What do you think?
Rate this book
The Retreat
Ahmed has abandoned her. Nadia is gone the way Isabelle did before, her two fallen warriors. But Marie can still hear His voice clearly.
A deep call for justice takes hold in a teenage girl during a religious retreat; what happens next will mark her life for years to come.
Set between Zermatt, Brussels, London and Bordeaux, this is a tale of man playing God, of hurt that doesn’t find its way out. An uncomfortable but fascinating ripening journey.
A deep call for justice takes hold in a teenage girl during a religious retreat; what happens next will mark her life for years to come.
Set between Zermatt, Brussels, London and Bordeaux, this is a tale of man playing God, of hurt that doesn’t find its way out. An uncomfortable but fascinating ripening journey.
166 pages, ebook
Published April 17, 2018
1 person is currently reading
5 people want to read
About the author
mari reiza
13 books15 followersmari.reiza was born in Madrid in 1973. She has worked as an investment research writer and management consultant for twenty years in London. She studied at Oxford University and lives off Portobello Road with her husband and child.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 25, 2019
“Money is a necessary evil,” Marie’s mother would say, “and to earn much, unfortunately, one has to devote an excessive amount of time to it, more than reasonable.
These words struck a chord with me. How true is that? Money is necessary but its pursuit takes away a lot from us. Mari Reiza’s Retreat is story of Marie (Mari??? Or I am just wondering).
Marie is a young girl who is feeling suffocated by all the rules by her family and society. She wants to break free, but will she?
The struggles of Marie will feel familiar to every girl. This is a story of grit and determination. The book is a bit long and could have be edited tightly.
3/5 stars.
These words struck a chord with me. How true is that? Money is necessary but its pursuit takes away a lot from us. Mari Reiza’s Retreat is story of Marie (Mari??? Or I am just wondering).
Marie is a young girl who is feeling suffocated by all the rules by her family and society. She wants to break free, but will she?
The struggles of Marie will feel familiar to every girl. This is a story of grit and determination. The book is a bit long and could have be edited tightly.
3/5 stars.
May 31, 2018
Review of the Retreat An tale of a young woman managing the labels her family has thrust upon her, while navigating that complicated emotion called love is what readers will find in The Retreat by Mari Reiza. The descriptions in the book are luscious and excellent fodder for the imagination. The book is set in Europe with our protagonist, Marie. It tackles complicated topics related to religion and love however it does have some downfalls that may be off-putting to readers. It is a short novella and while the plot could have used some more fleshing out, the beauty of the words themselves do a good job making up for those short comings. The way Reiza writes is what many would call word porn. The words are beautiful, oozing with sensuality while captivating the reader’s attention. Even the simple act of describing a smile is eloquent and sucks you right in. The story follows Marie as she manages her return closer to her family; a family that she has never seemed to fully belong in. There are mentions of an absentee father and a mother with large designs for her children. Marie is not the eldest, but she is not the youngest. Her perspective is unique as many characters in stories like these tend to be only children. While Reiza writes beautifully, the story is confusing. It’s odd, for a story so short, to not have a clear plotline or purpose. Readers might be unsure if this is a story of potential child abuse, finding oneself caught up in the throes of passion, discovering of a person’s sexuality or a revenge story. The time skips don’t help nail down the plot and the introduction of seemingly pointless characters only detracts from the established cast. We spend a lot of time with Marie when she was fourteen and attending a religious retreat with a man who may or may not be a rapist, a potentially predatory nun and wild girls who seem willing to sacrifice a classmate’s chastity for their own safety. If this were the purpose of the story, it would have done a good job. However, the introduction of a brother-in-law that Marie may or may not want to coax into an adulterous relationship, questionable conversations with God, and a woman whose brother may or may not be a religious extremist cause confusion. While there are certainly confusing and messy parts of this story the way it’s written is definitely beautiful and demonstrate a firm grasp on the craft of writing. The Retreat by Mari Reiza is a visual delight and creative types will definitely feel the energy and sensuality of Reiza’s writing within the pages of this small story. Those looking for a clear plot with firm resolutions should shy away from this book as it will not be able to deliver what they are looking for. It’s a shame, because Reiza’s writing is clearly able to take on the challenge of a cohesive tale. For whatever reason, it was not successful in this one.
