Read Now When Crickets Cry DOC

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Mountain Between Us comes a story of a man with a painful past, a child with a doubtful future, and a shared journey toward healing for both. “Charming characters and twists that keep the pages turning.” —Southern Living It begins on the shaded town square in a sleepy Southern town. A spirited seven-year-old has a brisk business at her lemonade stand. But the little girl’s pretty yellow dress can’t quite hide the ugly scar on her chest. Her latest customer, a bearded stranger, drains his cup and heads to his car, his mind on a boat he's restoring at a nearby lake. The stranger understands more about the scar than he wants to admit. And the beat-up bread truck careening around the corner with its radio blaring is about to change the trajectory of both their lives. Before it's over, they'll both know there are painful reasons why crickets cry . . . and that miracles lurk around unexpected corners. Praise for When Crickets Cry: “If you read any book this year, this is the one.” —Coffee Time Romance “Martin's writing is gifted and blessed and insightful. His prose captures the essence of the story with beauty and sensitivity. I look forward to reading more of his work, past and future.” —onceuponaromance.net “[O]ne of the best books I've been asked to review, and certainly the best one this year!” —bestfiction.tripod.com “Charles Martin has proved himself a master craftsman. Double the story-telling ability of Nicholas Sparks, throw in hints of Michael Crichton and Don J. Snyder, and you have Charles Martin.” —Paula Parker, lifeway.com “How is Charles Martin able to take mere words and breathe such vibrant life into them? Each character is drawn with an artist's attention to detail, beauty and purpose. Readers won't want the story to end because that means leaving these lovable people who have become so much more than just a name in a book.” —inthelibraryreviews.net Full-length novel A Southern Living Book of the Month selection Discussion questions for book clubs available at charlesmartinbooks.com Also by this author: The Mountain Between Us, Send Down the Rain, Long Way Gone, and The Water Keeper Discussion Questions Titles are always important. Why do you think the author chose this one? In Asian countries, the cricket is a symbol of luck and prosperity. What role do crickets play in this story? What do you think about Annie’s comment that “they give their lives for mine”? One of the major themes in When Crickets Cry is love—both the nature of love and how it affects people. What are some of the examples of love from the novel (not just romantic love, but also the love of friendship and of sacrifice)? How did each of the characters grow in his or her understanding of love? An obvious symbol for love is the heart, and the author uses this symbol—doctors who “fix” hearts, people with diseased hearts, characters with “closed” hearts, and don’t forget that heart-of-pine house—to draw our attention to the theme. In addition to love, the symbol of the heart can also be used to represent life itself, compassion, or the center of wisdom. How are these different aspects of the heart reflected in Reese’s life throughout the story? When we first see Annie, she is wearing a yellow dress and selling lemonade. Considering that yellow is a common symbol of the sun and sunlight, what do you think the author wants us to think about Annie’s role in the novel? Another important theme in this novel is the concept of redemption. Who needs a second chance in this story? Who offers one? Does it seem as if each major and minor character falls on both sides of the equation—both needing redemption and yet somehow able to offer it to someone else? As in all of Charles Martin’s novels, water is a recurring motif in When Crickets Cry. From the Tallulah River flowing into Lake Burton, to the leaking water pipe, a few rainstorms, and a recurring dream in which Emma pours water from a pitcher, this novel...