Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
The Hour I First Believed
The Hour I First Believed | Wally Lamb
When high school teacher Caelum Quirk and his wife, Maureen, a school nurse, move to Littleton, Colorado, they both get jobs at Columbine High School. In April 1999, while Caelum is away, Maureen finds herself in the library at Columbine, cowering in a cabinet and expecting to be killed. Miraculously, she survives, but at a cost: she is unable to recover from the trauma. When Caelum and Maureen flee to an illusion of safety on the Quirk family's Connecticut farm, they discover that the effects of chaos are not easily put right, and further tragedy ensues.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
blurb
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
post image

I read this many years ago! Very good!

#CandleMan
#AutumnPlease

🕯️🧡

Eggs Beautiful 🕯️❤️📖 14mo
RedxoHearts I got a notice today that your mail made it I just have to go pick it up this week. :) They decided it was postage due 14mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @RedxoHearts I had it checked at the post office to be sure it was enough postage and they said yes 🤷🏻‍♀️ sorry about that!! 14mo
58 likes2 stack adds3 comments
blurb
peaKnit
post image

1. Huge Wally Lamb fan, when this book came out I made a big show of buying the hard cover from a book store and saved it to be my first book January 1 and by gosh, I couldn‘t tell you what it was even about but I HATED it and donated it with disdain as soon I finished.
2. Hmmm, nothing comes to mind but Outlander doesn‘t interest me after reading one years ago.
@RaeLovesToRead #ihavequestions

JenReadsAlot Oh I agree with Outlander! 2y
RaeLovesToRead Quite a few people are saying Outlander! Doesn't look like my sort of thing 2y
23 likes1 stack add2 comments
blurb
JuliaTheBookNerd
post image

#Candle 🕯️ #DivineDecember 🎄❄️🎁

#BookNerd 🤓📚💙

Eggs Beautiful 🕯️📚🕯️ 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks This is such a great book 💙 2y
40 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
sarahlandis
post image
Pickpick

*didnt include a picture of the cover because I lost the jacket and it also accidentally got stained and warped with sunscreen in luggage* I LOVED this. Probably my favorite Wally Lamb novel. It tells the story of a weary marriage that is changing and fighting through the columbine shooting and several other catastrophic events to follow. The white male character has some dated personality traits and opinions, but I overall throughly enjoyed it.

sarahlandis Also if you‘ve read other Wally lamb books, it takes place in the same universe as I Know This Much is True (same town!) and She‘s Come Undone and characters from both books make appearances!!! I love when authors do this. 3y
18 likes1 comment
blurb
CallMeIshmael
post image

Good book, Chinese takeout on this dreary Friday evening is pretty swell

review
paulareadsallthetime
post image
Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is a fantastic book. It is the story of how the Columbine shootings effected some people. It has its ups and downs and some sweet moments. Wally Lamb‘s writing style is great.

review
gcalabash
Pickpick

Immerse yourself in the Columbine school shooting,shifting between past and present influences which look at generational impacts on the present day problem. Characters are cuttingly real and you will not forget them ever.

blurb
Coleen_Nieto
post image

1. John Boyne, Bruce Springsteen, Dave Chappelle, Michelle Obama... Mostly at author talks.
2. I'm thankful for the coming season, and spending time return my daughter and grandson tomorrow
#thankfulthursday @Cosmos_Moon

16 likes1 stack add
blurb
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
post image
81 likes1 stack add2 comments
blurb
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
post image

#Spinepoem1
#FebruaryFeels

I‘m definitely not a poet!! 😂🤷🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️

AmyG Me neither! 5y
MissAimz_55 💗💕 5y
Eggs All Spine poems are poetic 📚🤗📚👏🏻 5y
87 likes4 comments
blurb
Author_Chelsea_Warren_PA
post image

Finished The Dollhouse tonight, and am now starting this! I have my tissues ready!

review
Mshookquilts
post image
Pickpick

While a good book, this may be hard to read for those affected by Columbine, with 911 following 2 short years later. The protagonist has a hard life exacerbated by Columbine and the after affects experienced by his survivor wife and him as someone waiting to see if a loved one lives and then trying to be comfort for years after. A well written, but often depressing story.

