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book_concierge's review against another edition
4.0
In the depths of the Great Depression photographer Dorothea Lange was hired to capture the toll on American citizens. Her many photos were sent to Washington in the hopes that politicians would take action to help. Amid all the images of bread lines and field workers, one stood out; Migrant Mother showed a woman holding her baby, two other children clinging to her. That woman wasn’t named but she was Florence Owens Thompson. The power of the image was evident; within weeks of its publication money began to flow to the migrant camps to help the destitute workers. Marisa Silver has taken that iconic photo and reimagined the lives of the woman and her children, as well as the photographer.
In this work of fiction, Silver has named the migrant mother Mary Coin, and the photographer is now called Vera Dare. But a little research will show that much of the story told in the novel closely parallels that of the real women involved. Still, Silver embellishes and adds another dimension with an imagined descendant of the owner of a farm at which Mary Coin toiled; Walker Dodge is a professor of cultural history who digs into his family’s history after finding some papers in his late father’s desk.
The focus of the work, however, is on the two women. Mary is portrayed as a woman with an inner strength and determination to care for her children. She expects little from life, and frequently gets less, but she is never broken. Like Mary, Vera must deal with the loss of her father at a young age, and the toll that takes on her own mother. Her own early bout with polio has left her with a pronounced limp and she is determined to overcome the disability – both real and perceived. Both women suffer from having been “left” by their fathers early in life, and this loss contributes to the decisions they make concerning their own children when they become mothers.
The prose is beautifully simple, the images powerful, and the story poignant and haunting. So why four stars instead of five? I couldn’t get over the fact that Silver borrowed so completely from the lives of these two very real women, yet changed their names and called it fiction. Yes, I understand that she could not have possibly been privy to their inner thoughts, and for that reason alone had to craft this as a novel rather than a biography. There are plenty of works of historical fiction based on real people that use the real names. So why change their names? Why put that iconic photo on the cover and still hide the real women behind different identities? Also, I did not think Walker Dodge’s story was sufficiently explored. He starts the book, and then disappears for most of the rest, returning in the last quarter to tie up some loose ends. His contribution to the total story is important; he deserved an expanded role.
In this work of fiction, Silver has named the migrant mother Mary Coin, and the photographer is now called Vera Dare. But a little research will show that much of the story told in the novel closely parallels that of the real women involved. Still, Silver embellishes and adds another dimension with an imagined descendant of the owner of a farm at which Mary Coin toiled; Walker Dodge is a professor of cultural history who digs into his family’s history after finding some papers in his late father’s desk.
The focus of the work, however, is on the two women. Mary is portrayed as a woman with an inner strength and determination to care for her children. She expects little from life, and frequently gets less, but she is never broken. Like Mary, Vera must deal with the loss of her father at a young age, and the toll that takes on her own mother. Her own early bout with polio has left her with a pronounced limp and she is determined to overcome the disability – both real and perceived. Both women suffer from having been “left” by their fathers early in life, and this loss contributes to the decisions they make concerning their own children when they become mothers.
The prose is beautifully simple, the images powerful, and the story poignant and haunting. So why four stars instead of five? I couldn’t get over the fact that Silver borrowed so completely from the lives of these two very real women, yet changed their names and called it fiction. Yes, I understand that she could not have possibly been privy to their inner thoughts, and for that reason alone had to craft this as a novel rather than a biography. There are plenty of works of historical fiction based on real people that use the real names. So why change their names? Why put that iconic photo on the cover and still hide the real women behind different identities? Also, I did not think Walker Dodge’s story was sufficiently explored. He starts the book, and then disappears for most of the rest, returning in the last quarter to tie up some loose ends. His contribution to the total story is important; he deserved an expanded role.
tophat8855's review against another edition
4.0
Finished it in time for RS book group last night, but went out to karaoke instead, so I didn't get to go.
Book was fine. I agree with the other reviews that the Walker Dodge story that bookends the other 2 stories was unnecessary. But hey, some interesting fiction.
Book was fine. I agree with the other reviews that the Walker Dodge story that bookends the other 2 stories was unnecessary. But hey, some interesting fiction.
cami19's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
tfay's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-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
4.0
melliussa's review
adventurous
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
yeparoo's review
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
haugh's review against another edition
2.0
Really boring and the ending did nothing for me. It jumped all over and made it hard to follow. I did enjoy the author’s craft.
sjgrodsky's review against another edition
3.0
Three different stories that eventually intersect. The author is a good storyteller. There was, perhaps, more story told than really needed to be told.
What I mean is this: when I heard about this book from a friend, I was fascinated at the possibility of learning something of the true story behind the well-known image. The trouble is that the book is fiction. You don’t know how much of what the author tells you is true.
Another GoodReads reviewer posted a link that revealed the migrant mother’s true name (it is not “Mary Coin”) and showed a picture of her much later in life, surrounded by three of her daughters. She doesn’t look happy in the photo, but she doesn’t look desperate and she doesn’t look hungry. So life did get better for her, although it’s hard to know just how much better and how much happiness she was able to feel. We like to say that someone “has PTSD” as if it’s a cold they’ll overcome after a week in bed. No, it’s not like that. The trauma remains. You are never “good as new.”
This was an ambitious undertaking. Kudos to the author for challenging herself. Parts were quite engrossing, but, in the end, they were vegetables thrown in a pot that did not become soup.
What I mean is this: when I heard about this book from a friend, I was fascinated at the possibility of learning something of the true story behind the well-known image. The trouble is that the book is fiction. You don’t know how much of what the author tells you is true.
Another GoodReads reviewer posted a link that revealed the migrant mother’s true name (it is not “Mary Coin”) and showed a picture of her much later in life, surrounded by three of her daughters. She doesn’t look happy in the photo, but she doesn’t look desperate and she doesn’t look hungry. So life did get better for her, although it’s hard to know just how much better and how much happiness she was able to feel. We like to say that someone “has PTSD” as if it’s a cold they’ll overcome after a week in bed. No, it’s not like that. The trauma remains. You are never “good as new.”
This was an ambitious undertaking. Kudos to the author for challenging herself. Parts were quite engrossing, but, in the end, they were vegetables thrown in a pot that did not become soup.
amysbrittain's review against another edition
4.0
I love this book! Inspired by the Dorothea Lange Depression-era photo *Migrant Mother,* Silver writes beautifully in three different points of view and two different times, and creates an irresistible, interwoven story. Wonderful.
hedread's review against another edition
5.0
Touchingly beautiful, the prose in this book is as evocative as the Dorothea Lange photo that inspired this story.