Take a photo of a barcode or cover
mpho3 's review for:
The Marsh King's Daughter
by Karen Dionne
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Before this, I was not acquainted with Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale "The Marsh King's Daughter." Although it serves as an interesting element in Dionne's novel, it eventually becomes tiresome. Dionne does such a good job of putting you in the mind of Helena, that I was resentful of any distractions from that. Her childhood portrayal is captivating, and Dionne masterfully illustrates how Helena's early experiences shape her adult decisions. The reader is compelled to sympathize with her, despite her not being particularly likeable.
The locale of Helena's youth is also endlessly fascinating. I'm from Michigan but haven't spent a lot of time in the Upper Peninsula, which is truly like another world compared to the rest of the state. As for my wilderness experience, I've pitched a tent, but that's about it for me. I had to stop and figure out what the difference is between a marsh and a bog. Or a swamp for that matter!
Despite these strengths in locale and character, the novel falters in several respects. Firs, I found Helena's relationship with her husband and children, who seem irrelevant to the core narrative, unappealing. In fact, the children almost seem like a red herring. Secondly, her father is labeled a narcissist, but he obviously more than that, and his actions post-prison break appear aimlessly malevolent. I'm skeptical that he would go to such extremes just to make a point. Lastly, Dionne prolongs the cat-and-mouse chase, padding it with Andersen's tale and childhood recollections, only to return to our protagonist musing over her marital issues.
The novel is atmospheric and fast-paced but deserves a better ending.
The locale of Helena's youth is also endlessly fascinating. I'm from Michigan but haven't spent a lot of time in the Upper Peninsula, which is truly like another world compared to the rest of the state. As for my wilderness experience, I've pitched a tent, but that's about it for me. I had to stop and figure out what the difference is between a marsh and a bog. Or a swamp for that matter!
Despite these strengths in locale and character, the novel falters in several respects. Firs, I found Helena's relationship with her husband and children, who seem irrelevant to the core narrative, unappealing. In fact, the children almost seem like a red herring. Secondly, her father is labeled a narcissist, but he obviously more than that, and his actions post-prison break appear aimlessly malevolent. I'm skeptical that he would go to such extremes just to make a point. Lastly, Dionne prolongs the cat-and-mouse chase, padding it with Andersen's tale and childhood recollections, only to return to our protagonist musing over her marital issues.
The novel is atmospheric and fast-paced but deserves a better ending.