Blog Tour - The Believers

Title:  The Believers
Author:  Zoe Heller
Review Copy Provided by:  Harper Perennial

About the Book:  When a stroke fells radical New York lawyer Joel Litvinoff, a secret is revealed that forces Audrey, his wife, to reexamine everything she believed about their forty-year marriage. In the meantime Joel's children are struggling with their own dilemmas and doubts. Disillusioned revolutionary Rosa has been drawn into the world of Orthodox Judaism. Karla, a devoted--and married--social worker hoping to adopt a child, is falling in love with the owner of a newspaper stand. Lenny, the ne'er-do-well, faces yet another relapse into heroin addiction. In the course of battling their own demons--and one another--the Litvinoffs must reexamine long-held articles of faith and decide what--if anything--they still believe in.

My Review:  This is the first book by Heller that I have been privileged to read.  I say privileged because I enjoyed the story she had to tell in The Believers.  Her characters are realistic and complex.  I became more and more drawn into their story the more I read.  If you want a story that's juicy, true to life with all its humor, dissappointments and entertainment, then read this one.

I will admit that I had a little trouble getting started with this one, as it is a change from what I normally read, but I kept at it and I'm so glad I did!

The story begins, with a prologue, in the 60's and then moves closer to the present, 2002, to tell the story of Audrey and Joel's 40 year marriage.  Everyone is forced to reexamine their lives with Joel; Audrey their marriage, and the children their own trials.  Isn't that what we all do at one time or another in our lives?  I just enjoyed how real Heller's writing is.  I will definitely be reading more of her work!!