The Hour of Lead

By Lenore Ziontz

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1419698397
• ISBN13: 9781419698392
• Release Date: September 2008
• Publisher: BookSurge Publishing
• Length: 392 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.0" x 0.9" x 5.3"

Customer Reviews

"First--Chill -- then Stupor - then the letting go"

When long married Mike and Martha Burner sit down to dine at their favorite restaurant in celebration of Mike's 67th birthday, and in anticipation of the impending birth of their first grandchild, a dramatic chain of human events is set off that propels this novel to its surprising conclusion. The ordeal of Mike's ultimate diagnosis is one that terrifies Martha and sheds new light on her relationship with their son-in-law Jon, the outsider in this close-knit Jewish family. Mike's illness throws Martha into the role of caregiver of a possibly erratic husband who has always been accustomed to having all the authority in the family. Author Lenore Ziontz effectively captures Martha's anxiety and later, following Mike's death, her grief and despair -- her "hour of lead." Gradually, Martha overcomes this desolation as she finds new layers of self-awareness. She establishes friendships and draws support from her daughter, son-in-law and new granddaughter. Martha's introspection and reflection are not enough, however, nor is her budding interest in Indian art and philosophy. Grief cannot give way to healing until a grave mystery is dealt with. This mystery tears at Martha, embroils Jon in an existential struggle and threatens to destroy all that Martha holds dear. Will she have been the agent of her own destruction? While The Hour of Lead deals with "ordinary people" and events, Ziontz creates so much suspense that the book is a real "page turner", from the shocking first chapter. It does not disappoint in its conclusion which brings the reader around to the core sentiment of the Emily Dickenson poem from which the book's title is drawn. The Hour of Lead raises some timely and perplexing questions and may challenge the assumptions of many readers. It is Ziontz's insight and depth of feeling that make this book worth reading.