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3rd out of 8 books
—
26 voters
Signed, Mata Hari
In the cold October of 1917 Margaretha Zelle, better known as Mata Hari, sits in a prison cell in Paris awaiting trial on charges of espionage. The penalty is death by firing squad. As she waits, burdened by a secret guilt, Mata Hari tells stories, Scheherazade-like, to buy back her life from her interrogators.
From a bleak childhood in the Netherlands, through a loveless...more
From a bleak childhood in the Netherlands, through a loveless...more
Hardcover, 288 pages
Published
November 14th 2007
by Little, Brown and Company
(first published 2007)
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See, even though I'm a communist-leaning hippie, I, like any good little consumer, have a bit of a newness fetish. I wear the new (thrift-stored) skirt as soon as I have a sufficiently nice opportunity, I start using the new (freecycled) hair gel before I have quite finished the old one, the new (salvaged) bowl seems so much nicer than the other ones in the cupboard. And so it is with my books as well. Even though I have a little library filled with hundreds and hundreds of pretty paperbacks, mo...more
Beautifully written, prose, at times this book read like a dream.
Mata Hari was one of the most well-known exotic dancers of all times, yet her true fame came after the accusations that she was spying for Germans during the First World War. A fascinating person in real life, she takes on added dimensions in the beautifully written novel "Signed, Mata Hari" by Yannick Murphy. This exquisite novel portrays Mata Hari as a daughter, a lover, a wife, a friend, a mother and more, but first and foremost...more
Mata Hari was one of the most well-known exotic dancers of all times, yet her true fame came after the accusations that she was spying for Germans during the First World War. A fascinating person in real life, she takes on added dimensions in the beautifully written novel "Signed, Mata Hari" by Yannick Murphy. This exquisite novel portrays Mata Hari as a daughter, a lover, a wife, a friend, a mother and more, but first and foremost...more
Signed, Mata Hari is fictional account of the life and times of Mata Hari, the exotic dancer whose death by firing squad during WWI catapulted her into the public imagination as a femme fatale. Murphy explores how a Dutch girl who went with her husband to Java when it was part of the Dutch East Indies become one of the notorious women of the 20th century. Sort of.
Although Murphy's subject is fascinating, her approach feels over-determined. The narrative is chopped up into extremely short chapter...more
Although Murphy's subject is fascinating, her approach feels over-determined. The narrative is chopped up into extremely short chapter...more
I wouldn't have read this if I wasn't reviewing it. I have very mixed feelings about it - the writing was gorgeous - erotic, lyrical, and when Murphy was imagining the life of Marguerite Zelle, things took off. But overall the book wasn't very good - any historical information is uncomfortably tacked on and try as she might, Murphy does not create a sympathetic character.
The most interesting part of her life - to me - is how an untrained Dutch orphan passed herself off as an exotic temple dance...more
The most interesting part of her life - to me - is how an untrained Dutch orphan passed herself off as an exotic temple dance...more
So what do you get if an author decides to write a fictional biography of an exotic dancer back in the early turn of the century? You will get this book. This was a quick read, the prose was rather easy on the eyes, and the plot was simple. No twists and turns that are unexpected.
Mata Hari was a certain Dutch exotic dancer, who lived in Java, and then came back to Holland. Later in her career, she was found guilty of being a spy for the Germans in the First World War. She was then executed by fi...more
Mata Hari was a certain Dutch exotic dancer, who lived in Java, and then came back to Holland. Later in her career, she was found guilty of being a spy for the Germans in the First World War. She was then executed by fi...more
What were the events that lead up to Mati Hari's appointment with death, by firing squad? Was she a spy? Maybe. A victim of certain acclimate circumstances? Most definitely.
This book shows what happens to a woman with few resources in a maddening cloud of war. Mati Hari did her best to reclaim her identity and her children. She may have been a high priced call girl, but the book illustrates that she did this out of dire need. She was left behind by an abusive husband; the husband took her child...more
This book shows what happens to a woman with few resources in a maddening cloud of war. Mati Hari did her best to reclaim her identity and her children. She may have been a high priced call girl, but the book illustrates that she did this out of dire need. She was left behind by an abusive husband; the husband took her child...more
While not historically accurate, it was a rather poignant and lyrically beautiful story. Yannick's writing is simply wonderful and you find yourself being sucked into this world she's created for you. At times it's rather blunt and a bit graphic, but never vulgar. I finished this much more quickly than I originally thought I would because at times, I just couldn't stop reading.
Light on detail,
Long on getting anywhere.
