Chasing Fireflies: A Novel of Discovery

I really enjoyed this book. I love the way Charles Martin writes and tugs at your heart strings. I couldn't put it down until I was finished, and then wished it would have continued on. A very good read I think.

Did I miss something in this book, Chasing Fireflies? I find the book long and boring with the characters ill defined. What is it I am missing that other readers of this novel find so interesting. I find it so boring that in all honesty, I cannon finish this novel. Perhaps I'll put it aside for now and try to read it at a later time when maybe it will make sense.

This book grabbed my attention from the start. With each page I was eager to continue. Could not wait to get to the end to know all the answers and then was sad because it was over. I highly recommend this book

This book is such a good read. I love this author, because there are so few like him in today's market. Your interest is caught and held from the first page. Believe it or not there are no grizzly sex scenes just good writing talent that touches your heart.

This book grabbed my attention from the start. With each page I was eager to continue. Could not wait to get to the end to know all the answers and then was sad because it was over. I highly recommend this book

This book is such a good read. I love this author, because there are so few like him in today's market. Your interest is caught and held from the first page. Believe it or not there are no grizzly sex scenes just good writing talent that touches your heart.

story line was good, kept me interested but at times it was just a tad bit too technical with the medical information. I was a little confused by the ending - it could have been written better. Overall, I enjoyed the book though.

I purchased this book because of the great reviews it was getting. I had high hopes that it was going to be great, and at the end of chapter one I thought I was hooked. Then came the rest of the book. The characters were idealized, boring and unrealistic. I was very disappointed primarily because the story itself was somewhat clever but it was ruined by the predictable and cliche characters and their interactions. I'm sorry that I spent money on this book.

I think I remember this to be about a complex person, one that society overlooks and expects little from, but it has been awhile since i read it. But I remember feeling more aware after reading it - but that understates the impact the Charles Martin novels have on me. I'm often stunned at the honesty and delicate new understanding I;m faced with. Sometimes I"m giddy, because he reveals a viewpoint that I carry ( not politically correct).

I am an avid reader, but I just could not get into this book. First of all, I didn't like the narrator. He read way too fast. It was like he just wanted to get it over with....not that I can blame him. This was my first book by Charles Martin and it will be my last. I only got through half of the second CD and just could not go any further. I am very fond of sentimental stories, but this book did not do it for me.

Soulful, heartwarming, heart wrenching -- that only begins to tell the effects of Long Way Gone, Charles Martin's masterpiece of non-fiction. This novel spoke to me in a way that very few others ever have. No surprise he is a bestselling author.

Through characters who step right off the page and into your heart, Martin takes the reader through both the creative and the dark sides of the music industry. In the process of telling this story, Martin shares the history of the songs, "O Danny Boy", and "How Great Thou Art", was well as the differences in the construction and, therefore the sounds of different guitars. Charles Martin either knows a lot about music, or he did extensive research to create a book that will not only educate you, it will peer into your soul.
 
Cooper ("Coop") O'Connor is a classically trained pianist, turned songwriter who can play several musical instruments including the guitar. Coop leaves home at the naive age of 18, and travels to Nashville, where his money and his guitar are stolen. Working a menial job at the Ryman Theater, he meets the up-and-coming singer, Daley Cross. Now he has returned to his home in the mountains of Colorado.
 
Daley Cross is now a down-and-out former star with perfect pitch, who had four hit songs (written by Coop) before her producer began giving her poorly written songs after she refused his advances. When she is picked up while hitchhiking, then beaten with her own guitar and dumped on a sidewalk in Colorado, Coop is in the right place at the right time to assist her.
 
Long Way Gone is about a father's love for his son, about giving back, about losing love and finding it again. It's about facing our shortcomings, our self-doubts, and overcoming them. It shows us that it is never too late -- we can always go home.
 
I can't say enough good things about this book. It would be a great book club selection. It should be required reading for anyone seeking a career in the music industry. I gave it five stars on GoodReads, the store, and Barnes and Noble.
 
What Makes This Book Reviewer Grumpy?
 
-- Incorrect use of the phrase: "beg the question"; in this case it should have been "raise the question". Begging the question means to make a conclusion or an argument based on a premise that lacks logical support. "Raises the question" means a  statement brings up an additional question. "Begs the question", means that your argument is weak, at best -- worthless, at worst.
-- Misspelled words:  a McPherson guitar "filled the air with a sonic tapestry....and leant itself to..." "Leant" should be "lent". This is most likely a computer error, but a good proofreader should have caught it.
-- Single-sentence paragraphs - a huge no-no unless you're in the newspaper business.
-- Sentences beginning with "and" or "but". Usually, the conjunction could be dropped from a stand-alone sentence. Often, the sentence could be combined with the preceding sentence.

