Brass Ring [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Diane Chamberlain (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1995

The author of Secret Lives, Keeper of the Light and Fire and Rain once again beguiles her readers with a haunting story of three women, strangers to each other, whose lives connect in an eerie tale of passion and betrayal.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Chamberlain's latest novel (after Private Relations) is an empathic but honey-coated tale of one woman's journey into her long-buried past, and of the lingering impact of her disturbing discoveries. Therapists Claire Harte-Mathias and her husband, Jon, a wheelchair-bound paraplegic, seem to have a perfect marriage-and a perfect partnership, counseling trauma victims and their families. But one night, the couple witness a suicide, which eventually prompts Claire to question her willfully optimistic view of life. She is plagued by murky, incomplete but menacing images and memories from her past, and she is forced to face the issue of her long-lost sister: Where is she? Who is she, now? The narrative shuttles back and forth from Claire's increasingly distressed mental state to that of physician Vanessa Gray, who counsels victims of childhood sexual abuse in Seattle; she, too, has unfinished business regarding childhood memories. Throughout, Chamberlain presents a grab bag of serious issues-including child abuse, rape, wife-abuse and anorexia-but her method makes them unthreatening: here, people rarely sit down to a session of painful memory retrieval without a cup of steaming coffee or some fragrant onion soup. Though there's a comforting quality to Chamberlain's set pieces and she's a sufficiently deft plotter to juggle Claire and Vanessa's stories while maintaining suspense, most readers will have trouble crediting the ease with which her characters make their ways through thickets of painful memory to be returned to their former lives, enriched and strengthened. Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Club alternate.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Estranged sisters Clair and Vanessa are victims of past abuse; one remembers, and the other does not. The story opens with a woman standing on the outside edge of the Harpers Ferry Bridge. Clair, a self-help lecturer, tries-to no avail-to talk the woman down. The woman's suicide begins a gradual release of memories that almost destroy Clair's marriage and self-image. Vanessa, on the other hand, has always remembered her abuse and her abuser. She is now a doctor and has learned to live with her traumatic memory, although she carries around the guilt and shame. Vanessa's abuser is now a senator who can help release federal funds for one of her dearly fought-for projects, a victim abuse program for teenagers. Chamberlain's (Fire and Rain, LJ 5/1/93) well-written, suspenseful novel is sure to circulate.
Dawn Anderson, North Richland Hills P.L., Tex.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 635 pages
• Publisher: Thorndike Pr (May 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786203773
• ISBN-13: 978-0786203772
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.7 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,028,472 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I grew up in Plainfield, New Jersey where, at the age of twelve, I wrote several dreadful novellas, read and admired only by my family. When college rolled around, I forgot about writing and received my bachelor's and master's degrees in Social Work from San Diego State University. I was a hospital social worker in San Diego, and later in Washington DC. I also had a private psychotherapy practice working mainly with teenagers. All the while, I was writing on the side. I viewed my writing as a hobby, but it quickly became a passion. I finally decided to take a class in 'writing the novel.' I was very shy about showing my work to the instructor, but when I finally did, he loved it! He encouraged me to aim for publication and I decided to go for it. A few years later, my first novel, PRIVATE RELATIONS, was published.

Since then, I've written about a book a year-eternity-one at last count. I now live in North Carolina, the beautiful state where many of my books are set and where I'm ten minutes from my grandbabies. I share my life with my soulmate, John, who's a photographer as well as my muse, and with my two shelties, Keeper and Jet.

Are you wondering what my books are about? One of my readers in Japan had this to say about my work: "You make me believe life is beautiful even if it is full of pain and rage." Her words touch me deeply. They hang on the wall above my computer and help me remember exactly what it is I'm trying to achieve in my stories. I hope you'll enjoy them.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intense read!, May 19, 2001

By 

suzette phillips (Burke, Va. United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brass Ring (Hardcover)

As a devoted Diane Chamberlain fan, I have read every one of her novels. This one was particulary intense and compelling. Diane deals realistically with the fallout from sexual abuse and survivor guilt. Sisters Claire and Vanessa share sharply different memories of summers spent with their grandfather, who was in the process of restoring an antique carousel. Claire has nothing but happy memories of lazy summer days spent with her beloved grandfather. Vanessa, after overcoming drug and alcohol addiction has become an activist for molested children. Claire does not understand why her sister Vanessa will have nothing to do with her.

Claire is witness to a suicide that triggers flashbacks that she doesn't understand. With the help of the victim's brother, she uncovers the terrible truth about her grandfather and her perceived role in her sister's trauma.

Claire's struggle to come to grips with her memories, her guilt, and her attempts to make amends with her sister will touch the hearts of anyone who hold themselves responsible for causing unspeakable pain to someone they truly love.

Highly recommeneded!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Good!, July 26, 2011

By 

Lovestoread - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Brass Ring (Kindle Edition)

I have read several of Diane Chamberlain's books and have not yet found one that I do not like. This one wasn't my favorite but it was a great read. Twists and Surprises throughout... this is a wonderful tale of two sisters.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Just So So, March 26, 2011

By 

Christina R. (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brass Ring (Kindle Edition)

This book was about childhood sexual abuse and repressed memories. Ms. Chamberlain is one of my favorite authors but I did not care for this one. I found Claire to be extremely unlikeabe and did not understand her at all. Also the book was too lengthy and dragged at points.