Brass Ring

by Diane Chamberlain

Perpetual optimist Claire Harte-Mathias and her disabled husband, Jon, run a successful foundation to help people with spinal cord injuries. One night, Claire witnesses a woman leap to her death from a bridge, and the tragedy sparks murky childhood memories that leave her confused and frightened. As Claire becomes obsessed with trying to understand the power the haunting memories have over her, she's torn between blocking them from her mind entirely and trying to unearth their source. Putting both her marriage and self image on the line, she struggles to uncover the truth, only to discover that the past, present and future are connected in ways she never dreamed. Library Journal called Brass Ring "well-written" and "suspenseful." Brass Ring was a Literary Guild and Doubleday alternate selection.

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Mystery, Audiobook, Womens Fiction, Romance, Contemporary

529 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 28, 1995

About the author

Diane Chamberlain is the New York Times, USA Today and (London) Sunday Times best-selling author of 28 novels. The daughter of a school principal who supplied her with a new book almost daily, Diane quickly learned the emotional power of story. Although she wrote many small “books” as a child, she didn’t seriously turn to writing fiction until her early thirties when she was waiting for a delayed doctor’s appointment with nothing more than a pad, a pen, and an idea. She was instantly hooked.

Diane was born and raised in Plainfield, New Jersey and lived for many years in both San Diego and northern Virginia. She received her master’s degree in clinical social work from San Diego State University. Prior to her writing career, she was a hospital social worker in both San Diego and Washington, D.C, and a psychotherapist in private practice in Alexandria, Virginia, working primarily with adolescents.

More than two decades ago, Diane was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, which changed the way she works: She wrote two novels using voice recognition software before new medication allowed her to get back to typing. She feels fortunate that her arthritis is not more severe and that she’s able to enjoy everyday activities as well as keep up with a busy travel schedule.

Diane lives in North Carolina with her significant other, photographer John Pagliuca, and their odd but lovable Shetland Sheepdog, Cole

Reviews

[Loreta Griciutė · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dar viena nuostabi autorės knyga. Skaičiau "pataupydama" puslapius,taip norėjosi ilgiau likti su herojais. Paliesta labai skaudi ir jautri tema, apie mažų vaikų tvirkinimą, apie išskirtas seses vaikystėje, apie traumas, kurios lydėjo per gyvenimą,apie prisiminimus, kuriuos mes stengiamės užblokuoti savo atmintyje , bet jie pamažu lenda į paviršių. Šalia ir stipri meilės linija tarp neįgalaus vyro ir sveikos moters (Klerės ir Džono) , su kokiais išbandymais jiems teko susidurti, ir nepaisant visko,kas pasitaikė jų kelyje, kaip įmanoma išlikti kartu. Kitos sesers Vanesos gyvenimas, po visų blogų dalykų, nutikusių jai, džiaugiuosi, kad pavyko pakeist į gerąją pusę, tik liko neatsakytas klausimas, kodėl neieškojo savo jaunystėje prarastos dukters..
Dar vienas įtraukiantis romanas, kuris mane sužavėjo paprastumu ir nuoširdumu. Labai rekomenduoju perskaityti.

[What Lynsey Read · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a disappointment from Diane Chamberlain. I think that I've now read and enjoyed all of her books, but I almost gave up on this one. The main characters, Claire and Vanessa, were both rather unlikeable with no endearing qualities or traits. Even Claire's own daughter dislikes her. So why the author thinks this would make her readers care and get them hooked, I don't know!
The plot was overly padded with detail not pertinent to the story. It made for a slow book with nothing really to get me hooked. The in-depth detail about the foundation added nothing for me. Nor did the character of Randy. Nothing about the book gelled for me.
Only a mild curiosity about the reveal prompted me to read on. There was no twist or big pay off to make plodding through 518 pages worthwhile. I skim read the last fifth of the book and the story reached a head very suddenly and then it was over very quickly. Unlike the previous 48 chapters.

