief systems as positive, well-considered, and fully meaningful to those who hold them. Progressive Christians who have "converted" from a more traditional view will likely find much they understand or even resonate with in both Lucy and those from the church. Anyone who works with youth will thoroughly enjoy the rather precocious Nic, whose unique perspectives on life are a fresh way to approach some common themes (though at times you will see him as just a bit too wise for his age.) The book would be great for a church or community book club, a church library, a gift for a teacher, or just for your own late-night reading. Believe Me, you'll enjoy it, and I encourage you to order a copy today.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not Bad, But Not Unforgettable, February 20, 2009

By 

Tracy F. "Roundtable Reviews" (New England) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Believe Me: A Novel (Paperback)

Realistically, BELIEVE ME is a coming-of-age tale about thirteen-year-old Nic Delano. You see Nic's mother is an atheist and influence from Nic's friend has him questioning if God exists. Nic's friend, Kevin's, mother bakes cookies rather than purchases them, and their family unit is what Nic's always dreamed of. Nic's parents are married, but his mother refused to leave her job and move when his father was transferred, so the family is clearly divided.

When Nic begins attending regular Bible studies, his mother is furious but realizes stopping him will only drive him farther away. When Nic asks to let one of the church members, an African named Dele, move in, she begrudgingly allows it. Dele's presence begins to work wonders on both mother and son. However, Nic's mother soon has her own secret that will make or break Nic's newfound belief.

The pacing of BELIEVE ME is slow, yet steady. It's not a Christian story, yet I was certain it would appeal to Christians because Nic's journey into Christianity was a key point of the story. Characters never truly became mesmerizing, I liked them, but never loved them. I did snicker with the opening line in which Nic asks why there are so many types of peanut butter, that one line pulled me in.

Overall, I question who will get the most out of this book. Though it is an adult fiction novel, I almost think that it will appeal to teenagers and pre-teens who enjoy tales of dysfunctional families. BELIEVE ME is a unique storyline and certain to make for interesting reading group discussions.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Poignant, January 30, 2009

By 

Chris Forman (Hudson Valley, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Believe Me: A Novel (Paperback)

I really enjoyed Nina Killham's first two books. Her first book, HOW TO COOK A TART is a delightful send-up of our impressions of food, relationships and love with a cast of quirky characters and a hilarious plot with a bizarre ending. Her second book, MOUNTING DESIRE, is a hysterical send-up of romance novels and also contains a quirky cast. When I saw that her third was coming out, I pre-ordered it. Well, it finally arrived and I read it in a day and a half.

BELIEVE ME is a slight departure from her normal writing. Sure, some of the characters are quirky and sure, there is a lot of humor, but the story is more, oh, I hate to use these words, as they are so overworked, poignant and heartwarming. This is the story of a young boy and his mother, each searching for something to cling to and believe in.

The story is told from the perspective of Nic Delany, whose mother is a devout atheist and whose father is a professor of comparative religions. Nic has fallen in with group of Christians, not just any Christians, but evangelical Christians and he begins to think about religion. He also thinks about all of the things a typical thirteen-year old boy thinks about. Things like video games and sex. The author does an admirable job writing in the first person and even though it's been forty years since I was a thirteen-year old, I found it very credible.

Nina Killham made me laugh, she made me smile, she made me think, and she brought a few tears to my eyes. I recommend this book to anyone and have already passed it on to a friend.