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A review by abrittlebee
I Am Margaret Moore by Hannah Capin
5.0
By all rights I should hate this book. It is surreal and fragmented; stream of consciousness and filled with characters that do stupid things. But that’s the thing about a really good book. A really good book will find a way, no matter its style or genre, to grab you by the throat and make you want more. I am Margaret Moore is a chaotic and lyrical masterpiece, with language like broken paint chips of beautiful colour. It is painful and haunting, but it screams to every part of growing up a girl, and learning the world isn’t fair and love might not always be worth it, but loyalty is.
I am getting ahead of myself.
The first thing that struck me about this novel was how beautiful the writing is. It is over 300 pages, but I felt none of that because the words Capin spun drew me onward. I finished this in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down. Among that beauty is pain and mystery. Who is Margaret Moore, and who are these girls that are so connected to her? What did they do and what was done to them? As time lines fracture and the narrative moves from past to present to past over and over again, Margaret guides you through. She tells you as she remembers it, and that is probably what makes her confessions so captivating.
I know I haven’t told you much. It is difficult to mention the plot, the characters, any of it without betraying the secrets of this book. It is an experience, and one I highly recommend, though it will probably leave you sobbing by the end.
To speak plainly, this is the easiest 5 stars I have given out so far this year.
I am getting ahead of myself.
The first thing that struck me about this novel was how beautiful the writing is. It is over 300 pages, but I felt none of that because the words Capin spun drew me onward. I finished this in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down. Among that beauty is pain and mystery. Who is Margaret Moore, and who are these girls that are so connected to her? What did they do and what was done to them? As time lines fracture and the narrative moves from past to present to past over and over again, Margaret guides you through. She tells you as she remembers it, and that is probably what makes her confessions so captivating.
I know I haven’t told you much. It is difficult to mention the plot, the characters, any of it without betraying the secrets of this book. It is an experience, and one I highly recommend, though it will probably leave you sobbing by the end.
To speak plainly, this is the easiest 5 stars I have given out so far this year.