House Arrest: A Novel

by Mary Morris

Mary Morris, called "a marvelous storyteller" by The Chicago Tribune , returns with the finest novel in her acclaimed career--a vividly etched, engrossing story of a nation, two remarkable women, and the meaning of freedom.

Taut with tension, filled with the telling observations of place and local character that grow out of her expertise as a travel writer, House Arrest is Mary Morris's richest, most powerful novel to date.

Genres: Fiction

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

I was born in Chicago and, though I have lived in New York for many years, my roots are still in the Midwest and many of my stories are set there. As a writer my closest influences are Willa Cather and F. Scott Fitzgerald. I travel as much as I can and travel fuels everything I do. When I travel, I keep extensive journals which are handwritten and include watercolors, collage as well as text. All my writing begins in these journals. I tend to move between fiction and nonfiction. I spent seventeen years working on my last novel, The Jazz Palace. I think I learned a lot writing that book because the next one only took three years., Gateway to the Moon. Gateway which will be out in March 2018 is historical fiction about the secret Jews of New Mexico. I am also working on my fifth travel memoir about my travels alone. This one is about looking for tigers.

Reviews

[Sharon S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

At times I felt like I was under house arrest while reading this book. The protagonist's growing anxiety and desperation were well described -- as was her foolishness. I can't say I loved this book but I read to the end to see how the journey ends. Like many of us, the troubles Maggie has are mostly of her own making and she is wiser in the end. The vivid description of paradise that isn't perfect and that tourists don't see the real world the locals inhabit is masterful -- but overall a bit depressing. Worth a read. She's a very good writer, but I did not connect with the main character. But that may have been the point.

[karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this author but this book made me feel anxious! I finished it, but didn’t enjoy the story anywhere near as much as I have other books written by this writer. I read it while traveling on a vacation and I don’t recommend it for lightening one’s mood.

[Meg Clayton]

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[Maxine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but not spellbinding. I liked the descriptions of the places, the smells, the feel of the air of La Isla.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

[Wendy]

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