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thecriticalreader's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Review:
Admittedly, it took me nearly 200 pages to really start to get used to Matrix by Lauren Groff and its poetic, fluid, somewhat stream-of-consciousness writing style as well as its unique storyline that often produces more questions than answers. Even then, it was not until the end of the story that I fully appreciated the book for what it is. At the heart of the story is the character of Marie, an admirable but flawed nun whose ambition leads her to transform a starving, poor abbey into a magnificent, self-sustaining wealthy fortress. Marie’s character arc is wonderfully executed, and I appreciated the large cast of supporting characters as well.
My favorite part of Matrix, however, is its thematic exploration of religion, feminism, ambition, power, sapphic love, and humanity’s relationship with the natural world. This is the sort of book that I could read many times over and glean new meaning each time; it is the type of book that begs to be analyzed in a literature class. Groff trusts in the intelligence of her readers and never oversimplifies or hits the reader over the head in order to make her point.
The Run-Down:
You will probably like Matrix if:
· You go into the book with an open mind
· You are someone who is interested in themes of religion and queerness
· You enjoy poetic writing styles
You might not like Matrix if:
· You dislike flowery writing and fluid plot structure
· You prefer exciting plots and clear explanations for events
A Similar Book:
This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladsone. Similarities between these books include:
· Beautiful, lyrical, intelligent prose
· Friend/enemy relationship between two strong women from different worlds
· Themes of feminism, queerness and humanity’s relation to the natural world
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Cancer, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, and Sexism
Moderate: Dementia, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Physical abuse, Blood, Ableism, Body horror, Child abuse, Pregnancy, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, and Classism
Minor: Excrement, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual content, Animal cruelty, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Infidelity, Death of parent, Violence, War, Torture, and Toxic friendship
5aru's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A study in character with little plot and lots of vibes, Matrix is a deeply fascinating look into the life of a woman who learned to turn her strength into realized ambition, even through the limitations imposed upon her. Through this reinvented, little-known historical figure, Groff builds the image of a complex and fire-hearted woman through excellent, insightful writing. Driven by passion, Marie is consumed by visions of grandeur and a faith that goes against the grain of religious teachings; yet she is nonetheless guided in all things by the deep love that she learns to foster for her fellow abbey sisters — who, in turn, become sisters in much more than a mere title. The novel thus becomes a multi-faceted rendering of a community sheltered from the patriarchal, masculine world of the time, as well as of how womanhood and sisterhood grow within the confines of faith.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Animal death, and Miscarriage
Minor: Sexual violence and Sexism
babblingbooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Never would have expected a story about nuns in the 12th century to be my thing, but I loved it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Minor: Rape, Homophobia, Abandonment, Ableism, and Death of parent
The main character is queer, she never gives herself a label, but only sleeps with women throughout the book. There is implied homophobia from society in general, but not much actually included in the text specifically.sealreads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Definitely longer than it needed to be, but still an awesome book. Great commentary on trying to fit into patriarchal societies as a woman.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Animal death, Child death, Death, Miscarriage, and Misogyny
Moderate: Sexual assault and Violence
sodanisays's review
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Animal death, Cancer, Death of parent, Rape, and Miscarriage
mothie_girlie's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Misogyny
Moderate: Sexual content, Rape, and Animal death
Minor: Pregnancy
laurajeangrace's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy, Animal death, Death of parent, and Death
Minor: Violence, War, and Sexism
bookedbymadeline's review against another edition
challenging
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I don’t usually like books that don’t use quotation marks because it confuses me and I end up rereading sentences. The writing and prose was beautiful; I have many passages marked!
It could be a bit slow for my liking and the second half was harder to get through. I liked the references to Melusine, who I’ve heard about prior when reading other books about the war of the roses!
I thought the ending was really well done. Overall an enjoyable read that I devoured in three days despite being slow for my taste! I had read one of Geoff’s works earlier in the year and hated it so I’m happy I gave her a second chance. I’m curious now to see how I like her other works. Highly recommend if you like stories about powerful women challenging that status quo (especially in the world of religion)!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Sexism, Rape, Torture, Death, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Sexual content, Death of parent, Terminal illness, Grief, Child death, and Animal death
Minor: Violence
olivebleu's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is a challenging one for me to review! At times I couldn't decide if I loved or hated the writing style and that usually is what kills a book for me. But I loved the layers to this story. The book really grew on me as I continued. I would certainly recommend it though I think the first quarter is not a breeze to get through. I wish
the affect of the abbey on its local environment and Marie's climate disaster vision were woven more throughout the story. I thought it added another interesting perspective which is not often included in books of this genre, but it arrived later in the story and felt like more of a last minute thought than I'd have liked.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Death
msaari's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Marie de France (fl. 1160–1215) oli runoilija, joka syntyi nykyisen Ranskan alueella ja eli Englannissa 1100-luvun loppupuolella. Hänen elämästään ei tiedetä juuri mitään, mutta tutkijat pitävät häntä yhtenä ensimmäisistä ranskankielisistä naisrunoilijoista. Monet tutkijat ovat sitä mieltä, että Marie de France oli Shaftesburyn luostarin abbedissa Marie.
