Chasing Fireflies: A Novel of Discovery

Beautiful story and absolutely loved it and would read it again. It will make you cry but it's a story about hope. My only complaints are that there is a very long-winded history lesson in the middle that the plot wouldn't have suffered without and it actually made it difficult to focus and took me out of the story. The other thing is a couple loose ends about a certain characters past. Maybe that was the point, due to what people like him have gone through, but there were some questions I desperately wanted answered by the time I put this down. That's the only thing that prevented me from giving it 5 stars.

Charles Martin does it again! Chasing Fireflies is a story full of compassion and hope. While we are all human, make mistakes, go down the wrong path of life, there are reasons we do this. Deep down we all hurt for one reason or another. Charles Martin has a way of getting to that place and also shows us the upside of life. His books are great!

I would have loved to have given this fine book a 5 star rating, but instead gave it a 4. I did so because the story-line bounces back and forth between the present day story to a past story and while it ties it all together, it really is difficult to differentiate between the two at times. It took me until about the first half of the book to finally get it all straight. The story is a believable sad story. The horrendous lives some kiddos live is depicted perfectly in this story. And with that, it is incredibly sad. Can we do something different to change how many kiddos lives are impacted against so much anger from their biological parents, or those that step in to play parent? I don't know. People are so messed up and they take their frustration/anger/rage out on poor innocent kiddos. The book had me in tears from time to time. Such sad circumstances, such sad stories. But hold out to the very end. It will blow your socks off. Great story! But so terribly sad!

Another wonderful novel by Charles Martin......compelling characters and a touching storyline...couldn't put it down.....can't wait to read more from this fine young author!

Charles Martin has a wonderful gift for storytelling. This is a book that you should be prepared to read on a lazy day with nothing else to do, because you will not want to put it down.

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.

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.

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.