4 likes1 stack add
review
StephanieGeiser
post image
Pickpick

This book has been sitting on my shelf for the longest time because of the length. Well, I am happy to report that I finished this one (all 700+ pages!) and while it took a while to read, it kept my attention the entire time. Here‘s to more chunksters!

quote
StephanieGeiser

“‘It‘s a curious thing about quests, isn‘t it, Mr. Quirk?‘ she said. ‘The seeker embarks on a journey to find what he wants and discovers, along the way, what he needs.‘”

blurb
blondie
post image

Book sale books!
They weren't charging anyone for books this time around.
I'd say I found some good ones.
Soooooo happy about The Hour I First Believed.
I've been wanting it for awhile now.

Amiable Loved this book--love basically anything by Wally Lamb 6y
41 likes1 comment
quote
bibliobliss

"I wasn't a cynic; I was a banged-up realist."

23 likes1 stack add
blurb
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
post image

#candle
#OctoberPutaspellonyou

I love his books ❤️

BarbaraTheBibliophage This one was so tough. 6y
Mdargusch Great photo! 🎃 6y
See All 8 Comments
Wife ❤️ 6y
Reviewsbylola He‘s a must read author for me. I still have to read his latest though. 6y
92 likes8 comments
blurb
Insightsintobooks
post image

Has anyone read this one? I've never read anything by this author.

tammysue I‘ve read She‘s Come Undone. I think it was an Oprah book club pick, very good! 6y
AshleyHoss820 I read I Know This Much Is True and it blew me away! 6y
ErikasMindfulShelf I really liked it. 6y
See All 6 Comments
Kaye I‘ve read the above 2; plus this one. In order, I Know This Much Is True was my favorite. I‘d rank this one about 3.5 or 4 Stars. It‘s good, just a different topic that didn‘t interest me to quite the same level, but for this price, it‘s a great deal. It‘s a long read , and good, so I‘d go for it for this price definitely. (edited) 6y
MsLeah8417 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤 6y
Krysta I also read She's Come Undone, years ago, and it really stuck with me. 6y
56 likes6 comments
review
Amoon
Pickpick

This epic book deals with serious issues including the aftermath of the Columbine shootings, drug addiction and women's prison reform in a POV style that lets you really get into people's heads.
The characters are complex and I still think about them and wonder what's going on even after I finished the book.

1 stack add
review
Scarlett_ohara
post image
Pickpick

While overall I had a positive impression of this book, it still was a disappointment. I love Wally Lamb and have read his other 3 major novels, and this was my least favorite. The story is beautiful, the writing amazing, and the characters are complex and very Wally-Lamb-esque. I also enjoyed the references to what happened in I Know This Much Is True. I just felt like there was a large chunk in the middle that dragged on and on...

quote
Scarlett_ohara
post image

It's like that day stranded her on this small, lonely island. And I can see her, you know? I can call to her, but I can't reach her.Can't rescue her because the water between us is thick with sharks. Thick with the blood of those kids.

blurb
TheBookgeekFrau
post image
JuliaTheBookNerd This has been on my TBR forever! One of these days I will finally read it 😏 7y
TheBookgeekFrau @JuliaTheBookNerd Don‘t rush. It wasn‘t all that good 😕 7y
JuliaTheBookNerd Good to know, thanks! 7y
TommieMarie74 This is one my favorite books of all time. Love it so much. 💕 7y
24 likes2 stack adds4 comments
blurb
Allkat
post image

Yeaaa it feels like I walked into spring after work today!!! This book was all over the place, but there are a few moments of encouragement to cherish the little things.

britt_brooke Nice photo! 7y
Allkat @britt_brooke . Thanks! Front yard from porch swing. 7y
BarbaraBB I loved this book although I can‘t remember now what it was about, it was that long ago. 7y
Allkat I like his writing but this story is so scattered. He does tie it together at the end. I think I read part of it a long time ago. Didn‘t finish it. Now I know why. Sigh... 😑@BarbaraBB 7y
22 likes1 stack add4 comments
review
KindaKath
Pickpick