Tähän teoriaan nojaa Lauren Groff, jonka romaani Mestarinna kuvaa Marie de Francen elämää. 17-vuotias Marie on orpo ja syntynyt avioliiton ulkopuolella, mutta koska hänen isänsä on kuninkaallista sukua, hänellä on ollut paikka Westminsterissä kuningatar Eleonoora Akvitanialaisen hovissa. Nyt kuningatar on saanut ratkaisun Marie-ongelmaansa: Marie lähetetään priorittareksi luostariin.
Luostari on kammottava paikka: se on köyhä, synkkä paikka, jossa nunnat ja oblaattilapset kuolevat nälkään ja tauteihin. Marie ei osaa englantia ja luostarissa oleminen on yksinkertaisesti hirveää. Marie haluaisi päästä takaisin hoviin ja toivoo herättävänsä rakastamansa Eleonooran huomion kirjoittamalla tälle ihastuttavan runoelman. Toivo osoittautuu kuitenkin turhaksi.
Hyvä on, hän ajattelee katkerana. Hän pysyy tässä loukossa ja elää hänelle sälytetyn elämän niin hyvin kuin taitaa. Hän tekee kaiken voitavansa ylentääkseen itsensä tällä maallisella tasolla. Hän elää niin, että hänet pois heittäneet joutuvat katumaan tekojaan. Jonain päivänä he vielä näkevät hänen majesteettisuutensa ja tuntevat suurta kunnioitusta.
Marie perehtyy luostarin asioihin ja ymmärtää, että parannettavaa on. Abbedissa Emme on ollut kehno perimään vuokria luostarin vuokralaisilta. Lisäksi abbedissa on pannut nunnat tekemään sitä työtä, mitä kukin huonoiten taitaa, opettaakseen sisarille nöyryyttä. Marie pistää vuokralaisiin kuria ja määrää nunnat töihin näiden vahvuuksien mukaan. Nunnien asema alkaa pikkuhiljaa kohentua.
Lopulta luostari voi hyvin ja kun Emme menehtyy, Mariesta tulee uusi abbedissa. Luostarissa alkaa ennennäkemätön kukoistuksen kausi. Marie johtaa luostaria rautaisella otteella ja Neitsyt Marialta saamiensa näkyjen kautta.
Lauren Groff kuvaa Marien elämänkaaren taitavasti ja sujuvasti. Aika kulkee luontevaa tahtia: välillä hitaammin, välillä nopeampina pyrähdyksinä, välillä sopivasti tulevaa ennakoiden. Marien vahva ote luostarista on kiehtovaa luettavaa, kirjassa on vahvaa feminististä paloa. Tätä korostaa ympäristö, jossa nunnilla ei ole mitään valtaa mihinkään. Marien voimakas nousu kukoistukseen on ihanaa luettavaa, kunnollinen voimaantumistarina. Vastoinkäymisiäkin toki riittää ja ne ovat paikoin julmia ja sattumanvaraisia, kuten aikakauteen toki kuuluu. Kokonaisuutena tarina on kuitenkin ihastuttava.
Mikään erityisen historiallinen kuvaus Mestarinna ei ole. Se kuvaa kyllä aikakauttaan kiehtovasti, mutta Groff on pikemminkin käyttänyt Marie de Francea kertoakseen itse haluamansa tarinan. Historiallinen Marie de France tunnetaan nimenomaan lai-runoistaan, jotka tässä kirjassa kirjoitetaan nopeasti alkuvaiheessa, eikä niihin juuri palata. Tämä Marie ei ole varsinaisesti runoilija, vaan visionääri ja voimakas johtaja.
Suomentaja Tero Valkonen on tehnyt hienoa työtä käännöksen parissa. Groffin miellyttävä tyyli välittyy suomennoksesta hyvin. Pakko on myös kehua kansia: Jenni Saari on yksi suuria suosikkejani, mitä kotimaisiin kirjankansien kuvittajiin tulee, ja Mestarinna on jälleen kerran yksi nappionnistuminen Saarelta.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Child death, and Death