Dagmar's Daughter

by Kim Echlin

Mystical, seductive, and brimming with music and magic, Dagmar's Daughter follows three generations of passionate women. Norea emerges from the destitute Irish village of her childhood and stows herself on a ship bound for a remote island in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Her daughter, Dagmar, is born with an uncanny ability to control the weather, and Dagmar's daughter Nyssa is as musically brilliant as her father and as struck with wanderlust.

Genres: Fiction, Fantasy, Suspense, Canada, Romance

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Award-winning author Kim Echlin lives in Toronto. She is the author of Elephant Winter and Dagmar’s Daughter, and her third novel, The Disappeared, was short-listed for the Scotiabank Giller Prize and won the Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Award for Fiction. She has translated a collection of poetry about the goddess Inanna, the earliest written poetry in the world. Her new novel, Speak, Silence is coming out in March 2021.

Kim has lived and worked around the world. She has been a documentary producer at the CBC and currently teaches creative writing.

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystical tale of life and lore from down east in maritime Canada. The author is superbly talented with imagery and expression. The characters and the plot are masterfully drawn. Criticism of the masses indicates that some readers had trouble following the story: usually my own problem. Not here!!! Not a single paragraph was skimmed and not a single scene was unclear. This book may, in fact, be a masterpiece, but for the other fact that I do not feel qualified to confer such a lofty designation. I am going out on a limb here but I stand by it!!!

[Shayla Perreault · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book makes many references to mythology and some of the meaning is between the words. It has to be thought about, felt. Not everything is revealed in black and white. In my opinion this is necessary. If the depth of the themes about women, cycles, generations, love and darkness could be accurately expressed in black and white, there would be no need to write the book. It creates something greater than, something that is a struggle to express.

[Salty Swift · Rating 5 out of 5]

If there's one book I've read recently that deserves six stars, it's this one.....purely for descriptive finesse and setting the tone and beauty of Newfoundland, its music and folklore.....breathtaking achievement!

[Catherine Mccormick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is one of those generational stories of women on a remote island. It is full of mysticism and music. Poetically written. I wasn't crazy about it but the writing is very good. I know people who would love it. I don't understand music enough to truly appreciate this book.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully mystical and musical, lovely and terrifying imagery...

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

A compelling read. I enjoyed the vivid musical descriptions. The touch of magic in the story lent it a fairy-tale hue. As usual, Echlin's writing is a delight to read.

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[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful storytelling, filled with music and a bit of magic.

[Debra Barstad · Rating 3 out of 5]

strange book left me confused most of the time

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is something other-worldly about this book in a way that speaks to lyrical beauty, mythology, folklore. The prose hums with music evident in the rhythm of the novel and its role as a theme and unifier between the characters. Ultimately, the book is about a lineage of passionate women and in a way the men that have been there and failed them simultaneously, but more importantly how these women support each other. Honestly, it's the writing that sells the book in its poetic, dream-like movement.

[Sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was so difficult to get through this. I think it tried too hard to be mysterious and ended up just not making any sense. Echlin has clearly done her research but unfortunately it's not been as successful as in her first novel Elephant Winter, which I loved.

There is nothing admirable or endearing about a single one of these characters. The two stars basically reflect my inability to be truely harsh about anything.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd like to re-read this and give myself more time to get to know the characters. I got very caught up in the fairy tale style of writing, and the story itself, and read it very quickly to find out what would happen next. There were times that I had to go back to untwist my confused impression of what was happening or which character was involved. I did enjoy it, though.

[Daphne · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a magic to this story that is hard to put your finger on. I have always considered this to be the female answer to Narcissus and Goldmund. The genius in both works is in their simplicity I think.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book uses magical realism to evoke the mythology surrounding feminine mysteries by telling the stories of a few generations of mothers and daughters. It seems to succeed in that regard even if the sketches of some of the characters remain rather blurry and unfinished. The stark reality of life, and especially women's lives is emphasized, and also is celebrated.

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a lot of trouble with this book. there were times I was enjoying it and many times I was puzzled. it carries through 3 generations of very strong women. Music is also integral to the story, particularly fiddle and bass instruments playing east coast or Irish songs. There was also a lot of unfamiliar vocabulary that even my tablet dictionary had no meaning for.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this, but I just couldn't. I think Echlin got too caught up in her prose and maybe paid too little attention to her story. If you like the female and mystical aspects of this book, read Four Mothers by Shifra Horn. It's much better.

[Erin Smethurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. It is a quick read that I have gone back to several times over the years. Echlin's writing style is enchantingly beautiful.