Look for me online as The Grumpy Book Reviewer.

My nephew and niece led me to the world of author Charles Martin a couple of years ago (The Dead Don't Dance and Maggie), so I jumped at the opportunity to take in another in CHASING FIREFLIES. I'm never disappointed with a Charles Martin novel.

Chase Walker is not his real name, nor was he born in the small town of Brunswick. Trouble is, he doesn't know the correction to either of those. He was a discarded child, taken in by someone he learned to call Uncle Willee (and Aunt Lorna) McFarland. As an adult journalist for the Brunswick Daily, Chase now has an assignment to learn more about another orphan child who barely escaped death at a railroad crossing. This boy has an amazing artistic talent, but he does not speak. When asked questions, he writes his answers on a notebook; he does not know his name or his parents---just like Chase. Then there is Chase's cousin, Tommye, who suddenly comes home after years away as an aspiring actress, very ill and seeking the comforts of home and her Uncle Willee and Aunt Lorna---and Chase. Another story Chase has worked on for decades is that of a bank robbery that the town's people have never forgotten or forgiven.

CHASING FIREFLIES is a very engaging novel with some twists you will expect, and some you will not. Prepare to smile and laugh, but be sure to keep the Kleenex handy. At times you will need them. It's a wonderful book. Five Star all the way!

This novel has a completely arresting plot, good flow, nice, quirky characters, and decent dialogue. The settings are full and colorful, and the themes are solid and well-woven.

Some drawbacks. It's prone to hyperbolic figurative descriptions, and the antagonist's back story failed to suspend my disbelief (a brief study of criminal psychology would've done the author some good). Also, the extended sports play-by-plays bored the snot out of me, but because they were used as illustrations for plot points, I was forced to read them in entirety. *groan*

And, hon, you can't leave a live animal in a car in August while you go to an Atlanta Braves game, even if you crack all the windows. It's bad. Seriously.

Chasing Fireflies by Charles Martin is a story well told about the power of relationships and kinship. My initial rating idea was 3.5 stars, but I opted for 4 rather than 3 because of the story's charm and Martin's adept ability to weave a story and develop vibrant characters that become good friends in the reading. What keeps me from giving it 5 stars is something that happens toward the end that detracted from my favorite character, "Unc".

"Unc", the caretaker and foster father of the main character, Chase, is a strong but humble Christ-like figure of healing and protection who is beset with a brother who is consumed with a desire for wealth but shielded by a well fabricated facade of righteousness. Unc (short for uncle) takes in Chase, Tommye, his brother's daughter, and another young orphan with his generous spirit and huge heart.Competent love infuses the bonds between the characters in this endearing story but is challenged by the evil under the surface emobodied by Unc's brother Jack.

The story is told by Chase who is in his late twenties and writes for the local newspaper. He is researching a story about "Unc's" family that is mysterious and compelling. The story involves a rich and benevolent entrepreneur of southeastern Georgia who builds a small empire logging industry while taming the land with ingenious irrigation, opening a bank, and being a generous benefactor to the entire region. His sons, "Unc" and Jack inherit his riches, including the bank. An incident involving the bank and $7 Million in missing bearer bonds sends Unc to prison while his brother proceeds to grow richer and more powerful in the local community. In the trial and its aftermath, the community turns against Unc and is convinced of his brother Jack's righteousness in the footsteps of his beneficent father. Chase is working on uncovering the truth.

The story begins with a difficult telling of "Sketch", the young orphan taken in eventually by Unc and Chase. Sketch, who is horribly abused and rejected becomes the focus of a news story assigned to Chase. As Chase learns Sketch's story, he also learns much about himself, his niece Tommye and "Unc" who is the best father he ever could have had.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and will read more of Mr. Maritn's work in the future.

Took me several chapters to get involved in the storyline. “Sketch” is a non-verbal abused kid who ends up in hospital where he is met by Chase Walker a reporter who also happens to be a foster child. Chase's challenge is to get through to this child and establish his identity. Sketch communicates by drawing, a skill he has mastered magnificently at his young age.

The story is narrated by Chase who in telling Sketch's story relates his own parallel history as an orphan. Side-issues are the rivalry between brothers for a rich inheritance, the mystery of a triple murder, and a fortune in disappeared bearer bonds.

