Lily's Ghost: A Novel

by Cheryl Drake Harris

As a doctor in Vietnam, Lily survived unimaginable terror and loss. Now, safely ensconced in a close-knit Maine town and a seemingly comfortable marriage, she no longer needs to be afraid, but she is: afraid of light, afraid of sudden sounds, afraid of seeing the wide-eyed child of war who haunts her. So Lily is unprepared for the act of betrayal that threatens to take away the one thing she cannot live without: her young son. Plunged into a bitter custody battle, befriended by a man with a heartbreaking secret of his own, Lily must fight–to escape her own memories, to survive an uncertain future, and to protect, above all else, the love between a mother and child.

Genres: Fiction, Book Club, Historical Fiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published June 27, 2006

Reviews

[Mary Reed]

This book was okay, but very detailed about the injuries suffered by soldiers in Vietnam. It was sometimes hard to read, especially when she described the napalm casualties.

Didn’t like the ending. I wish she would have told more about Lily and Callahan’s story.

[Jackie Ibarra]

I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. Great read.

[Jody Blanchet]

I loved this story. Great read from a Maine author.

[Laurie Cwerenz]

Hauntingly real in its illustration of what we carry in our hearts

[Samantha Skulski]

Eh, this book started off very slow, and only got slightly better.

[Dawn Michelle]

This was a really good book. The title character Lily is dealing with ghosts and memories from her time in Vietnam (where she was a Dr/Surgeon), even though it has been many years since she has returned from there. The horrors she saw have followed her home. She hates light, prefers the night and has to deal with the repercussions of diving under things when she hears "firecrackers' or "backfire" and thinks its incoming napalm.
The book goes from present time to flashbacks of her time in 'Nam. Instead of confusing, it just enhances, as you are able to see what she was and what she is now and all she hopes to be.
But as her marriage falls apart, her only concern is her son, who she would do anything to keep. The events leading to the end of the book kept me up until 12:30AM just so I could see what happened.
The end was a little flat for me (and for the girl that recommended it to me), but it was ok as it was a really good book up to then.

[Lynne]

This is the story of Lily, 11 years after being a doctor in Vietnam. She's obviously suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and it affects her life and marriage. I wanted to like this book. It's a very interesting subject and not something I'd read a lot of. I struggled with it. At times the plot seemed to slow down and although it wasn't a very thick book, it seemed to take me quite a long time to read it. I felt the second part of the book had more pace to the story but what I'd have thought was the most important storyline - losing custody of her child and trying to win him back - was one of the most important themes but it seemed to take a backseat. The story jumped back and forward from Vietnam to the present day but it was confusing at times. So I was a little disappointed in it - but it certainly wasn't a terrible book by any stretch of the imagination, it just lacked a little something for me.

[Anna]

The book takes place in 1978, with the main character, Lily, struggling with flashbacks that ultimately force her husband to leave her and fearing for their son’s safety, attempt to secure full custody. The story goes back in time to the Tet Offensive and shows Lily’s experiences in Vietnam with her lover/Reuters reporter, Ian, and their friend, Bao-Long. In the present, Lily meets and becomes friends with another man, who helps her in her attempts to get her son back and reclaim her life. The story seemed realistic, and you really feel for Lily on her emotional roller coaster.

[Michelle]

Lily's Ghost is a powerful story about a Vietnam Veteran trying to live a "normal" life while fight with the ghosts of her past experiences. Lily is a strong character in spite of her struggles with PTSD, the debilitating flashbacks, and an insensitive, self-righteous husband and his family. Having a loved one who suffers from PTSD I bonded with this book and therefore whole heartily recommend this book!

[Lori]

Although this was a work of fiction, this book I'm sure is true to someone. It takes you inside the life of a woman who was a nurse in Vietnam and the scars she brings home with her. It takes you inside the nightmares right along with her and shows you how a major case of PTSD can take away everything you love and have worked to obtain.

[Loni]

I didn't even get halfway through this book. I just got really tired of all of the foul language. It seemed like it was going to be an interesting read, but in the first 10 pages even, there was foul language on almost every page.

[Jennifer Duke McDonald]

Post traumatic stress before we knew what to call it. I learned a lot about female doctors in the Vietnam War with this book. Reading about Lily's trauma I really felt my heart hurt for her.

[Trish]

An interesting story. I became frustrated with some of the storyline, but it captured my interest enough to finish the book. I can't imagine going through what she did in Vietnam.

[Janelle Leigh]

about a doctor that suffers from PTSD.

[Ruth]

Haunting story of a woman struggling with her past and fighting for her future.

[Patsy]

Lily survived terror and loss in Vietnam but is unprepared for betrayal at home in a bitter custody battle.