May 29, 2018
Mari Reiza’s book, The Retreat, centers around troubled main character, Marie. The book jumps time between her teen years, to young adulthood, and back again. It follows young Marie as she attends a ski trip with a catholic band of girls, two quasi nuns, and a priest-like figure, who isn’t exactly a priest. She is torn between who she wants Monsieur Berger to be as a servant of God and who she suspects he may be as a deeply flawed man. She finds herself close to Isabelle, who tries very hard to do all the right things, but still gets trampled on. This relationship is somewhat mirrored later when Marie befriends Nadia as a young adult. These relationships coupled with her father’s abandonment shapes who Marie ultimately becomes.
This book is not long in page count, but took me a long time to read. I found myself reading and re-reading parts of the book especially in the first and last chapters. Those parts are simultaneously complex and vague. Lines in those chapters seemed extremely verbose, while the others were more concise and readable. The beginning and end felt almost disconnected from the bulk of the book, as if another author had written them.
After I made it through the first chapter, the book took on a much better flow. Reiza did an excellent job of developing the characters found in Marie’s teen years. Rebellious Helene and Martine, Godly Isabelle, outcast Justine, coming of age Barbara, Marie’s kid sister Lucie, disciplinarian Prudence, her shadow Perline, and seemingly deviant Monsieur Berger make for an interesting cast of characters. I got pulled into that storyline, waiting for the proverbial and inevitable shoe to drop. Reiza delves into Marie’s struggles on the ski slopes that mirror her personal torment. She also “goes there” in her exploration of deviance in the Catholic church and its ministers.
Another interesting dynamic is that between Marie and Nadia. Both seem to be struggling young women looking desperately to find love and acceptance. They find those things in each other as their relationship develops. They are there for a pat on the back for each other, both figuratively and literally. They have a “you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours” kind of bond from the start. Readers can get wrapped up in the affinity they have for one another from the start, and in their unraveling.
Reiza explores Marie’s laundry list of troubles. Marie is a broken girl. Her father abandoned family, or as was said in the book, failed to follow the family when they left. She is shifted around the globe between Bordeaux, Brussels, Zermatt, and London. Stability is not something ever-present in Marie’s life. She struggles to find herself, find love, and find God. Reconciling with God becomes more difficult after she discovers Monsieur Berger’s alleged trespasses. He was the very figure of God in her young life. She wanted to believe that he was genuinely good and true. He was also a worldly father figure who in ways took the place of her own absent father. She is also betrayed by others in her life, and ultimately becomes the betrayer to some.
I’m giving the book a 4 out of 5 stars. Apart from a couple of chapters, the book is well-written and flows well. Readers will be able to identify with Marie. They will find themselves in her teenage struggles. They can sympathize with her dealings with her broken family. They can relive loves gone wrong through her story. I’d like to know how the rest of Marie’s story plays out.
This book is not long in page count, but took me a long time to read. I found myself reading and re-reading parts of the book especially in the first and last chapters. Those parts are simultaneously complex and vague. Lines in those chapters seemed extremely verbose, while the others were more concise and readable. The beginning and end felt almost disconnected from the bulk of the book, as if another author had written them.
After I made it through the first chapter, the book took on a much better flow. Reiza did an excellent job of developing the characters found in Marie’s teen years. Rebellious Helene and Martine, Godly Isabelle, outcast Justine, coming of age Barbara, Marie’s kid sister Lucie, disciplinarian Prudence, her shadow Perline, and seemingly deviant Monsieur Berger make for an interesting cast of characters. I got pulled into that storyline, waiting for the proverbial and inevitable shoe to drop. Reiza delves into Marie’s struggles on the ski slopes that mirror her personal torment. She also “goes there” in her exploration of deviance in the Catholic church and its ministers.
Another interesting dynamic is that between Marie and Nadia. Both seem to be struggling young women looking desperately to find love and acceptance. They find those things in each other as their relationship develops. They are there for a pat on the back for each other, both figuratively and literally. They have a “you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours” kind of bond from the start. Readers can get wrapped up in the affinity they have for one another from the start, and in their unraveling.
Reiza explores Marie’s laundry list of troubles. Marie is a broken girl. Her father abandoned family, or as was said in the book, failed to follow the family when they left. She is shifted around the globe between Bordeaux, Brussels, Zermatt, and London. Stability is not something ever-present in Marie’s life. She struggles to find herself, find love, and find God. Reconciling with God becomes more difficult after she discovers Monsieur Berger’s alleged trespasses. He was the very figure of God in her young life. She wanted to believe that he was genuinely good and true. He was also a worldly father figure who in ways took the place of her own absent father. She is also betrayed by others in her life, and ultimately becomes the betrayer to some.
