"No, I'll not weep: I have full cause of weeping, but this heart shall break into a hundred thousand flaws or ere I'll weep." Once in a very great while comes along a heart-renching story that is beautiful and noble rather than maudlin or saccharine. When Crickets Cry is a gorgeous, poetic tale that will move you intelligently, morally, emotionally, and spiritually. Charles Martin in these pages has created great literature!!!

The story is rather simple, actually. The narrator is deeply mourning a loss, the loss of a young girl whose life irrevocably changed his life. In need of a heart transplant and not having enough money to get it, she raises money for her own treatment by selling lemonade. Everyone makes a point of visiting her stand, and Annie's spunkiness makes the trip and support more than just an act of mercy. The story, however, is about to change as one step off a curb and a careening truck make for disaster. That disaster will call for the narrator to reveal his own secret in order to help this endearing, lovely little girl!

Plenty of intrigue and mystery, poignant literary quotes and reflections, and a delightfully Southern style of descriptive writing make the pages of this novel flip while at the same time certain passages draw back the reader to relish the splendid power and grace of the written word when presented by a Master.

Have no doubt - Charles Martin is a young but very, very talented and literate writer who hopefully will continue to grace readers with the splendors of the Muse who inspires him!

What a delight, Charles Martin! Please keep writing!

Reviewed by Viviane Crystal on January 26, 2006

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