How awful to be thinking, when you know someone is going to get executed ... get on with it! But that's the way it was.
This was a quick, easy read and, while the writing had a strong poignant quality, I did not find enough depth to satisfy me. The story was told in flashback, jumping between Mata Hari in prison and Margaretha growing up. We are presented with a picture Margaretha : an abandoned girl, a young woman in a loveless marriage, an ingenue in the...more
Long on getting anywhere.
How awful to be thinking, when you know someone is going to get executed ... get on with it! But that's the way it was.
This was a quick, easy read and, while the writing had a strong poignant quality, I did not find enough depth to satisfy me. The story was told in flashback, jumping between Mata Hari in prison and Margaretha growing up. We are presented with a picture Margaretha : an abandoned girl, a young woman in a loveless marriage, an ingenue in the...more
Feb 05, 2009
Bookmarks Magazine
added it
Yannick Murphy's novel certainly seduced reviewers, but such seduction may have derived from the author's literary dance rather than from readers' inherent interest in the subject. Critics admired Murphy's masterful descriptions, shifts in perspectives, and attention to details alternately selected and invented from the real Margaretha Zelle's life. The result is a poetic novel that will draw in even those who never thought they would enjoy reading about exotic European espionage. (The case docu
...more
2 and 1/2 stars, really.
I don't know how to review, I have mix feeling about this.
The early chapters are very promising but during the course of reading, the mixture of the 1st person and the 3rd person narration became very confusing, still the writing was great but the character Mata Hari/Margaretha Zelle was under-developed, I feel I didn't learn anything new about her, she's still a mystery even after I finished reading. The thing is Murphy tells a lot about her and how she feels but the...more
I don't know how to review, I have mix feeling about this.
The early chapters are very promising but during the course of reading, the mixture of the 1st person and the 3rd person narration became very confusing, still the writing was great but the character Mata Hari/Margaretha Zelle was under-developed, I feel I didn't learn anything new about her, she's still a mystery even after I finished reading. The thing is Murphy tells a lot about her and how she feels but the...more
This was an interesting take on the famed spy Mata Hari, who probably wasn't much of a spy, merely a scapegoat when the French were losing to the Germans in WWI. The novel follows fairly closely the facts known about Mata Hari but would have been improved by an author's note. The book, however, does present some fictional explanations--for the death of her son, etc. The book is easy reading with lyrical prose as the chapters vary from first to third person and from past to present. This isn't gr...more
I wasn't as taken with this novel as I have been with all of Murphy's past works, but I'm still giving it four stars as it possesses the skill and contemplation that I have come to expect in her novels. I must admit that I previously had no interest in Mata Hari as a person and that I recognize the main character in this novel as a fictional character. I think people who like "historical fiction" that is a genre that contains a bit of information that is accurate might be disappointed by this "a...more
I suppose my lack of research for books on Mata Hari should be rewarded justly - by a novel more fiction than any type of historical contextual element. I wish that I had picked a more accurate telling but all the same I did get a somewhat high level idea of Mata Hari's life and times in a very romanticized, poetic, slightly soft core porn-ish way.
Yannick Murphy's strength is captured with the way that she can turn a phrase and make mundane descriptions really sing. However the novel was frantic...more
Yannick Murphy's strength is captured with the way that she can turn a phrase and make mundane descriptions really sing. However the novel was frantic...more
This is one of the occasional gems I've managed to pick up from Poundland (a UK chainstore where everything costs, you've guessed it, £1). When buying these cheap books I'm never sure what to expect, but this one was worth the cost many times over.
I was fascinated by the novel's portrayal of the life story of Mata Hari and found myself completely swept up in it. Yannick Murphy's writing is beautiful and equally compellingly portrays the heat and closeness of the tropics and the cold of a Parisia...more
I was fascinated by the novel's portrayal of the life story of Mata Hari and found myself completely swept up in it. Yannick Murphy's writing is beautiful and equally compellingly portrays the heat and closeness of the tropics and the cold of a Parisia...more
Fictional short read about the life of Mata Hari, a real person convicted of being a German spy during WWI. Pretty graphic in parts, the book goes back & forth from sitting in jail to telling about her younger years. A lot of physical abuse and lots of tragedy. Did not like the way the author wrote the book but it was an interesting read.
An intense drama where the femme fatale converges into the common woman with any woman dreams, expectations, hopes and fantasies. I was surprised how easily one can relate to the carachter. Whether the story is accurate or not, I really appreaciated it. Highly recommend that you go across the ocean with Mata Hari. The end will surprise you.
such beautiful writing- I couldn't put it down. one of those books that is written with two chronologies happening, going back and forth with short, lyrical chapters describing either setting. interesting to learn about margaretha gelle/ mata hari, but also the life described in the south pacific reminded me of the musical of the same name. lovely!