I find Wally Lamb‘s novels engrossing, at least until his latest one—it was terrible. But this story of a teacher who missed work on the day of a major school shooting feels much too real. Rare piece of fiction that I actually liked.

review
TheCanuckReader
post image
Pickpick

I've always liked Wally Lamb, and this book didn't disappoint. I liked the main story and the book would have been much shorter if he'd stayed with that. There was a background historical ancestor narrative that frankly bored me so I skimmed most of that (gasp) so it made getting through a 700+ page book easier. Overall a pick :)

48 likes2 stack adds
blurb
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
post image

#candles
#Decdays
Loved this one!!

Eggs This photo💖❤️💕💓💝 7y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs thank you!! 💕💕💕 7y
Cinfhen Such a powerful book!!! 7y
93 likes3 stack adds4 comments
blurb
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
post image

I love Wally Lamb!!
#time
#NoteworthyNovember

bookloo I just bought I Know This Much Is True last week! Chunky book (I got it as an ebook, but...wow)! 💞 7y
Reecaspieces Yes!! He is super 7y
See All 16 Comments
JacqMac I ❤️ him, too. 7y
Hollie I have if his on my shelf but I haven‘t read it yet...I need for it to be fall break so I can get to more books! 7y
Kaye He‘s great. Is so good. 7y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @bookloo it is awesome!!!! 7y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @BarbaraBB one of my favorites ❤️ 7y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Reecaspieces yes!!! ❤️❤️ 7y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Hollie so little time!!! 7y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Kaye he is!!! ❤️ 7y
Prairiegirl_reading Me too. I haven't read him lately I should probably get on that!! 7y
JenReadsAlot I Know this much is true is an all time favorite! 7y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @JenReadsAlot mine too!!! I wish I had time for a reread!!! 7y
JenReadsAlot Right! So many books.... 7y
96 likes16 comments
review
MsLeah8417
Pickpick

Wally‘s writing is nothing short of amazing. This book really is an experience. The sections on historic Hartford, CT are neat since Mark Twain House and Harriet Beecher Stowe house are in the community of my childhood home.

blurb
BooksAndChopsticks
post image

Lunchtime score! Two authors on my #tbr list! Can't wait for this weekend at the cottage so I can have my #litsypartyofone #wallylamb #summerreading

review
MsLeah8417
Pickpick

Love all things Wally

7 likes1 stack add
blurb
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
post image

#believe
#jubilantjuly
Another great book by Wally Lamb!

55 likes1 stack add
blurb
BeckyWithTheGoodBooks
post image
review
ChloeTallis
post image
Pickpick

Wally Lamb really knows how to tell a bloody good story and this gem is no exception! Seemingly a book surrounding the events of the columbine shootings this book turns into so much more than that. The characters are always relatable and his work demonstrates the human condition so well. Would definitely recommend! (It was also a welcome interruption and distraction from my law revision!)

blurb
EmilyElizabeth
post image

On my walk home from the train tonight I took a peek in my local tiny library and found some gems. This book has been on my list for so long, I'm so excited! Now I have to quickly decide which of my books I can part with to leave in its place.
Thank you mystery neighbour, hopefully my contribution will be equally as appreciated 😊

TrishB That's so cool 😀 8y
DebinHawaii Fun! 👍📚 8y
mcctrish I feel strongly that I need to go and straighten these books out 8y
EmilyElizabeth Haha @mcctrish I felt the same way but it was too dark! I needed to use one hand to hold my phone as a flashlight and I wasn't coordinated enough to make it happen. 8y
42 likes1 stack add4 comments
blurb
KrisConstantReader
post image

Ebook deal today

41 likes6 stack adds
review
Megnacarta
Mehso-so

I feel as if this book is too different stories, while I like both stories it feels drawn out to have them together the way it is.