[Silvija Butavičiūtė · Rating 3 out of 5]

Klerė kartu su vyru padeda įvairiems žmonėms, patyrusiems nugaros smegenų traumas, padeda jiems sėkmingai reabilituotis, sveikti ir grįžti į gyvenimą. Klerė dalyvauja įvairiose konferencijose, veda seminarus. Moteris yra laiminga, nes džiugesio ir pilnatvės suteikia ne tik darbas, bet ir jos vyras Džonas. Tik šįkart pagalbos reikės ir jai.. Vieną naktį, siaučiant pūgai, Klerė nesėkmingai bando užkirsti kelią nelaimei, kuri baigiasi katastrofiškai... Ši tragedija palies ne tik pačią Klerę, bet ir pačius jai artimiausius žmones... Na šis romanas nėra pats stipriausias, palyginus su kitomis autorėmis knygomis. Pats kūrinys tikrai jaudinantis, jautrus ir nuoširdus, paliestos gan skaudžios temos - potrauminio streso sindromas, vaikų seksualinė prievarta, sudėtingi vaikų ir tėvų santykiai. Visgi romanas vietomis ištęstas, nuobodokas, su daugybe smulkmenų. Pritrūko tikslumo ir aiškesnio istorijos išdėstymo, baigtumo.

[Ugnė Lukošienė · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vietomis atrodė, jog šią knygą rašė ne Chamberlain, o kažkas už ją...Nusivyliau...
Pradžia buvo įtraukianti, bet esmės taip ir nesupratau. Vietomis atrodė, jog norima sukurpti erotinį romaną. O jau apie pagrindinės " herojes" būdą, veiksmus, ego... neturiu net ką pasakyti.
Kol kas ši knyga prasčiausia mano mylimos Chamberlain knyga.
Vertinu 5/10...

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh my God how I hated Claire. I hated her hated her hated her. She was such a dumb selfish whore! I can't stand her. I think I would've liked this book a lot better with a different main character. The whole Randy storyline-ugh so pointless, so lame, she sleeps with him and then goes back with Jon who of course takes her back with open arms. She is having problems so she runs to a stranger. Makes no sense. I also didn't like that Claire remembered NOTHING. I mean c'mon, you don't remember stabbing a man who molested you? You don't remember SEEING your grandfather die. You were 10, how could you repress ALL of that? Oh how she annoyed me. My least favorite by Diane Chamberlain by far. This is the first book she failed me on. I kept reading thinking oh it's a Diane Chamberlain, I'll be glad that I finished this book. I wasn't.

[Jurgita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Viena iš prastesnių šios autorės knygų. Toks jausmas, kad autorė net nesistengė įtraukti skaitytojo į savo pasakojamą istoriją. Pasirinktai problemai pritrūko gylio, bent kažkiek netradicinio pateikimo. Viskas buvo kažkur jau skaityta, girdėta ir vietomis net nuobodu. Vienos sesers istorija mane erzino, kitos - buvo paviršutiniška. Šioje Chamberlain knygoje paprasčiausiai pasigedau pačios Chamberlain🙂

[Deanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book back in 1999. I am a devoted Diane Chamberlain fan and I believe I have read all of her novels though it's taking time to add them all on my account.

This novel has stayed with me all this time as it was a heartbreaking very intense read. The book deals with sensitive issues such as child and sexual abuse. Very well written and keeps you guessing until the very end.

I would highly recommend it plus so many of her other novels.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brass Ring presents another Diane Chamberlain classic full of self-discovery, love, and family ties. The book is narrated by sisters Claire and Vanessa and Claire's husband Jon. Of course, there are chapters devoted to flashbacks about the last summers the two sisters actually spent together before their family was split up. As grown women, Claire and Vanessa must now decide if the secrets which tore them apart are worth exposing to each other and to the world.


Honestly, I might have given this book three stars because it is DC and I do love her books. It might just be my least favorite of her books but I did find some redeeming qualities but too many loose ends that needed answering.

Goodreads review 24/02/14

[Eglė (IG-atgimusi_meile_knygoms) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5⭐️

Tai jau trečias skaitytas romanas autorės D. Chamberlain. Nors dar ne daug šios autorės knygų perskaitytų, bet ši knyga deja pasirodė labiausiai nuvilianti.
Klerė Hart-Matjas puikiai moka padėti kitiems bei spręsti kitų problemas. Kartu su vyru Džonu ji įkūrė prestižinį fondą, kurio tikslas – padėti reabilituotis žmonėms, patyrusiems nugaros smegenų traumas. Puikus gyvenimas po truputėlį pradeda trupėti, nes Klerė pradeda regėti ar prisiminti įvykius vaizdinius, kurių ji kaip ir negalėjo patirti.
Tačiau pradeda aiškėti, kad tai prisiminimai iš vaikystės, kurie buvo užgniaužti ar specialiai pasamonės blokuojami. Dažnai blogus prisiminimus norime paslėpti po devyniais užraktais, bet anksčiau ar vėliau jie išlenda. Ar kova tarp praeities ir dabarties nesunaikins tai ką Klerė kūrė.
Mistikos čia tikrai nebus, nebent galite tikėtis paviršutiniško. Tikrai deja, bet šiame kūrinyje jo netrūko. Net tikrinausi ar tikrai ši knyga Dianos. Atrodytų ne jos rašymo stilius. Veikėjai paviršutiniški, neįtikinantys ir ganėtinai erzinantys. Autorė palietė labai skaudžią ir opią temą, bet jos tikrai neišpildė iki galo ir tikrai skaitant nejutau to skaitymo malonumo, o labiau apmaudą.

