
One could argue that this book was in fact very moving on many levels. On one hand it’s a story that captures the intense bonds between women, and particularly the mother-child bond. From the very beginning, the author captures the magical awareness and protectiveness of this bond, but she also highlights what could go wrong with a mother who isn’t capable of raising her children with the basic foundation of safety, emotional or otherwise. Diana didn’t seem like the greatest role model for her girls, and she often left them confused and angered at her tumultuous migrations and regular displays of drunkenness. Yet the girls loved her, and when Ruth becomes a mother herself, she vows to do differently for her daughter, creating a soft place for her to land and giving her the stability and emotional openness that she never got as a child.
On the second level, this book unfolds as a dramatic tale of myth and legend, opening up the story to several different interpretations, themes, and varied symbolism. In these bits, scattered throughout the story with a careful hand, the author lures the reader in and builds suspense around the legends of the selkies, the mythical Scottish beings that appear as seals and shed their skin to walk on the land. It’s here that the family drama becomes tightly enmeshed in magic and magical realism. This interplay gives the book a slight fantasy bent and makes the final chapter from the point of a displaced Diana all the more powerful and significant.
The third element branching off from this tale is the story of Nadia and the bullying that disrupts her life. Born slightly disfigured, she suffers from the cruel blows of name calling early on, but later this early teasing morphs into something more dark and terrifying. Nadia is a child with a special gift, but these gifts have burrowed deep inside her subconscious, and she is agonized to be so different from everyone else. The story within her is one of tempestuousness and unity with the force of the sea that she feels tied to. Her delicate situation leads her to her feeling very misunderstood and to taking chances that would be better avoided. She has a choice to make, and at such a young and vulnerable age, she is stoic and suffering.
While I really liked the book’s deeper magical realism bent and thought that all the elements of the story worked in unity with one another, I also felt that this was a rather dark and tragic tale. It unfolds slowly, like a flower opening to the sunlight, but when the full tale was exposed, it was impossible to miss what had been hinted at all along. The greater depths of the mystic elements turned this book from a forgettable one to one that I am still pondering over, and may be for a long time. An excellent read. Recommended.
This book was provided as a complimentary review copy.
16 comments:
It sounds like this book works on so many levels! I'm excited to see it's so good and wish Ilie much success with it. Wonderful review, Heather!
Hmmm wow, I really don't know what to think about this book. It certainly seems like there is a lot going on. It does sound like it would be interesting! Worth looking into, and I do like magical realism!
I am looking forward to reading this book so it was great to read your thoughts on it -- didn't realize the magical realism element.
I can't take another sad or dark book right now though so I made a not to time this one just right. Staci sent me her copy.
Hope u had a nice weekend.
Hmm, I don't know if I would have picked this one up based on the description. But your enthusiasm has definitely piqued my interest! I'll have to add it to my list.
Selkies are Irish too! Have you ever seen the John Sayles movie, "The Secret of Roan Inish"? Great selkie movie!
Wonderful review! I'd love to read this-if I only had a smaller TBR mountain!!
Like Heather, I'm not sure I would have chosen this book to read, but you write a gorgeous review and have made it seem pretty attractive now. It makes me sad because knowing my reading schedule, I'll probably never get to it. :(
I find myself having trouble with books that have magical elements (although I love Isabel Allende) but this one sounds like it has more than enough realism to make it doable for me.
This one is new to me and I will be adding it to my wish list. Great review!
I love the sound of this, but I think I'll save it for when I'm in the mood for sad stories. Right now I'm craving comfort reading more than anything else.
Ooooh, lovely review, Heather. A co-worker gifted this to me recently so I want to read it soon -- and you've got my very intrigued -- I esp love books that tie myth into the story arc so the selkie connection has me super excited.
You always have such lovely writing in your book reviews. I admire that. This does sound like a well crafted and magical book that brings together a few genres at once. Well done!
Not a fan of magical realism. I'll probably skip this one. Although you did a bang-up job of reviewing it though :)
This sounds really great: you've convinced me!
Books with the mother/child bond always get me - especially for some reason,the bond between mothers and daughters. It sounds like this one had tremendous depth regarding the relationships between women. Loved your review!
I really enjoyed this book. I'm a sucker for anything magical within a book's pages though. I too find myself still thinking a out it in terms of what was real, what wasn't, etc.
Post a Comment