In the end this story seems overly contrived and stretches belief but its heart is in the right place.

It is with a bittersweet heart that I start to write this review for Chasing Fireflies by Charles Martin. I have with regret finished reading my most favorite book to date! For the last week, I had dragged my feet, completing this book by only allowing myself to read one chapter a day. I just did not want the end to come! I tried to suspend myself, the characters and the story in time to never have it end, but as we all know, eventually time catches up and you must face what will come even if it is the second time reading it!

If you were ever looking for a more truer to reality than fiction story to cover what real love is and how to live it as a family, this book is it! Complete in steadfast love without compromise to protect what is most precious of all. This is why I love this book, Chasing Fireflies, so much!

Through the eyes of a young man in search of who he really is, we are taken back through the history to the founder's of the town. It is here that we meet both love and evil between brothers. The ultimate war that seems timeless throughout all of history. Who will win? To what depth of the inner soul will be paid? For how long will this price be paid? And how many will it take to make this stand? The answer might surprise you.

Chasing Fireflies has left its imprint on me and will be passed down through our family. There are no aliens, ghosts, robots, or cartoons in this book. It is straight out reality to today's times. I feel I have walked away stronger and more wholly towards the person I want to be.

First off I think it's fair to warn you (without giving too much away) that this book begins with some graphic description of child abuse which I found to be very unsettling.

From there on out the book was both predictable and not quite believable and at the same time slow and boring. It just wasn't interesting, it seemed to serve no purpose, not even to entertain.

Skip this one, he's done better.

Very well written. The characters were realistic and were likeable. The story felt real to me.

I especially liked Unc. He was a very wise man who was dealt quite a bit yet he didn't allow it to bring him down. I walked away from this novel feeling so much better about living life as God intends instead of how the world expects.

My nephew and niece led me to the world of author Charles Martin a couple of years ago (The Dead Don't Dance and Maggie), so I jumped at the opportunity to take in another in CHASING FIREFLIES. I'm never disappointed with a Charles Martin novel.

Chase Walker is not his real name, nor was he born in the small town of Brunswick. Trouble is, he doesn't know the correction to either of those. He was a discarded child, taken in by someone he learned to call Uncle Willee (and Aunt Lorna) McFarland. As an adult journalist for the Brunswick Daily, Chase now has an assignment to learn more about another orphan child who barely escaped death at a railroad crossing. This boy has an amazing artistic talent, but he does not speak. When asked questions, he writes his answers on a notebook; he does not know his name or his parents---just like Chase. Then there is Chase's cousin, Tommye, who suddenly comes home after years away as an aspiring actress, very ill and seeking the comforts of home and her Uncle Willee and Aunt Lorna---and Chase. Another story Chase has worked on for decades is that of a bank robbery that the town's people have never forgotten or forgiven.

CHASING FIREFLIES is a very engaging novel with some twists you will expect, and some you will not. Prepare to smile and laugh, but be sure to keep the Kleenex handy. At times you will need them. It's a wonderful book. Five Star all the way!

This novel has a completely arresting plot, good flow, nice, quirky characters, and decent dialogue. The settings are full and colorful, and the themes are solid and well-woven.

Some drawbacks. It's prone to hyperbolic figurative descriptions, and the antagonist's back story failed to suspend my disbelief (a brief study of criminal psychology would've done the author some good). Also, the extended sports play-by-plays bored the snot out of me, but because they were used as illustrations for plot points, I was forced to read them in entirety. *groan*

And, hon, you can't leave a live animal in a car in August while you go to an Atlanta Braves game, even if you crack all the windows. It's bad. Seriously.

Chasing Fireflies by Charles Martin is a story well told about the power of relationships and kinship. My initial rating idea was 3.5 stars, but I opted for 4 rather than 3 because of the story's charm and Martin's adept ability to weave a story and develop vibrant characters that become good friends in the reading. What keeps me from giving it 5 stars is something that happens toward the end that detracted from my favorite character, "Unc".

"Unc", the caretaker and foster father of the main character, Chase, is a strong but humble Christ-like figure of healing and protection who is beset with a brother who is consumed with a desire for wealth but shielded by a well fabricated facade of righteousness. Unc (short for uncle) takes in Chase, Tommye, his brother's daughter, and another young orphan with his generous spirit and huge heart.Competent love infuses the bonds between the characters in this endearing story but is challenged by the evil under the surface emobodied by Unc's brother Jack.