[Zoe · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm an avid Diane Chamberlain fan and have enjoyed all of her books - unfortunately, this wasn't my favourite. If my research is correct, this is one of her older stories puiblished in the early 90's so possibly her magic has developed the more she produced. For me, this didn't grip me like her others and I didn't have an ounce of warmth toward the lead character, Claire. I sympathised with the story (yet found endless talk of her recurring flashbacks quite tiresome for some reason) but found Claire to be selfish and spiteful. Her constant "I do what I want despite how it makes people feel" way of living had me rolling my eyes and her habit of picking and choosing her men was beyond irritating. Perhaps this tainted my overall opinion of the book.

I've noticed a molestation back-story in a lot of Diane's books and this was no exception. Without giving the game away, I was pleased with the ending. Having said that, I just couldn't shake my contempt for Claire which definitely took the happy out of a happy ending. All in all, Love Diane - will continue to love Diane - just didn't love this.

[Živilė · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dar viena puiki knyga. Tik man truputį norėjosi išsamesnio Klerės ir ypač Vanesos darbo užkuliusių.

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

This will definitely be the last Diane Chamberlain book for a while (I actually unhauled a bunch after reading this because i've just realised that, whilst I used to like her books, they're not for me anymore).

This one was very poor because we're focused on the main character of Claire, who was just honestly so unlikeable. Her characters motivations are so unclear and weird and I just didn't get it. She starts having flashbacks of something horrific... and rather than talk to her supportive husband she has decides to go to the brother of the woman she watched jumped off a cliff?? OKAY. A guy who is really weird and pushy and feels very uncomfortable the whole book, who is really into Claire, knows that she's married and isn't into him, but continues to pursue her. And then they have sex (after her husband tells her to leave cos he knows she wants something with Randy) and she just "embraces it" whilst not being interested in Randy... and her husband is just like fine with this at the end???? I JUST DIDN'T GET IT. It distracted me from the rest of the book and I couldn't even focus on what was going on with the other characters.

There were no big twists or reveals in this book and it was much more of a family drama and that was it. Just not for me, but if you enjoy family based books you might enjoy this.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent read but the ending to too fast. After her journey of figuring out the memories there is no description on how they deal with them other than the press conference. Its almost as if the book is unfinished and the epilogue was tacked on to prove that someone thought it was if that makes since. How did Jon and Claire deal with their own trust issues? How did Claire and Vanessa deal with their anger? Did Vanessa ever deal with her guilt over losing Anna? So many issues that were brought up in the book but never really resolved other than bam everything thing is ok.

[Wendy Petsch]

I didn't finish this book.

