Friday
Mar032006
BOOKS: UNBURNABLE by Marie-Elena John
Friday, March 3, 2006 at 10:37AM
Available April 1, 2006 - pre-order at Amazon.com
This review based on an advance copy from HarperCollins
UNBURNABLE
In present-day Washington, D.C., a Caribbean woman in her mid-thirties is compelled to return to the island of her birth, Dominica, to face down the demons of her past.
UNBURNABLE is good, if not great. It is a magnificent attempt on a very large theme: recognizing and releasing the sins of the fathers (in this case, mothers, in a matriarchal society) to embrace one's own destiny. The main character, Lillian Baptiste, faces some pretty wicked demons: scandal and gossip concerning her mother and grandmother; myths and legends of black magic, conspiracy, prostitution, madness, murder, devil worship and human sacrifice.
UNBURNABLE is a fascinating, multi-layered story with a lot of promise, unfortunately not fully developed. The story is intriguing, at times gripping, with the history of violence and scandal in Lillian's family, but it is difficult to understand or empathize with the main characters. Lillian is damaged by her past and possibly mentally unstable, but the character is very closed and therefore it is hard to identify or empathize with her. Lillian's reluctant boyfriend, Teddy, never fully materializes in the story, even though he travels to Dominica with her.
Marie-Elena John takes readers on a fascinating journey to the mysterious island of Dominica, going back and forth in time from Lillian's present-day to her mother's and grandmother's lives in post-WWII Dominica. It can be difficult to find the narrative thread between several timeframes, leaving the story disjointed at times. This is further complicated by the author's casual use of foreign terms, unfamiliar customs and traditions, with an assumption of understanding (no explanations or glossary), which will exclude many readers from a full appreciation of UNBURNABLE.
How cool is this?!
Subject: thanks for your review of Unburnable
Date: March 16, 2006 10:33:44 PM EST
Hi Rebelhousewife,
Marie-Elena John here, just saying thanks for taking the time to feature my book and post your review. "Good if not great" is still good, so I consider it a good review and think you were right on the money with the critique. It's a first novel, and I knew I could keep going through the editing process for many more years trying to get more skills along the way, or I could say, Let me just put it out there and work on the next book, learning as I go. Despite the shortfalls you noted, I think you were quite fair with your comments and still said some wonderful things, and I appreciate it.
Best,
Marie-Elena John
This review based on an advance copy from HarperCollins
UNBURNABLE
by Marie-Elena John
(Amistad/HarperCollins, 2006)
In present-day Washington, D.C., a Caribbean woman in her mid-thirties is compelled to return to the island of her birth, Dominica, to face down the demons of her past.
UNBURNABLE is good, if not great. It is a magnificent attempt on a very large theme: recognizing and releasing the sins of the fathers (in this case, mothers, in a matriarchal society) to embrace one's own destiny. The main character, Lillian Baptiste, faces some pretty wicked demons: scandal and gossip concerning her mother and grandmother; myths and legends of black magic, conspiracy, prostitution, madness, murder, devil worship and human sacrifice.
UNBURNABLE is a fascinating, multi-layered story with a lot of promise, unfortunately not fully developed. The story is intriguing, at times gripping, with the history of violence and scandal in Lillian's family, but it is difficult to understand or empathize with the main characters. Lillian is damaged by her past and possibly mentally unstable, but the character is very closed and therefore it is hard to identify or empathize with her. Lillian's reluctant boyfriend, Teddy, never fully materializes in the story, even though he travels to Dominica with her.
Marie-Elena John takes readers on a fascinating journey to the mysterious island of Dominica, going back and forth in time from Lillian's present-day to her mother's and grandmother's lives in post-WWII Dominica. It can be difficult to find the narrative thread between several timeframes, leaving the story disjointed at times. This is further complicated by the author's casual use of foreign terms, unfamiliar customs and traditions, with an assumption of understanding (no explanations or glossary), which will exclude many readers from a full appreciation of UNBURNABLE.
Update on Friday, March 17, 2006 at 09:27AM by
Sherri Caldwell
Sherri Caldwell
How cool is this?!
Email from Marie-Elena John, author of UNBURNABLE:
Subject: thanks for your review of Unburnable
Date: March 16, 2006 10:33:44 PM EST
Hi Rebelhousewife,
Marie-Elena John here, just saying thanks for taking the time to feature my book and post your review. "Good if not great" is still good, so I consider it a good review and think you were right on the money with the critique. It's a first novel, and I knew I could keep going through the editing process for many more years trying to get more skills along the way, or I could say, Let me just put it out there and work on the next book, learning as I go. Despite the shortfalls you noted, I think you were quite fair with your comments and still said some wonderful things, and I appreciate it.
Best,
Marie-Elena John