The story is told by Chase who is in his late twenties and writes for the local newspaper. He is researching a story about "Unc's" family that is mysterious and compelling. The story involves a rich and benevolent entrepreneur of southeastern Georgia who builds a small empire logging industry while taming the land with ingenious irrigation, opening a bank, and being a generous benefactor to the entire region. His sons, "Unc" and Jack inherit his riches, including the bank. An incident involving the bank and $7 Million in missing bearer bonds sends Unc to prison while his brother proceeds to grow richer and more powerful in the local community. In the trial and its aftermath, the community turns against Unc and is convinced of his brother Jack's righteousness in the footsteps of his beneficent father. Chase is working on uncovering the truth.

The story begins with a difficult telling of "Sketch", the young orphan taken in eventually by Unc and Chase. Sketch, who is horribly abused and rejected becomes the focus of a news story assigned to Chase. As Chase learns Sketch's story, he also learns much about himself, his niece Tommye and "Unc" who is the best father he ever could have had.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and will read more of Mr. Maritn's work in the future.

Took me several chapters to get involved in the storyline. “Sketch” is a non-verbal abused kid who ends up in hospital where he is met by Chase Walker a reporter who also happens to be a foster child. Chase's challenge is to get through to this child and establish his identity. Sketch communicates by drawing, a skill he has mastered magnificently at his young age.

The story is narrated by Chase who in telling Sketch's story relates his own parallel history as an orphan. Side-issues are the rivalry between brothers for a rich inheritance, the mystery of a triple murder, and a fortune in disappeared bearer bonds.

In the end this story seems overly contrived and stretches belief but its heart is in the right place.

It is with a bittersweet heart that I start to write this review for Chasing Fireflies by Charles Martin. I have with regret finished reading my most favorite book to date! For the last week, I had dragged my feet, completing this book by only allowing myself to read one chapter a day. I just did not want the end to come! I tried to suspend myself, the characters and the story in time to never have it end, but as we all know, eventually time catches up and you must face what will come even if it is the second time reading it!

If you were ever looking for a more truer to reality than fiction story to cover what real love is and how to live it as a family, this book is it! Complete in steadfast love without compromise to protect what is most precious of all. This is why I love this book, Chasing Fireflies, so much!

Through the eyes of a young man in search of who he really is, we are taken back through the history to the founder's of the town. It is here that we meet both love and evil between brothers. The ultimate war that seems timeless throughout all of history. Who will win? To what depth of the inner soul will be paid? For how long will this price be paid? And how many will it take to make this stand? The answer might surprise you.

Chasing Fireflies has left its imprint on me and will be passed down through our family. There are no aliens, ghosts, robots, or cartoons in this book. It is straight out reality to today's times. I feel I have walked away stronger and more wholly towards the person I want to be.

First off I think it's fair to warn you (without giving too much away) that this book begins with some graphic description of child abuse which I found to be very unsettling.

From there on out the book was both predictable and not quite believable and at the same time slow and boring. It just wasn't interesting, it seemed to serve no purpose, not even to entertain.

Skip this one, he's done better.

Very well written. The characters were realistic and were likeable. The story felt real to me.

I especially liked Unc. He was a very wise man who was dealt quite a bit yet he didn't allow it to bring him down. I walked away from this novel feeling so much better about living life as God intends instead of how the world expects.

Chasing Fireflies by Charles Martin is a story about identity. Really, it's a story about belonging--and the identity that flows from belonging.

A boy is found after an apparent suicide. He's been beaten and he remembers little of his past. What he does remember, he doesn't tell. He's mute. A talented artist, he reveals bits and pieces through his sketches. In the meantime, he climbs into the heart of Chase Walker, a journalist covering the story and himself an orphan.

As Chase unfolds the story of Sketch, the name he's given the orphan, he works through his own past and the past of his foster family, one fraught with secrets and every disaster imaginable (perhaps to the extent of overkill). Chasing Fireflies contains the legends of Cain and Able, of Job, of Ruth, and a half a dozen Greek mythologies.

As usual, Martin creates characters who walk into your life and make themselves at home. Unc, Chase's foster father, spits out Southern banter that reminds me of a friend born and raised small-town Texan. If I'd followed her around with pen and pad in hand (which I often wanted to do), I would've ended up with Unc.

His prose is beautiful. It makes you want to read it aloud to hear how the words fit together. You don't mind what seem like rabbit trails on trains and the history of a small island in the south (later, they fit into the plot and theme) because you enjoy the voice.

