Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr

Book: Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr

Rating: 5 Stars

Release date: October 13, 2009 from Little,Brown

Summary: Samara Taylor used to believe in miracles. She used to believe in a lot of things. As a pastor's kid, it's hard not to buy in to the idea of the perfect family, a loving God, and amazing grace. But lately, Sam has a lot of reason to doubt. Her mother lands in rehab after a DUI and her father seems more interested in his congregation than his family. When a young girl in her small town is kidnapped, the local tragedy overlaps with Sam's personal one, and the already-worn thread of faith holding her together begins to unravel.

In her third novel, acclaimed author Sara Zarr examines the coexistence of affliction and hope, and what happens when everything you thought you believed---about God, about your family, about yourself---is transformed.

*****

Once Was Lost was my first ever book by Sara Zarr. I know I am very behind most bloggers and I plan to remedy that as soon as possible. If her other books are anything like this one, I know I will love them.

When I first started reading Once Was Lost, I wasn’t sure I would even be able to finish it. I really don’t like books about religion. It’s not really the topic that turns me off, it’s the writing. Most religious books are preachy and I can’t stand that. I read to get away from being told what to do. Luckily, Once Was Lost wasn’t like any other book about religion that I have read. It wasn’t preachy at all and all the religious matter had to do with the storyline. It didn’t detract from the book at all.

Also, this was not your typical religious family. Samara’s dad was the pastor at one of the many churches in their tiny town. Everyone knew him and his family, but nobody really knew what that family was like. Eventually Samara realizes that not even she knows what her family is truly like because they are forced to lie and pretend to be perfect, when they are anything but. Once Was Lost is Samara’s journey to find that truth with the help of some new friends and some old ones.

Overall, I think this is one of the best books I have read recently. The storyline was really captivating and I just wanted to keep reading. I think if you give this book a shot, you won’t want to put it down either!