Reflection [Mass Market Paperback]

Diane Chamberlain (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1997

Years after she flees the hometown that blamed her for a tragedy, Rachel Huber returns to care for her ailing grandmother and is forced to confront the hostile neighbors who still hate her.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Lightning strikes an elderly woman in the gripping beginning of Chamberlain's (Brass Ring) latest. Too bad the electricity ends there, as the story slackens into an unlikely, melodramatic, often sentimental tale of tragedy, unrequited love and forgiveness. The plot centers around Rachel Huber, a schoolteacher in her early 40s who has returned to her small hometown of Reflection, Penn., to care for Helen Huber, her long-estranged grandmother and the victim of that lightning bolt. The inhabitants of Reflection, it turns out, despise Rachel because of a tragedy that occurred 20 years earlier. She is harassed by store clerks, though the spunky owner of a beauty salon decides to forgive this prodigal daughter, despite the beautician having perhaps more reason than most to hate her. In time, Rachel reignites a romance with an old friend and secret love who's now an unhappily married Mennonite minister. Further secrets are brought to light, revealing that there's more to Helen than meets the eye. All this takes place without much discernible character development, however, making the sugar-coated finale that much more predictable.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

The time-tested technique of withholding information works admirably in this fifth novel from Chamberlain (Brass Ring, 1994, etc.): a suspenseful (if somewhat unlikely) story of two women's attempts to come to terms with the past. When Rachel Huber--teacher, mother, widow--learns that her grandmother Helen has fallen ill, she returns to her Pennsylvania hometown of Reflection and is forced to confront her demons head-on for the first time in 20 years. The tragedy that left ten of the town's children dead was not really Rachel's fault, but with few exceptions the locals shun her. One key exception is Michael Stoltz, minister of the Mennonite church, who along with Rachel and her dead husband Luke once formed an inseparable childhood trio. The story of how Rachel and Michael fell in love, and of how Luke lost his mind and eventually his life, has its roots in the Vietnam War, when Luke went off to battle while Rachel and Michael, then in the Peace Corps, went to the village in Africa where they both were stationed. Although Luke is now gone, there are complications aplenty as Rachel and Michael strive to consummate the love they've been repressing for decades: Michael's wife Katy is the respected town doctor; his son Jason gets beat up for his dad's association with the stigmatized Rachel Huber; and his ministry would be his first and hardest sacrifice if he ever left Katy for any woman, let alone Rachel. Meanwhile, Helen recovers her health but not her spirits; she, too, has been hiding a secret that only her husband Peter (a famous composer who died ten years ago) ever knew. When Rachel's college-age son Chris comes to Reflection for a visit, the truths emerge; what Helen and Rachel decide will surprise and thrill all but the most jaded readers. A fast-paced, engrossing read focusing on a delightful pair of characters. -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Harpercollins (Mm) (April 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061093963
• ISBN-13: 978-0061093968
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #750,480 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

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A BEAUTIFUL LOVE STORY, September 4, 2000

By 

Beachreader "BeachReader" (Port Townsend, WA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Reflection (Mass Market Paperback)

I will preface this review by first saying this book has an aspect which sometimes bothers romance readers, but I will also say this book will go in my top five of all-time favorite reads. If you are adamantly opposed to infidelity in the novels you read, in any way, shape or form, you might want to skip REFLECTION. However, if you're like me and can forgive infidelity in certain circumstances read on. And remember, this book is marketed as "Fiction" rather than "Romance" probably more because of its broad range but also because of the sensitive issues. However if the concepts of lost loves, putting the past behind, forgiveness, and learning to live again appeal to you, run -- don't walk -- to find this fabulous book ASAP.

Schoolteacher Rachel Huber has returned to her hometown of Reflection, Pennsylvania, deep in Amish country, to care for her ailing grandmother. She had fled the area 21 years earlier, immediately after being involved in a horrible tragedy. Her return is bittersweet as she is not exactly made to feel welcome by many of the town members who blame her for the terrible event occurring over two decades earlier. However there is at least one very big exception - her childhood friend, Michael Stoltz. Michael, Rachel, and Luke Pierce had been inseparable in childhood. It was always known that Luke and Rachel would marry but shortly afterwards, Luke was drafted and sent to service in Vietnam. Michael, a conscientious objector, and Rachel join the Peace Corps and are sent to Rwanda. Michael and Rachel have always shared a deep friendship and love but have never acted on their romantic feelings. Michael eventually marries another woman from their town, Katy, who he doesn't love but needs to forget Rachel.

Michael lost touch with the widowed Rachel after she fled Reflection. Her family would not reveal her whereabouts. Soon he, with Katy's urging, goes to school and becomes a Mennonite minister. When Rachel arrives back in town, Michael is a much loved part of the community while Katy is in Russia working as a medical missionary as part of a trial separation between the two. It takes only one meeting between Michael and Rachel to find they still have feelings for each other. But still, both are strong and although they renew their friendship, that's as far as it goes.

Meanwhile, Rachel's octogenarian grandmother, Helen, is recovering from the injuries she suffered when she was struck by lightning while tending her garden. The widow of famed classical composer/pianist who even is the subject of a statue in the town, Peter Huber, Helen has several secrets of her own.

Diane Chamberlain skillfully layers the many facets of this spectacular novel. Readers soon have a myriad of questions which will be answered as the story progresses including what is Helen hiding in the boxes in the attic? What secrets are Rachel's former student Lily and former school principal Jacob Holt hiding? Why did Rachel's parents keep her from her grandparents for many years? And what is Marielle Hostetter's relationship to grandfather Huber? It is a testament to the talent of the author that she is able to tie things up so neatly at the end.

For a compelling read, one readers will be hesitant to put down once started, please give REFLECTION a try. Richly textured and beautifully written, it is truly a very special story and a real keeper.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read, August 19, 2009

By 

BleuHoney (R S, WY) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Reflection (Mass Market Paperback)

I have read all of Diane's books and have had mixed feelings about a few of them. However, this one has been VERY enjoyable. Someone called it a slow read, well duh, whats so wrong with reading and absorbing the story. Diane writes books that have depth to them, its like watching a long movie and enjoying each character. The closer I get to the end I am anxious to know how it ends. Personally, I liked it very much, and encourage others to read her works.

2.0 out of 5 stars Not Her Best, March 11, 2011

By 

Christina R. (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Reflection (Kindle Edition)

I have read many of Ms. Chamberlains books and this one fell far short of her others. It was very slow and I almost gave up trying to read it. Another thing that bothered me was the fact that almost everyone in this book is married and all of them are unfaithful. I don.t like a book that gives the impression that marital infidelity is acceptable. Then on top of everything else laughed out loud at the ending. It was completely unrealistic.