Charles Martin is one of CBA's strongest writers. I highly recommend this book.

I could not put this book down once I strayed reading it! One of the best books I have ever read. It will make you not want to read another book because this one was so good! This was my first Charles Martin book and my favorite of his so far. I have since read a couple more. I had not heard of him before reading this novel. A friend shared the book with me and I am so glad she did.

I've now officially read all of Charles Martin's books. This is one of the best, and that's saying something. The characters are so real, I feel like I have a bunch of friends hanging out on my bookshelf, waiting for me to pick them up again. I will, someday. I promise.

I particularly loved the relationship between Chase and Unc and the picture it paints of what the father-child relationship should look like, juxtaposed with that of Jack and Tommye--the ultimate "what not to do." This lends credence to the idea that, instead of always trying to discover "who" we are, we ought to spend more time considering "whose" we are. When we know who we belong to, the rest falls into place

Charles Martin's books contain beautiful prose, quirky characters, and vivid settings. He creates a world of believable, if unusual, characters and gently invites the reader in.

In this book, Chase Walker, who was abandoned and adopted by a man he calls "Unc", is assigned to write a story about another young boy who has likewise been abandoned. The boy is mute which makes it all the more challenging for Chase to piece together his background. Chase and Unc work together to show the boy that he is loved and accepted.

Although Unc is the most interesting character, there is also Chase's cousin Tommye, Unc's ruthless brother Jack, and the young boy to round out the cast of characters. The book shows what family and forgiveness are all about and will certainly be a favorite for Charles Martin's many fans.

A great mystery wrapped in a wonderful story. What an excellent surprise, I was not prepared for such a special book; not what I expected.   This is an endearing story with a truly amazing historic back story. The author made it so easy to have feelings for each character that ranged from love, anger, pity, sorrow, admiration, wonder, idolization and respect.  Laughter and tears were just a few emotions this story evoked. The hysterical metaphors and colloquialisms used by "Unc" are priceless.  Good narrator, I did not spend a credit but it is well worth one. Highly recommend. 

Every dad should read this book! Teachers also, because they never know how much a child is hurting inside. A simple touch on the shoulder can give a child a bit of hope!
I would love to know a "real life" Unk!

To start off - Anyone who rated this book lower than 5 stars is clearly illiterate.

Now my review. It's hard to put into words... but this book was utterly intoxicating. If I was to describe this book in one word - I'd use Emotion. There wasn't a point in this book where I wasn't completely overtaken by emotions. Whether I was happy, or sad. My emotion was surely visible via tears. Maybe I'm just a big baby, but this book completely touched my heart. Having absolutely no personal connection with this book, other than loving my own father - it still struck home for me. Although, I did predict the ending with Chase and Unc. I knew they had that connection, that couldn't be any less than what it really was. This book is a masterpiece.

I have had this book on my wish list for over a year. I finally got it and found it to be a very fascinating book. It is a story about a broken family trying to find healing. The witticisms of Unc are priceless and will make you laugh. The characters begin to feel like they are my own family and some of their circumstances brought tears. Since the author was unknown to me I didn't know what to expect and was going by the description alone. I really liked this book.

Charles Martin introduces us to an old man with a huge heart, and a shady past full of unanswered questions, a young man looking for his past, a young woman lost because of her past, and a young boy with an unknown past and an uncertain future. In a setting rich with summertime memories, splashed with the light of fireflies on warm dark nights in Georgia, he lays out a story that rings true and lands straight in your heart.

Adding this to my favorites--it's why I read--a book of healing, and hope that humans however damaged can find redemption and their way home. I'm happy that my friend told me about Charles Martin, I can't wait to read more by this author.

Not the best work for this author. Loved the story but too much "history" to wade through. Felt at time like the book was a masters thesis with a little novel worked into it. Might read it a second time and see how hard it is to wade through.

I can't say enough about Charles Martin. I always compare him to Nicholas Sparks in my reviews, but I'm beginning to wonder if I shouldn't compare Sparks to him!
I will say that this book started off just a little corny for me though. Being from Georgia it seemed loaded with southern stereotypes at first, but once I became involved with the characters I forgot all about it!
Martin is a simple but eloquent author that has just the right touch of connecting you to his characters! Great book.

This is an excellent story. I especially enjoyed the audio version narrated by Andrew Peterson. The story drew me in and kept my attention. This was my first book by this author, but it will not be my last.

