The setting is a small town in Australia after WWII. The style is interesting, reminiscent of Edgar Lee Master's Spoon River Anthology, though with fe...moreThe setting is a small town in Australia after WWII. The style is interesting, reminiscent of Edgar Lee Master's Spoon River Anthology, though with fewer characters. Free-form poetry rather than prose, it reads quickly. Since it is told from each person's perspective, we get a sense of what happens inside each person. I think that's the point of the story, what is really going on, what people really want or settle for, how you can't really know about a person, or sometimes even yourself.(less)
A novel in verse, we see a young Christian girl, Mary known as Mister to her friends, as she makes choices and lives with the consequences. Helping he...moreA novel in verse, we see a young Christian girl, Mary known as Mister to her friends, as she makes choices and lives with the consequences. Helping her deal is a book of poems written about Mary, the mother of God. Seeing Mary as a young woman facing the challenging situation of her own and relying on God to get her through, this Mary can cope with the truths revealed in her life.
We're left with an open ending, which I think allows the reader to argue one way or the other. I think it's more helpful to girls reading it this way. Grimes isn't telling us what to do.
The poems are varied, quickly move us along the story, and provide some beautiful phrases.
Especially reading this at Christmas, I think this book opened my eyes to what Mary really faced, to see her as a real woman, not just a name in the Christmas story.(less)
Loading...