I was enraptured by the poetic melody of the narrative and how it suited this tale. There are dreams in this book and compassion and strength. Must read more by Yannick Murphy now that I know of her talent.
Please let this be better than Richard Skinner's The Red Dancer, which I gave only 1 star.
Sigh, I should have just read a biography of Mata Hari. Although a lot was based on her actual life, you couldn't tell what was fictional and what was real, so it was most unsatisfactory. I'm not a prude, but really, there were too many sex details!
An excellent read that sheds light on the life of Mata Hari. I don't know if the novel correctly depicts her life, since this is historical fiction, but it nevertheless gives voice to a woman who, today, has become merely a whisper of the notorious legend's life as a spy. Yet this book is more than just the life and times of a suspected spy during WWI. It's actually a love story between a mother and her daughter--and the lengths that a mother has to go through to keep her daughter in her life. T...more
This was a really interesting read and a well written interpretation (being the most important word) of the life of the Mata Hari. I learned a lot about her and loved reading the story!
An historical fiction novel (one of my favorite genres) that reveals the life and times of Mata Hari--famous spy of WWI. Rich writing, interesting story which crosses many continents.
Excellent character development, made me want to read more about her. From other sources, it seems like the author played with the facts somewhat, but it's a mysterious case, so who knows what really happened?
May 20, 2008
Kelly
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Mature teens/adults
Recommended to Kelly by:
Elle Magazine
Absolutely phenomenal read. I stayed up half the night to finish it. Beautifully written. I love how graphic the story plays out in this woman's life and the author allow's the reader to ponder at times between the reality and guessing - is Margaretha living the life she thinks she has or is she envisioning all of this for herself? Breathtakingly described through lush seas to the dingiest hotels and brothels where she is asked to do the unimaginable ~ her story is one that could have been any w...more
Beautifully written ... it almost felt like I was reading poetry at times. Yannick Murphy truly captures Mata Hari as a character -- you feel her pain and suffering throughout the book. What a sad story told so well ... I strongly suggest this book. It is a quick read too!
I found this story very sad and strange. She is sitting in a prison in Paris waiting to be executed for spying for the Germans during WWI. She flashes back to her life as a young girl, a mother and wife, and a dancer and cortesean. She surely lead a very interesting, although in my mind a sad life!
May 15, 2008
Pam Conti
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommended to Pam by:
Florida - Novel Night Book Club
Shelves:
2008
I enjoyed the story of Mata Hari and how it was written, alternating between her life in prison prior to her execution and her life before her arrest, from a young girl to her fame as an exotic dancer.
I enjoyed many of the discriptive passages from the book...for example, Mata Hari digging up the tulip bulbs, or how she discribed the smells of Java.
The book also told of the struggles of poor children or women who did not have a decent man too support them. They seemed to have no rights; the me...more
I enjoyed many of the discriptive passages from the book...for example, Mata Hari digging up the tulip bulbs, or how she discribed the smells of Java.
The book also told of the struggles of poor children or women who did not have a decent man too support them. They seemed to have no rights; the me...more
Mata Hari was a dancer, a courtesan, a spy. Above all she was a mystery. As she awaits death by a firing squad in 1917, she whispers some of her secrets to us...
I don't know how much of this is fictionalized but the author did a good job in keeping my interest. The majority of the book is in first person with Mata Hari telling her life story beginning with her childhood in the Netherlands, through a loveless marriage in Java to her scandalous life as an dancer and later a spy during WWI.
I don't know how much of this is fictionalized but the author did a good job in keeping my interest. The majority of the book is in first person with Mata Hari telling her life story beginning with her childhood in the Netherlands, through a loveless marriage in Java to her scandalous life as an dancer and later a spy during WWI.
A lovely fictionalized account of the life of the famed "spy" Mata Hari. The focus of the story is on her motherhood. I loved the ending.
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Yannick Murphy is the author of the novels, THE CALL, SIGNED, MATA HARI, HERE THEY COME, and THE SEA OF TREES. Her story collections include STORIES IN ANOTHER LANGUAGE and IN A BEAR'S EYE. Her children's books include THE COLD WATER WITCH, BABY POLAR, and AHWOOOOOOOO!. She is the recipient of various awards including a Whiting Writer's Award, a National Endowment for the Arts award, a Chesterfiel...more
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Jan 14, 2008 04:21am