Overly...dramatic, sentimental, sensational, convoluted, and unrealistic.

Admitedly this is not my preferred style of fiction - I prefer historical fiction. But, like others, it was selected for my book club. Even with the personal connection of being an Atlanta native with family on the Georgia Coast I found the descriptions verbose.

The story-line was implausable. Every character was an extreme stereotype. The level of trauma experienced by many of the characters would have led to a level of emotional and psychological damage, which is barely addressed.

Also, potential readers should be advised that there are several occasions of child-abuse (including sexual) and references to the adult porn industry (although not glorified).

4 STARS for well-written, memorable characters.

3 STARS for predictability of major plotlines. No surprise to me, when they were finally revealed. Too many "sign posts" along the way, in need of an editor perhaps. Maybe because I'm becoming familiar with this author's formula?

3 STARS for some overwriting (and pacing problems) that could have used that editor.

4 STARS for beautifully written phrases, leaving an imprint on my mind.

3 STARS for the half-baked ending. Sorry (no real Spoiler here), but there is little, if any, "resolution" on what the majority of the book focuses on. After this longish journey, just give us the last 1/8th of the book. I wondered if some of the final pages accidentally fell out.

2 STARS for the TITLE of author's Afterword. I had no idea who the speaker was until I skipped to the end of the chapter first. Titled "On Uncle Willie" didn't make it clear if it was Chase, Sketch, or someone else speaking.

3 STARS for character development. There is much focus on Chases' sense of abandonment, even a disertation on what an adopted child feels, especially re. intimacy/fear thereof. Due to this, I was expecting more resolve at the end. A hug between Chase and Unc during a culmative scene would have done it. A sign that Chase and Mandy were actually becoming something more than friends. If it was written, I didn't see it. Which left me feeling that Chase was still blocked. I felt like I'd been left with my hands holding air, grasping for more. Especially re. Jack.

4 STARS because I LOVE this author's depiction of characters and the relationships between them, delivering a tangible story, and yes: word-smithing. I struggled with the anachronistic style in this book(3 STARS), but the interweaving worked well.

Since I can't decide, I'll give it 3 1/2 STARS. I am not discouraged; I already have another of Mr. Martin's books awaiting me :)

Charles Martin touched my soul with his book of the heart, When Cricket's Cry. With Chasing Fireflies he has awakened hope and joy. Charles' prose is exceptional and his characters connected with my emotions in ways few authors can achieve. This is a beautiful story of one man's journey for his identity, a boy's ability to communicate without words and the honour and integrity of a man willing to make a lifelong sacrifice for those he loves. Charles' books are in a league of their own and this hardcover novel is well worth the extra investment.

Absolutely loved this book! The story was very touching. Loved Unc & the Sketch. Totally unbelievable what he endured without selfishness. Just goes to show you what a person should decide is important in their life. It was touching who thought enough of Tommey to attend her funeral. I will be buying more of Charles Martin's books.

For fans of well-written faith fiction, you will find a new favourite in Charles Martin's gorgeously spun Southern tale.

In some of the freshest and most scintillating prose in this genre, Martin tells us of history, secrets, family, love and the small joys that piece together the framework of warmth and humanity.

From fireflies in a mason jar to fishing and time on a lifeboat, journalist Chase Walker chases his past to better carve and understand a troubled kid's future.

This book comes highly recommend to readers of inspirational fiction who love a well-written character piece which is light on the preachy evangelism and heavy on the thematic symbolism.

A novel to sink your heart into.

When newspaper writer Chase Walker is let out of jail, his foster parent, Uncle Willee McFarland, is his ride home --- the only real home that Chase can (or wants to) remember from his early childhood years. After being shuffled around between three foster and two boys' homes, Chase is thankful for "Unc" and Lorna McFarland's generous hearts.

Though just released from a short stint in the Glynn County Jail for trespassing, Chase can't help but feel that he's still incarcerated. No one can release him from the shadows of his own past. Who is he really? What's his real name? Will his dad, even some 20-plus years later, ever come for him? Chase continues to replay a single nagging memory of a train, sparks and skidding steel rails near his head. It includes his father (his real one) calling Chase by name, but Chase is unable to see him nor hear his voice.

While Chase reminisces, Unc tells Chase that his cousin Tommye --- best friend, young love and, most recently, an adult film actress --- is home from California and is dying. Tommye and Chase reunite on civil terms, dancing around the past without actually addressing its pain.