[Natalija R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ilgai laukta, bet siek tiek nuvylusi knyga😢 deja... Norejau greiciau uzbaigti...
Dedu 3⭐ nes kaip benoreciau labai daug kas mane sioj knygoj nervino!
Istorijos pradzia buvo idomi ir itrauke, bet per daug istesta su bereikalingom smulkmenom, vilkinimu- per daug! O tada beveik I gala viskas greitai suvaryta, kad uzbaigti. Man patiko Vanesos personazas, bet irgi buvo bereikalingu smulkmenu apie vaikus, kurie tik pridejo bereikalingu vardu ir veliau nebuvo naudojami. Noretusi, kad butu kalbeta, kad ji rado Ana ar kazkaip pradejo su ja bendrauti, kad Klere negrizo pas Dzona ir jis susidejo su Pate- taip butu logiskiau. Kaip mire tiksliai Mociute Dora-nuo ko ji nukraujavo? Kaip klostesi seseru gyvenimai pries ir po susitaikymo? Meles ir Leno issamesniu santykiu-tokiu dalyku man truko. Viskas buvo istesta apie vaizdinius ir verkimus, mylejimasi ir guodimasi su savais arba svetimais partneriais, kad prisikast prie esmes, lyg isdavyste yra savaime suprantamas dalykas🤷🏻‍♀️
1. Vertimas ir spausdinimo error galima suklysti pora kartu, bet kai 7 kartus neteisingai pavartotas veikejo vardas, 5 kart to pacio tuo labiau- tas tikrai kliuvinejo.
2. Tos pacios nuvalkiotos frazes po 1000 kartu- susimete gili rauksle, nubrauke plauku sruoga, verkimas verkimas verkimas- vien snargliai ir asarojimas- per daug!!!
3. Nervino Klere- su visais ji davesi ir savotiskai naudojosi kaip jai buvo patogu, beprote jos motina ir vyras, kuris po pasidulkinimo pora menesiu su kitu-isiledo ja atgal, nes ji ale suprato, kad su Rendziu nieko gero- galima varyti toliau...tuo labiau kokio velnio Dzonas viska zinojo ir negalejo papasakoti?! Kam tas buvo reikalinga?🤦🏻‍♀️ protas man kartais sprogsta po tokiu knygu- negi realiame gyvenime taip buna😩🤯
Normalus save gerbiantis vyras po tokiu pasismaginimu ir "saves ieskojimu" tikrai butu palikes ta paleistuve, kuriai kaip uzeidavo nuotaika tai su vienu tai su kitu glebyje "buvo saugu". Kai esi normali- tau saugu tik savo vyro glebyje...,bet matau amerikos ir anglijos atveju- bet kas kitas-visai iprastas dalykas, jei apie tai net knygoje rasoma, kad galima iseiti, grizti, O durnelis visada priims tavo kuna po kito- man butu slykstu...

[Jurga Šernienė · Rating 3 out of 5]

Labai vidutiniškas romanas. Lyg ir kabina, o po to lyg ir ne. Pagrindinė veikėja Klerė net erzino savo veiksmais, o kiti kažkokie blankūs pasirodė. Toks jausmas, kad rašė ne Chamberlain, nes ji tikrai sugeba stipriau ir geriau.

[Viltė Čerkesaitė · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 Kaip visada Diane Chamberlain knygos paliečia labai stipriai, tad ši knyga taip pat ne išimtis, likau sužavėta knygos siužeto:)

[Deimante · Rating 5 out of 5]

Knyga nenuvyle, nors pries tai girdejau prastesniu atsiliepimu. Istorija skaudi, bet itraukianti. Gi visa tai vyksta ir tikrame gyvenime, kad ir kaip nesinoretu apie tai galvoti.

[Harriet Richardson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Complete and utter crap soz Diane love ya so much but this bored me to absolute tears

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Claire and Vanessa are sisters and appear to have the idyllic childhood most of dream of, being raised alongside grandparents who love them very much. In adult life they are estranged, Claire has gone on to marry a disabled man and they have set up a foundation for disabilities. Vanessa meanwhile is a consultant in a children's hospital with a mission to provide help for adults and children that have been abused .
One stormy snowy evening after finishing a conference Claire and her husband are driving home when they come across a woman Margot, prepared to commit suicide. Failing to prevent this from happening Claire starts to experience flashbacks that upset her and which she cannot place. her husband seems reluctant to listen and so starts her friendship with Margot's brother who helps Claire to unravel what is going on in her head.

Slow to start I wondered was this going to be the one and only Chamberlain book I would not enjoy but thankfully it picked up . Nicely written in chapters exploring both Vanessa and Claire's life ( neither characters I particularly liked). A story that by the ended was so well woven together and ended in a very satisfactory outcome for me.

[Nessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of Diane Chamberlain and have been slowly working my way through reading all of her books.  This one has been on my list for quite some time but have only just got round to reading it as it was areal struggle to actually get hold of a copy of this book. 

Anyway as with all of Diane books, this was amazingly written, so intense, heartbreaking, heartfelt and emotional at times.  I also liked how the story flicked from past to present and back again throughout the story. 

I thoroughly enjoyed the story from start to finish, however it was slow going to start with but it soon picked up quickly.  There were a few shocking relevations that come to light within the story, some of which might be of sensitive topics for some readers.  Main trigger being child abuse.

I loved getting to know the characters of Vanessa, Claire and Jon. I found myself having a bit of a soft spot for Jon, I can well imagine him being an inspiration to all disabled people and their carers/spouses. 

Despite me having to wait a fair few years to read this book, I'm happy to report that the wait was well worth it. 