I’m giving the book a 4 out of 5 stars. Apart from a couple of chapters, the book is well-written and flows well. Readers will be able to identify with Marie. They will find themselves in her teenage struggles. They can sympathize with her dealings with her broken family. They can relive loves gone wrong through her story. I’d like to know how the rest of Marie’s story plays out.
June 4, 2018
The Retreat, by Mari Reiza, is a feminist, coming-of-age novel. The book takes place across a few different years (1987, 1994-95) and is centered on the character, Marie.
Central to the story's plot is a ski trip to the city of Zermatt, Switzerland, in 1987. Nestled within the plot is the Catholic educational system of the time, complete with nuns and priests. Marie and many of the other characters are teenagers living in a world which will probably feel remote for many readers: no Internet, no cell phones, and more than a few of the girls' concerns seemed somewhat mundane. The book invokes a certain nostalgia for the era, but the moral darkness of the story soon drowns that nostalgia out.
Along with Marie are three other centrally important girls who went along on the ski trip: Hélène, Isabelle, and Nadia (there are others as well, but they are generally less important). These three draw at Marie’s conscience in different directions: rebellious hedonism, pious self-restraint, and humanist decency (respectively). Much of the conversation between them revolves around sex, sexuality, and the appropriateness of sexual behavior. Even though some of the conversation is seedy at times, it is realistic and well within the bounds of what curious teenage girls might talk about together. After those characters serve their purpose by shepherding Marie through adolescence and her moral development they largely drop out of the book.
Also along on the trip is Monsieur Berger, who is something of a Catholic, lay-teacher. Early in the book, he appears haphazard or benignly negligent about his appearance in front of the girls. He has a tendency to sit, stand, or lean in such a way as to draw attention to his crotch all while having his fly open. However, it soon veers off into a darker and more insidious path. Hélène, who is the least sexually restrained among the girls, even remarks towards the end, “How can our parents not see that Monsieur Berger is a pervert? Father Dick!” There are not-so-subtle hints scattered throughout that something is wrong with Berger, he has a rather unusual propensity to talk about sexuality, purity, and sexual acts to teenaged girls.
An important theme which spans both time-frames within the novel is abandonment. Marie ends up confused about what happened to her parents' relationship when she was a child: did her father leave them, was he pushed aside by his wife, or did Marie's mother move on without him? This confusion folds into Marie's relationship with another character, a romantic interest, Ahmed, who also abandons her. Ahmed is not a frequent character in the story (obviously completely absent in 1987) but he takes on a somewhat anti-figure role: that of a void. His absence is what makes him a good character.
The Retreat is intended for adult audiences, solely due to its sexual content. Given the ages of the characters throughout much of the book, it may be applicable to particularly mature adolescents as well. The story made for an interesting and compelling read, full of allegory and acute turn-of-phrase. Some readers may struggle with the book, especially those affected by sexual assault or abuse. The religious notes of the book are also heavy and frequent, but augment the character dynamics and development rather than smother them under the weight of instruction. Overall, it was an excellent read, like many of Reiza's other works.
Central to the story's plot is a ski trip to the city of Zermatt, Switzerland, in 1987. Nestled within the plot is the Catholic educational system of the time, complete with nuns and priests. Marie and many of the other characters are teenagers living in a world which will probably feel remote for many readers: no Internet, no cell phones, and more than a few of the girls' concerns seemed somewhat mundane. The book invokes a certain nostalgia for the era, but the moral darkness of the story soon drowns that nostalgia out.
Along with Marie are three other centrally important girls who went along on the ski trip: Hélène, Isabelle, and Nadia (there are others as well, but they are generally less important). These three draw at Marie’s conscience in different directions: rebellious hedonism, pious self-restraint, and humanist decency (respectively). Much of the conversation between them revolves around sex, sexuality, and the appropriateness of sexual behavior. Even though some of the conversation is seedy at times, it is realistic and well within the bounds of what curious teenage girls might talk about together. After those characters serve their purpose by shepherding Marie through adolescence and her moral development they largely drop out of the book.