Before Chase can scarcely take another breath, he receives an assignment from his editor at the Brunswick Daily. Chase is told to investigate a story involving a severely abused boy who was found near a car/train wreck and whose "mother?" was on a suicide trek. He meets the young boy, who is mute but draws like a master artist, communicating only through sketches and staccato-like bursts of written words. With oozing sores and assorted branded markings of physical abuse, Chase soon finds his heart breaking and bonding with "Snoot," whose name is quickly changed to "Sketch" and then upgraded to "Buddy."

Working within the system, Chase befriends the boy and Unc and Lorna decide to take him in as foster parents. So begins Chase's internal journey of angst and questioning about his own "lost" family. He works hard to learn the truth about Buddy's past while working just as diligently to make sense of his own. As Chase and other lively and equally likable characters enter into the game of find and seek, each one discovers that old family histories don't easily die and eventually must be faced head on. Chase weaves current struggles and questions with the past and finds himself aching to find closure.

Eventually, through death, acceptance and forgiveness, Chase realizes that all he ever really needed is what he already has. And little Buddy also begins to heal with the everyday kind of love offered by those who have suffered most.

In his fifth novel, Charles Martin again melds a variety of external sensory descriptions into the soul of men and women. Somehow, readers see what his characters see, feel what they feel, and taste, touch and smell with the same intensity. Martin's fans will be delighted and moved by his newest work, which interlaces those eternal qualities so necessary to the human existence: faith, hope and love.

--- Reviewed by Michele Howe

Chasing Fireflies: A Novel of Discovery
I have read everything Charles Martin has written and I was certainly not disappointed to read Chasing Fireflies: A Novel of Discovery. Martin has a way of capturing the pace and personality of the South, which makes it as much a main character as any of the people mentioned.
History and understanding of people does not happen at the rapid-fire pace often protrayed in most novels. Martin takes you on a trip of discovery that shows that you never really know a person until you take time to just be with them and hear their stories.
Worth EVERY minute you spend reading this book!

Even though the end of this story makes up for (big time), this book is soooo slow. There is so much history (a lot of which turns out to be important) and a lot of description. When you get down to the bones of the story, it's actually really good, I just wish it was executed a bit better.

Chasing Firefires is the first Charles Martin book I've read and I found it a satisfying read. Written in first person from the point of view of Chase, we watch a young investigative reporter researching the past of an abused child paralleled with his continuing search over his own and his "uncle's" past. Add in a cousin with secrets of her own and you have a multi-threaded plot that captivates as it unfolds.

Espoused as a Christian novel, I was a bit disappointed that a redemptive message was not better emphasized. The story dilemmas, which include descriptive evidences of child abuse, and glimpses of the porn industry would preclude this book as a young adult read. The dilemmas, though hard hitting, are handled well and should not be a reason for adults to avoid reading.

I look forward to my next Charles Martin read.

I only recently stumbled upon the books of Charles Martin by reading his Technology Contract written to his sons. We too are a family of three sons who subscribe to this same perspective on their use of technological advancements in our world. Our sons know where to check in at "the vine"...Martin is right on with this contract.
Ok, so my interest was peaked to know more about this author. I chose this book to be my first of Martin's reads. Absolutely inspiring! Charles masters various story lines in clear and captivating routes that are in their own style are complex, but remain easy to follow. You can't help yourself from not reading on and on. A beautiful conclusion awaits you. Unpredictable and enticing is how I find Charles writing. I most appreciate the cleanliness of his chosen words. His characters exuded love and grace, a model of attributes that are lacking in our own society today.

Catching Fireflies is one long sigh of healing--intricate, delicate, satisfying. Chase is all boy, but damaged when he's kicked around by life. Unc' steps in as Chase's gentle, ever-present rescuer--so like God. Chase grows into a scarred man who reflects Unc's character. Poignant. Picturesque. Heart deep.

If I could have given this book a 6 star I would have. I literally could not put the book down. Such a wonderful story. You will just love Tommye and of course Chase. Just discovered Charles Martin in the last year and have all ready read 10 of his books.

In Chasing Fireflies, Charles Martin once again brings to life an amazingly honest story of grace, tragedy, dignity, strife, perseverence, and heart. He does it all in a true page turner of a book amazingly void of gratuitous sex or violence - but with a story line so juicy and tangled that you don't even notice! Martin's books are incredibly well written and insightful, with characters you grow to know who are engaged in struggles you fight with them, and simple but dynamic lessons that you can't help but take away to somehow embroider into your own life. In his own way, Martin's books meet you where you are and help move you someplace special...