[Kathy]

This is the story of Claire and Vanessa Harte. As children they spent summers at their grandparent's farm where their grandfather carved carousel horses. Both girls are sexually assulted at ages 8 and 10. Vanessa remembers her abuse but Claire has blocked her memory of the events until some 30 years later. Claire is married to Jon, a wheel chair bound man. Vanessa is now a doctor but she experienced drugs and alcohol as a teen and was very promiscous. Claire tries to keep a young woman from jumping to her death from the Harpers Ferry bridge over the Shennandoah River during a snow storm. Claire fails and suddenly she begins to have "flash backs" that she can't understand. A good read. It became personal on the bridge, as I have crossed that bridge many times in my life.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a Diane Chamberlain fan through and through – will pick up a new book of hers with lots of excitement without even looking at what it’s about. Diane has an incredible ability to write moving but suspenseful novels, craftily building tension and at the same time bringing her characters, together with a time and place, to life. In “Brass Ring” we alternate between two women with the book opening with Claire finding a young woman about to commit suicide but fails to prevent it happening. This then prompts flashbacks in her own life and brings into play her sister Vanessa who has had her own traumatic life. Masterfully written and a must for old and new fans of Diane Chamberlain……I loved it.

[Rebecca Fisher · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow. What a disappointment from Diane Chamberlain. But, maybe it was a good job by her. I'm not sure. Claire, the woman who tried a save a woman from jumping from a bridge one snowy evening in Haper's Ferry was such a disappointment as a woman and a wife. I hated her! I hated what she did to her husband, I hated how she turned to someone else for comfort. The fact that Ms. Chamberlain was able to illicit such strong emotions could mean that the book was well written; but for me, that was not the case. I'm glad this wasn't the first novel I read from this author, because if it was, I wouldn't want to read another.

[Wanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I should start rating her books by hours of sleep missed because of them.

I really don't think they are "that" great, but at the same time I just can't put them down. I have access to a library of her books and although I keep saying I should read something else, I keep coming back to them.

This one has a a bit more of a disturbing basis than the other books, but you see it coming a mile away so it loses most of its oomph by the time the book reveals it.

[Ram · Rating 3 out of 5]

Claire Harte-Mathias and her husband Jon founded an run an institution to aid in the rehabilitation of people with spinal cord injuries. Claire, with her super optimistic attitude to life and her experience living with Jon who is assisted with a wheelchair, seems to be perfect for the job and manages to inspire many individuals and couples on how to cope with spine injuries.

When Claire is confronted with a psychological crisis herself, you would assume that Claire and the people surrounding her are equipped to solve it with no special challenges.

However, for Claire to return to normal it will take sincere confronting of her past, past that she preferred to forget, and a revision of the way she looks at life.

I admit that the psychological aspect of this book did not appeal to me at the beginning and this continued as the plot progressed.

However the good story, the deep characters and the drama kept me reading and the bottom line is that while I have read better Diane Chamberlain books, this book still has it’s value.

[MAPS - Booktube · Rating 3 out of 5]

Si je ne suis pas surprise du caractère difficile de ce roman signé Diane Chamberlain, je dois avouer que la mise en place du sujet et des personnages m’a moins touché que d’habitude. J’ai trouvé la relation Jon-Claire étrange parce qu’ils sont totalement l’opposé de ce qu’ils prônent. Comme dirait l’expression cordonnier mal chaussé. De plus, j’ai été choqué que Jon sache des pans d’histoire de la vie de Claire et ne soit pas plus réceptif envers elle afin qu’elle retrouve ses souvenirs. Sinon, ça se lit quand même facilement, mais c’est moins addictif que ce que j’ai déjà lu de cette auteure. Il faut dire que ce n’est pas un ouvrage recent.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Diane Chamberlain’s books usually, but this was a miss for me. I hated the main character, she was so naive, so dumb, acted like a whore, I just couldn’t with her. Her husband was a saint to take her back. I also can’t understand how she just wrote off her sister and never tried to contact her again ever???? I stuck through the audiobook, but it included a lot of eye rolling from me 😆.

[Jo Fishwick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a huge Diane Chamberlain fan but this book was really disappointing. I didn't warm to any of the characters. I'm really glad this wasn't my first Diane Chamberlain because it would have been my last. I will continue to read her books as they are normally 4 or 5 star reads

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed this one. Ending was predictable as I find many of hers are but the story was a nice easy read and the background regarding life with a spinal injury was unusual and interesting.