Review and Giveaway: 'Forgive Me' by Amanda Eyre Ward

Forgive Me
By Amanda Eyre Ward
ISBN-10: 0345494474
ISBN-13: 978-0345494474
Trade paperback, 272 pages
January 29, 2008
Ballantine Books
Reviewed by Sabrina Williams

I love it when a book catches me off guard. Amanda Eyre Ward's Forgive Me did just that. Her turbulent novel about the perils of apartheid in South Africa is an emotional summons in a number of ways. There are really two running plots to the story: the injustices and suffering caused by apartheid and the self-reflection and realization of a respected journalist. Both veins are equally poignant and heart wrenching, but for vastly different reasons. They weave and intersect at key points, building up to a general theme of forgiveness.

As the story opens, reporter Nadine Morgan is risking her life for a story in Mexico. She is severely beaten and awakens to find herself back at home, in her father's bed and breakfast. Ever the independent loner, she is now forced to endure her father and stepmother's beside ministrations while her body heals. The kind doctor overseeing her care provides plenty of romantic distraction, but Nadine's nomadic inclinations are keeping her anxious and eager to bolt.

It is with this anxiety that Nadine hops on the trail of a hot story. The parents of a young man killed in South Africa during the tumult of apartheid are returning to testify at the parole hearing of one of his murderers. Their testimony will influence whether or not the girl convicted of his murder will have a chance at rebuilding her life.

What Nadine doesn't realize as she boards the plane to cover the story is that she has personal ties to this case stemming from earlier assignments in Africa. She also has an opportunity to help heal emotional wounds and set broken lives to mend, including her own. When she returns to the country and is forced to relive past experiences, she must reconcile her history with a future that is quickly unfolding.

I can't explain exactly what caught me off guard about Forgive Me without revealing some spoilers, so I'll just have to leave that part open. Just know that one character isn't exactly who they appear to be. This revelation had me sitting in stunned silence with my jaw hanging open for several moments before I could continue reading.

The character of Nadine is not instantly endearing. Her own self-absorption at the outset makes her unlikable. She's pretty rough around the edges. Fortunately, the key to the story is Nadine's personal growth, and as she matures and is forced to face some of her own demons, she becomes humbled to a certain degree. This leads her to make some admirable decisions that will affect many lives in a positive way. Forgive Me isn't a sappy love story, but it is about relationships, and it's an emotionally moving read.

Would you like to read this book?

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