Also along on the trip is Monsieur Berger, who is something of a Catholic, lay-teacher. Early in the book, he appears haphazard or benignly negligent about his appearance in front of the girls. He has a tendency to sit, stand, or lean in such a way as to draw attention to his crotch all while having his fly open. However, it soon veers off into a darker and more insidious path. Hélène, who is the least sexually restrained among the girls, even remarks towards the end, “How can our parents not see that Monsieur Berger is a pervert? Father Dick!” There are not-so-subtle hints scattered throughout that something is wrong with Berger, he has a rather unusual propensity to talk about sexuality, purity, and sexual acts to teenaged girls.
An important theme which spans both time-frames within the novel is abandonment. Marie ends up confused about what happened to her parents' relationship when she was a child: did her father leave them, was he pushed aside by his wife, or did Marie's mother move on without him? This confusion folds into Marie's relationship with another character, a romantic interest, Ahmed, who also abandons her. Ahmed is not a frequent character in the story (obviously completely absent in 1987) but he takes on a somewhat anti-figure role: that of a void. His absence is what makes him a good character.
The Retreat is intended for adult audiences, solely due to its sexual content. Given the ages of the characters throughout much of the book, it may be applicable to particularly mature adolescents as well. The story made for an interesting and compelling read, full of allegory and acute turn-of-phrase. Some readers may struggle with the book, especially those affected by sexual assault or abuse. The religious notes of the book are also heavy and frequent, but augment the character dynamics and development rather than smother them under the weight of instruction. Overall, it was an excellent read, like many of Reiza's other works.
May 30, 2018
Surrounding yourself with the teachings of religion can be challenging because you continuously feel as if you’re not doing things according to scripture. Young adults, in particular, young women, seem to struggle the most in terms of how they should live their lives and maintaining their soul’s purity until marriage. This restrictive kind of lifestyle can do more harm than good, being mindful of your behaviors and others around you makes for a larger responsibility. In “The Retreat”, author Mari Reiza describes the life of a young woman named Marie from her perspective and discovering even more about life. The group of young women accompanied by Sister Prudence, her assistant Perline, and Monsieur Berger, goes on a religious week-long retreat in Zermatt, Switzerland. Marie can’t seem to escape negative remarks from nun Prudence, as she’s constantly reminded of Berger’s potential tempted eyes are entirely her fault, based on her assumed choice of clothing. Unfortunately, growing up in a divorced household with her younger sister, her mother treating her as an outsider, and a father who abandoned her, I can’t imagine all that she endures.
Strength is one of many words I would use to describe Marie because she’s going through a lot and taking borderline abuse from every angle. Sweethearts Isabelle and Nadia, are two individuals that offer nothing but kindness to Marie, while everyone treats her poorly and makes fun of her. I didn’t like when Sister Prudence told Marie that it’s her fault for tempting Berger because of the skirt she was wearing, not knowing that Marie’s mother is the one who bought and packed her luggage. What’s a girl to do, but wear whatever her mother packed for her. Feeling empathetic towards our protagonist because all she needs is unconditional love, which seems as though she’s never received it, not even from her parents. Her character is relatable as we can take a hard look at the people in our society and only wonder if they too grew up in such neglected households.
Every time Monsieur Berger’s name is mentioned I have this weird feeling that he can be a true pervert. An example of that is the flies of his pants are always down, as told by Marie, very disturbing to wonder if he does that intentionally. The author has provided well-written descriptions of sceneries to assist a better understanding of every setting that takes place within the book. Tales of Nadia at the bathhouse in London are refreshing moments, allowing Marie to experience such love and concern from a total stranger that she felt comfortable enough to discuss Ahmed and how he’s left her without closure. The quote that caught my eye while reading was, “the only person who can prevent you living your life like a film is you” resonates with me because we are all in control of our lives, for the most part.
I enjoyed reading this book, as I learned more about Marie, of how the love she never experienced from her own parents and friends was freely given by a stranger who became a dear friend. There’s so much to love yourself, but you also are supposed to receive love from others, even if they’re not related. I recommend this book for everyone, especially for women who feel that they are an exception from the rule of unconditional love, who needs a reminder that they are worthy of it.
