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A review by dianahincureads
La femme ourse by Karolina Ramqvist
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
Definitely one of the best non-fiction books I’ve read this year.
Karolina Ramqvist hears the story of Marguerite de la Rocque from a friend. She starts researching her life, trying to piece together what happened to the young woman. Marguerite’s life is shrouded in mystery. There are very few known historical facts about her. She accompanied her tutor, Jean-François de La Rocque de Roberval, on his expedition to the New World. Subsequently, she was abandoned (whilst pregnant) on The Isle of Demons in 1541. The reasons are unknown. One can only speculate why Roberval behaved like this. There are only three sources discussing the incident and two of them are works of fiction. They diverge from one another, making it impossible to know the truth of what happened. Marguerite survived against all odds. She spent two years on the island before being saved by a passing ship. Her child did not survive.
Marguerite’s grip on Karolina Ramqvist’s imagination is strong. The impossibility to KNOW for sure is frustrating. The possibilities are endless. After investing so much time researching, knowing the truth would not be enough anyway. It is as if Ramqvist wants to reach through time and space and enter Marguerite’s mind. Feel her feelings, explore the wretched island together. Marguerite is no longer just a symbol, a survivor. She’s a real woman. One that was erased from history by her powerful tutor. Her story is valuable. Through these pages, Karolina Ramqvist humanizes Marguerite. Offers her a voice.
The uniqueness of the book resides in its form. This is not just a biography of Marguerite de la Rocque. It is a memoir too. Karolina Ramqvist is writing about herself whilst researching a long-forgotten woman. Ramqvist’s life, her experience as a mother of three, and her struggles as a writer are closely intertwined with her research on Marguerite. It is a slow burn, rich in reflections. I savoured every page.
Karolina Ramqvist hears the story of Marguerite de la Rocque from a friend. She starts researching her life, trying to piece together what happened to the young woman. Marguerite’s life is shrouded in mystery. There are very few known historical facts about her. She accompanied her tutor, Jean-François de La Rocque de Roberval, on his expedition to the New World. Subsequently, she was abandoned (whilst pregnant) on The Isle of Demons in 1541. The reasons are unknown. One can only speculate why Roberval behaved like this. There are only three sources discussing the incident and two of them are works of fiction. They diverge from one another, making it impossible to know the truth of what happened. Marguerite survived against all odds. She spent two years on the island before being saved by a passing ship. Her child did not survive.
Marguerite’s grip on Karolina Ramqvist’s imagination is strong. The impossibility to KNOW for sure is frustrating. The possibilities are endless. After investing so much time researching, knowing the truth would not be enough anyway. It is as if Ramqvist wants to reach through time and space and enter Marguerite’s mind. Feel her feelings, explore the wretched island together. Marguerite is no longer just a symbol, a survivor. She’s a real woman. One that was erased from history by her powerful tutor. Her story is valuable. Through these pages, Karolina Ramqvist humanizes Marguerite. Offers her a voice.
The uniqueness of the book resides in its form. This is not just a biography of Marguerite de la Rocque. It is a memoir too. Karolina Ramqvist is writing about herself whilst researching a long-forgotten woman. Ramqvist’s life, her experience as a mother of three, and her struggles as a writer are closely intertwined with her research on Marguerite. It is a slow burn, rich in reflections. I savoured every page.