There are times when a book crosses my path that I would not have purchased for myself, but I read the book because it's there in front of me. Most of these are disappointing and a discouraging waste of my time. After all, I should know what I like, should I not? However, sometimes there are surprising exceptions to that rule. One such exception was a book I received at Christmas in 2007; For One More Day by Mitch Albom haunts me still, though I've only read it the one time.

Now, Lark and Termite has moved into my mind right beside For One More Day... yes, Lark and Termite haunts me in that same inimitable way. It is a story of the power of loss and love, the echoing ramifications of war, family secrets, dreams and ghosts and the unseen, almost magical bonds that unite and sustain us. Lark, a girl on the verge of adulthood cares for her younger brother Termite. As the story unfolds, we see into the hearts and thoughts of the leading characters, even Termite, who, unable to walk, talk or express himself in a normal fashion, nevertheless has ways of making his wants and needs known to those around him, if only they would listen. Lark listens to her brother.

Lark and Termite is nicely paced and each of the main characters tells a portion of his or her story in turn. While the point of view shifts with each chapter, the transitions are very well done. The kaleidoscopic viewpoint does not jar the senses as could be the case with a book written by a less skilled author. I could not put it down. Lark and Termite is a relatively short novel yet has as much or more impact on the reader's senses as longer books do. Recommended for readers ages 15 and up who may be looking for one of those stories that touch your heart.

This review has previously been published on Dragonviews ( )

Excellent book, wonderful imagery. ( )

I didn't enjoy this book until I got half way through it and decided I really needed to read this in one long session. Then I was able to keep the plot in mind as it is told from the perspectives of four characters. Lark and Termite are half-siblings. Although we are never told the exact diagnosis, Termite is a special needs child (spina bifida?) and Lark is a 17-year-old who takes care of them. Both children were given up by their mother and placed in the care of her sister, Nonie. As the story takes place in West Virginia during the last few days of July in 1959, we also read of Termite's father experiences in the Korean War during those same dates in 1950. Sgt. Leavitt's death exactly corresponds with Termite's birth back in the states and Termite himself is foreshadowed by the presence of a Korean boy with similar issues as Termite, who sits with Sgt. Leavitt has he dies in the tunnels of No Gun Ri. A huge flood and the suscipicious death of Nonie's boyfriend's mother convince Lark to take Termite away so that the social workers cannot take Termite away from her. ( )

I finished this book last night. (Sept. 5, 2009) What an amazing accomplishment for this author, Jayne Anne Phillips. I have such deep admiration and appreciation for her ability to express the inner lives of the characters in this book in such poetic and even, sometimes, metaphysical language and experiences.

There are many stories being told here, but one of the unifying and underlying themes seems to be our human longing for more love, more connection more appreciation of being alive.

The novel includes the following components, but not to the exclusion of many others I am not bringing to the forefront that are equally compelling:

The natural world in and surrounding the small town in Virginia that has grown used to recurring flooding over its history looms large, the local diner where three or four of the main players work or eat, a young woman and her severely disabled half-brother both of whom shine throughout the book and the young brother may, in fact, have cerebral palsy, although it is never clearly diagnosed or stated by anyone. These characters and their stories will stay with me for a long, long time. Haunting, memorable, somewhat sad and at the same time, also very life affirming and love affirming. This could be developed into a terrific screen play to be directed by Sean Penn. Yes, indeed.

I will seek out and read more works by this author. I give this book five stars.

womansheart ( )

I just couldn't get into this one. It was told from differing viewpoints, two children, their aunt, and a soldier (father of one soldier, telling the story from approximately ten years earlier).

Nothing really grabbed me about the characters or the plot points, though there is some mystery about the children and their mother.