Strength is one of many words I would use to describe Marie because she’s going through a lot and taking borderline abuse from every angle. Sweethearts Isabelle and Nadia, are two individuals that offer nothing but kindness to Marie, while everyone treats her poorly and makes fun of her. I didn’t like when Sister Prudence told Marie that it’s her fault for tempting Berger because of the skirt she was wearing, not knowing that Marie’s mother is the one who bought and packed her luggage. What’s a girl to do, but wear whatever her mother packed for her. Feeling empathetic towards our protagonist because all she needs is unconditional love, which seems as though she’s never received it, not even from her parents. Her character is relatable as we can take a hard look at the people in our society and only wonder if they too grew up in such neglected households.
Every time Monsieur Berger’s name is mentioned I have this weird feeling that he can be a true pervert. An example of that is the flies of his pants are always down, as told by Marie, very disturbing to wonder if he does that intentionally. The author has provided well-written descriptions of sceneries to assist a better understanding of every setting that takes place within the book. Tales of Nadia at the bathhouse in London are refreshing moments, allowing Marie to experience such love and concern from a total stranger that she felt comfortable enough to discuss Ahmed and how he’s left her without closure. The quote that caught my eye while reading was, “the only person who can prevent you living your life like a film is you” resonates with me because we are all in control of our lives, for the most part.
I enjoyed reading this book, as I learned more about Marie, of how the love she never experienced from her own parents and friends was freely given by a stranger who became a dear friend. There’s so much to love yourself, but you also are supposed to receive love from others, even if they’re not related. I recommend this book for everyone, especially for women who feel that they are an exception from the rule of unconditional love, who needs a reminder that they are worthy of it.
May 11, 2018
The Retreat by Mari Reiza
Marie is plagued by occurrences from her childhood. The choices and experiences from back then have shaped the woman she is today. She hears the voice of God and takes it upon herself to save everyone she can. She meets Nadia who disrupts life with Ahmed only for the relationship to turn sour for the sake of martyrdom on Nadia’s part.
In the telling of the back-story, Marie misses her father terribly. She feels that perhaps she is the only one who misses him. Her mother is hurt by her reluctance to let go of the man who left them. Or the man who did not follow when they left. It is not really clear who left whom or who was left behind in Marie’s mind. She meets Isabelle at the retreat who spurs her inner heroine. Marie is determined to make Berger pay for using his cloak of deception to get away with things like his constant accidentally malfunctioning zipper.
Mari Reiza has a way of narrating a story that is borderline quirky. If one is not careful, they can find themselves lost in the drivel. However, this style of writing is very adorable and appropriate especially due to the personality of the character telling it. The way Mari tells the story of Marie feels as though she is narrating a firsthand account. This is common in all her books. It goes to show how much she invests in developing her characters. She always tries to encompass the personality of the lead character. The story kicks off in the most entrancing way- mostly taciturn man (when crankiness did not fill his mouth with vulgarity- I mean, this is a beautiful arrangement of words. This sets the stage for the intense intrigue to come.
One who has some time to hover over sentences and stew in Marie’s emotions, as both an adult and a teenager would best enjoy this book. It is short but it requires time and an open mind. Taking time is the only way to enjoy Marie’s winding story of misfortunes and the very unusual ending. Even though Marie’s mother is not prominently featured, she is typical of most single mothers out there. Struggling every day to provide everything for the kids while denying themselves everything. At the same time, battling past heartbreaks that threaten to interrupt life.
After reading a few of Mari’s books, one will realize that digressing is her thing. She has it down to an art. It can be quite confusing and disorienting to a reader who encounters this for the first time. After a while, you get used to it and even start to appreciate the style. The only downside is that you might miss some integral prerequisites to the plot. No matter, there is no rule against rereading.
This book gets 4 out of five stars. It is gritty and entertaining. The story is daring. Sometimes you will think- I cannot believe she went there- she will have. She will have gone there. This is the single most valuable quality of ‘The Retreat’ and Mari Reiza’s writing in general.
Marie is plagued by occurrences from her childhood. The choices and experiences from back then have shaped the woman she is today. She hears the voice of God and takes it upon herself to save everyone she can. She meets Nadia who disrupts life with Ahmed only for the relationship to turn sour for the sake of martyrdom on Nadia’s part.
In the telling of the back-story, Marie misses her father terribly. She feels that perhaps she is the only one who misses him. Her mother is hurt by her reluctance to let go of the man who left them. Or the man who did not follow when they left. It is not really clear who left whom or who was left behind in Marie’s mind. She meets Isabelle at the retreat who spurs her inner heroine. Marie is determined to make Berger pay for using his cloak of deception to get away with things like his constant accidentally malfunctioning zipper.
