Review: The Cradle
It’s 1997 and Matt and Marissa are a young married couple expecting their first baby in a month or so. Marissa’s mother left her family when Marissa was 15 and Matt is an orphan. When Marissa is 8 months pregnant she decides the baby must have the cradle she slept in as a child and wants Matt to get it for her. The problem is that Marissa’s mother took the cradle with her when she left. The only lead Matt has is an address for Marissa’s aunt (her mother’s sister). After driving miles and visiting several people besides Marissa’s aunt, Matt finds the cradle, but he also finds a little boy who no one wants and discovers he’s Marissa’s half-brother.
It’s 2008 and Bill and Renee’s son, Adam, has decided to enlist in the Army so that he can fight in Iraq. This is devastating to Renee because her first love died in Vietnam. Bill knows about her first love, but not about the fact that she had a baby by him that she gave up for adoption.
The Cradle by Partick Somerville melds these two stories together. It took me a little while to figure out how the two stories are related, but once I had an idea, I couldn’t put the book down. My only complaint about the book is that the end of the story isn’t developed enough. I enjoyed all of the detail at the beginning of the book. Once Matt found the cradle and Marissa’s half-brother, the detail ended and the story was wrapped up quickly. The ending is satisfactory, though. This is Patrick Somerville’s first novel and if it’s any indication, I think he has great potential as a writer. The Cradle will be published by Hachette Books on March 9, 2009.
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This one sounds really good, I like how you mentioned that it’s unclear at first how the two stories were related.
Oooooh! This one was not even on my radar until your review. Thanks! Another good score! How do you do it?
I like it when two stories merge into one. Sounds like an interesting book!
Sorry the ending wasn’t all it could be. I’ll keep this author on my radar though.
I’ll have to look for this one. I have a couple of ideas how the 2 stories might be related, and I’ll have to see if I’m even close.
Sounds like a very intriguing book – I’ll have to make sure to keep an eye out for it, even if the ending doesn’t quite live up to the rest of the book.
hmm, sounds pretty interesting. thanks for the review!
Interesting concept. I like when two stories come together in a good, satisfying way. I’m sorry the ending wasn’t what you had hoped for.
Great Review Kathy. I never heard about this book before. Sounds really good. I am going to have to look for the book now. 😉
This story sounds interesting! Thanks for the review.
This sounds like an intriguing book. Thanks for sharing such a good review!
Sounds interesting, despite the ending. I’ll keep my eye out for it. Thanks for the review!
I’ll keep an eye open for it. I love to read first time authors!
It sounds intriguing. I’m wondering how the two stories tie in together.
oh, wow! sounds really interesting. I love the cover on that book too!! 🙂 thanks so much for this review.
I’m intrigued…I’d like to know how the stories are connected. Guess I’ll have to try and fit it into my reading schedule. Great review!
I’ve got this one coming so I didn’t want to read too much other than to see if you liked it and I see that you did so that’s good enough for me for now. I’ll be back once I get the book and read it.
Now I’m curious! Sounds kind of interesting.
I am intrigued as well. I think I will add this to my list of books to look for to read as part of the 2009 Pub challenge. Thanks for the review.
Oh, wow, that sounds really interesting!
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Love your reviews!!
Love how the two stories are so different but merge together in the end. I’ll have to keep this one in mind.
This cracks me up. Some pregnant women send their husbands to Taco Bell at 3 a.m., this one sends hers on a long trek searching for the cradle from her childhood. Great premise!
Sounds very intriguing and I love the cover!
Ok – you hooked me – I want to know the connection – it has been added to my TBR file!
Kristi
when i read the title i thought it might be something on infertility. This sounds like a good story, different as well.
This is the first time I’ve heard of this book…sounds good too! 🙂
Nice review Kathy, thanks.
This sounds very intriguing!!! I’ll keep my eye on this one. Thanks for the review.
I agree with Ali – sending her husband on such a quest sounds a little “mom-to-be-zilla”.
oh gosh.. this sounds like such a good one… I want to read this for sure!!!
This sounds like a good one. I do have to wonder about the woman sending her husband on a search like that, but I imagine it fits well into the story.
this book seems too be very good.
Knowing that this one is a kind of puzzle makes me really interested! Sounds good.
I love books with multiple story lines that come together in the end. I’ll keep my eyes peeled for this one. Thanks!