As with When Crickets Cry and Wrapped in Rain, I laughed and cried, sat on the edge of my seat, got mad, got even and absolutely hated closing the last chapter on a whole cast of characters I felt I'd gotten to know. And, as with his others, this is a book that I have bought and passed along, to people who have bought again - and passed along - to people who have done the same again and again.

Kudos to his family for encouraging Martin to find his voice! My family - and friends, and their friends, and more still - are so grateful for his gift. We can't wait for the next addition to the collection!!!

My heart ached for the boy and the main character in this book. This is a great story of hope and healing amidst this crazy world we live in that would torture a young child. I have read a couple other books about abused children but they turned out to be very disturbing, there wasn't any message of hope in them. In this story, many mysteries unravel making it a hard book to put down. Rest assured, good does prevail and hope as well as healing is conveyed. This is the third Martin book I have read, each of his books have been amazing!

Charles Martin is one of my most favorite authors. I have read much of his work. Love, love them all.
This book that spoke so well on child abuse is simply wonderful. The way he weaves the story together is nothing short of marvelous.

Once again, Charles Martin has created some very interesting characters. A man who is shunned by most of the community is the one who takes in two different abandoned boys and teaches them about life and love. Every lost child should have an "Unc" come into their life.

Enjoyed this story immensely. The scenes were described so beautifully that you could see and smell them in your reading! Love came through as the most important thing of all. Can't put it down. Great read.

Have read all of Charles Martins books and they are all "page turners"
I think Chasing Fireflies is his best so far! The way he writes will bring your emotions to the surface and I definately missed the characters when I was thru reading! He is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. So glad his first book When crickets cry caught my attention- I've been hooked on his books ever since!

This is the first book by Charles Martin that I've read. In fact, for some reason...I'd never even heard of him. I was blown away. This was the most touching, sad, funny book I've read in a long time. I highly recommend it.

This is my first book review which indicates how much I enjoyed this book. The characters came alive and the loose ends all started to make sense as the story unfolded. I will be checking out the other books by this author.

Charles Martin is a wonderful writer. I have read everything that he has written. Chasing Fireflies is one of the best. It is a book that I read and then ordered the C/D for my son. He loved it. I have given this book to several people and highly recommend it.

Just when I think his books can't get any better -- he writes another one! The characters in this book are so well established -- so many details but never "too" many. Twists & turns;laughs & tears. Charles Martin is one of the best authors I have ever read. If you read one book this summer -- it should be this one. If you read 5 -- it should be this one plus his 4 others.

I read Chasing Fireflies because it was selected by my bookclub. Since we are located in Atlanta, I am sure the appeal was that the book takes place in Georgia. I found the book to be overly sentimental and cloyingly sweet. The descriptions of Atlanta and the south are the high points of the book.

This book desperately needed editing before publication. The premise of the story is a good one; however, the author needed some direction from an experienced editor to keep him focused, as he strays off in tangents away from the the story. Example: The author is apparently a fan of the Atlanta Braves because a lot of Atlanta Braves statistics were inserted into the story, which was distracting, for no reason other than to show the reader how much the author loves and follows the Braves. Also, throughout the entire book he over develops the character "Unc" to the point where by the time I was halfway through the book, I wanted to scream "enough already, we get it." This reads like a first draft that was rushed into publication. I would not recommend buying the book.

I read this book because I promised my sister I would join her book club. We all made suggestions and voted on reading this one, so I may have actually even suggested it based on what it was about. I am not a harsh critic either because I love books, I love reading and I like all types of genres. This was not a good read. It was incredibly over sentimental. The characters were predicatble and the dialogue was like watching a bad movie. I actually read the entire thing but would have put it down otherwise after the first 1/4 of it. The only thing I liked was the description of the south where it took place. The author went way overboard with his message of abandonment and whatever else he was trying to say. Whatever it was, I felt it crammed down my throat- how I was supposed to feel about the story and characters. If you want a really good read here are some of my favorites: 1. Truth & Beauty by Ann Patchett. 2. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert 3. Honeymoon with my Brother by Franz Wisner.

Charles Martin writes beautifully. His characters, mostly deeply broken, draw you into the story. The book is marketed as a Christian novel, and the lead character exudes a number of strong Christian values, but the characters don't seem to have a strong need for Jesus himself nor for the church. Their Christianity is much more than merely cultural, but much less than Biblical.