Mari Reiza has a way of narrating a story that is borderline quirky. If one is not careful, they can find themselves lost in the drivel. However, this style of writing is very adorable and appropriate especially due to the personality of the character telling it. The way Mari tells the story of Marie feels as though she is narrating a firsthand account. This is common in all her books. It goes to show how much she invests in developing her characters. She always tries to encompass the personality of the lead character. The story kicks off in the most entrancing way- mostly taciturn man (when crankiness did not fill his mouth with vulgarity- I mean, this is a beautiful arrangement of words. This sets the stage for the intense intrigue to come.
One who has some time to hover over sentences and stew in Marie’s emotions, as both an adult and a teenager would best enjoy this book. It is short but it requires time and an open mind. Taking time is the only way to enjoy Marie’s winding story of misfortunes and the very unusual ending. Even though Marie’s mother is not prominently featured, she is typical of most single mothers out there. Struggling every day to provide everything for the kids while denying themselves everything. At the same time, battling past heartbreaks that threaten to interrupt life.
After reading a few of Mari’s books, one will realize that digressing is her thing. She has it down to an art. It can be quite confusing and disorienting to a reader who encounters this for the first time. After a while, you get used to it and even start to appreciate the style. The only downside is that you might miss some integral prerequisites to the plot. No matter, there is no rule against rereading.
This book gets 4 out of five stars. It is gritty and entertaining. The story is daring. Sometimes you will think- I cannot believe she went there- she will have. She will have gone there. This is the single most valuable quality of ‘The Retreat’ and Mari Reiza’s writing in general.
May 28, 2018
From start to finish, Mari Reiza’s novel is a true joy to read. Filled with intense and poignant character relationships and development, The Retreat is the coming of age novel that one would rather not read. It is a darkly moving tale that shows how our past continues to haunt us no matter how far we run to escape it.
The Retreat periodically jumps back and forth in time. Set in Bordeaux, Brussels and Zermatt in the 80s and then fast-forwarding to London in the mid-90s. We meet Marie, a woman who seems to have a talent for self-destruction. As the novel progresses we learn that Marie’s mother has moved the family to Brussels, and it’s not quite clear if their father has simply not followed them or left her mother. Either way, Marie is the only one who seems to miss him and this lack of fatherly influence seems to be a real blow to her psyche. Reiza also seems to imply that Marie is the ‘black sheep’ of the family. Constantly being blamed for anything bad or unlucky that happens to her mother and sisters.
In the present, we find that Marie is currently with a man named Ahmed but that he is frequently away for business. Marie seems to find herelf constantly alone and so seeks so comfort and companionship in a bathhouse. While there, she meets a woman named Nadia who reminds her of a girl she knew in the past, and Marie swiftly begins a relationship with Nadia.
When we jump again back to the past, we learn that Marie is attending a week-long ski break with her school group. Reiza never makes it explicitly clear, but we get the impression that Marie and her sister Lucie attend a school for trouble children run by the church. As the vacation unfolds, we see a tragedy play out in front of Marie as the corrupt Mr.Berger (a foul man who is not a priest, but acts like one, and runs the program) takes advantage of perhaps the most innocent of all the young girls. Marie is traumatized by the effect this has on her friend and vows revenge.
While this novel could use some editing, I noticed numerous grammar and spelling mistakes, the overall effect of the book is chilling. I particularly loved the complexity with which Reiza writes her main character. There is a particular flittery, disjointed style with which Reiza writes that seems to capture adolescence perfectly. I also enjoyed the through-line of this novel, with the jumping back and forth in time, we can see quite clearly how Marie’s fate in the present will play out. While perhaps not the happiest of reading, I found Reiza’s work very emotional and evocative and it made me slightly nostalgic for my own youth.
The Retreat periodically jumps back and forth in time. Set in Bordeaux, Brussels and Zermatt in the 80s and then fast-forwarding to London in the mid-90s. We meet Marie, a woman who seems to have a talent for self-destruction. As the novel progresses we learn that Marie’s mother has moved the family to Brussels, and it’s not quite clear if their father has simply not followed them or left her mother. Either way, Marie is the only one who seems to miss him and this lack of fatherly influence seems to be a real blow to her psyche. Reiza also seems to imply that Marie is the ‘black sheep’ of the family. Constantly being blamed for anything bad or unlucky that happens to her mother and sisters.
In the present, we find that Marie is currently with a man named Ahmed but that he is frequently away for business. Marie seems to find herelf constantly alone and so seeks so comfort and companionship in a bathhouse. While there, she meets a woman named Nadia who reminds her of a girl she knew in the past, and Marie swiftly begins a relationship with Nadia.
When we jump again back to the past, we learn that Marie is attending a week-long ski break with her school group. Reiza never makes it explicitly clear, but we get the impression that Marie and her sister Lucie attend a school for trouble children run by the church. As the vacation unfolds, we see a tragedy play out in front of Marie as the corrupt Mr.Berger (a foul man who is not a priest, but acts like one, and runs the program) takes advantage of perhaps the most innocent of all the young girls. Marie is traumatized by the effect this has on her friend and vows revenge.
While this novel could use some editing, I noticed numerous grammar and spelling mistakes, the overall effect of the book is chilling. I particularly loved the complexity with which Reiza writes her main character. There is a particular flittery, disjointed style with which Reiza writes that seems to capture adolescence perfectly. I also enjoyed the through-line of this novel, with the jumping back and forth in time, we can see quite clearly how Marie’s fate in the present will play out. While perhaps not the happiest of reading, I found Reiza’s work very emotional and evocative and it made me slightly nostalgic for my own youth.
July 21, 2019
This exquisitely written coming-of-age novella by Reiza tells the story of a young woman marked by a traumatic experience of her teenage years. Marie and her sibling are struggling to fit in a new town and new school after the separation of their parents. A traumatic experience during a school ski trip shatters Marie’s earlier belief about religion and marks her for life as the experience continues to affect her major decisions years later in her adulthood.
Set in Zermatt, Brussels, London and Bordeaux and sliding back and forth in time (1987, 1994-1995), the book draws Marie’s teenage and adult years while exploring various complex themes like abandonment, sexuality, religion, and debauchery. Reiza’s expert use of foreshadowing and symbolism in her narrative offer the story required suspense and tension.
With skill and sensitivity, Reiza creates a remarkable tale of abandonment and loss.
Set in Zermatt, Brussels, London and Bordeaux and sliding back and forth in time (1987, 1994-1995), the book draws Marie’s teenage and adult years while exploring various complex themes like abandonment, sexuality, religion, and debauchery. Reiza’s expert use of foreshadowing and symbolism in her narrative offer the story required suspense and tension.
With skill and sensitivity, Reiza creates a remarkable tale of abandonment and loss.
March 11, 2019
The writing was good, but the beginning and end seemed disjointed from the rest of the story. Reading the middle flowed better but you just kept waiting for 'the hammer to drop' and never got full resolution of what happened (though you can certainly infer). I would have liked to see more connection/explanation of how the events of the retreat formed the main character to her present day self (and why she acts as she does).
March 25, 2019
The Retreat by Mari Reiza is the story of a young woman trying to live her life without much support from her family. She is the middle child but never quite fit in with her family. She is also trying to figure out love. The writing is beautiful and you can actually visualize the places in Europe that the author describes.
The story follows Marie at a religious retreat when she was in her early teens. The plot can be confusing as the reader is never sure if the girls in attendance were sexually abused or not. At the retreat, there is a man who could be a rapist and a nun who sends mixed signals. There are also several young girls who were testing their limits by breaking the rules.
The story jumps between when Marie was 14 and when she was a young adult. While living with her boyfriend, she befriends a woman who she has an affair with, but whose brother appeared to be a religious zealot. At the end, we also see her meet up with her brother in law whose intentions do not appear to be pure.
The writing is just lovely, but I would have liked to know what happened to Marie…if she ever found what she was looking for in both love and life.
The story follows Marie at a religious retreat when she was in her early teens. The plot can be confusing as the reader is never sure if the girls in attendance were sexually abused or not. At the retreat, there is a man who could be a rapist and a nun who sends mixed signals. There are also several young girls who were testing their limits by breaking the rules.
The story jumps between when Marie was 14 and when she was a young adult. While living with her boyfriend, she befriends a woman who she has an affair with, but whose brother appeared to be a religious zealot. At the end, we also see her meet up with her brother in law whose intentions do not appear to be pure.
The writing is just lovely, but I would have liked to know what happened to Marie…if she ever found what she was looking for in both love and life.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews