I think Jane Hamilton tried to hard and too often to tie in the title of her book into the story itself. Or maybe it was just glaringly obvious for me since the book I was reading had penciled notes all over and various sentences and passages underlined. You wrote it in pencil! The least you could do is erase it!I'm sorry... *deep breath*I genuinely liked the book... most of it at least. There were a few spots where it felt like the characters became a little too introspective, which is irritating when you want to get back to the "action." I wanted to know what was happening with the court case, and how Alice was doing in the prison, things more along those lines. Not Howard's thoughts on his milking cows... at times it didn't even tie well into the story and was just floating off there by itself.What I did love was the content resolution. It's not all together happy, which would sort of ruin the realistic quality of the novel. But it was a neat and satisfying ending. Something which was lacking in a few of the books I recently read. Possibly because Hamilton knew if she didn't give the reader the solution to the problem, it would make the book an annoying and unworthwhile read. She could have easily written off the ending easily, and earlier, telling you how the case ends and leaving it at that. But I was happy she didn't, because after focusing so much on the Goodwin's lives before and during the trial, you need to know what happens to them after the trial.Another thing that struck me as extremely interesting, yet may be considered a spoiler in this reflection, was the use of a female as the accused sexual abuser. Sexual abuse is not rare in society today, quite the opposite, but usually it falls on to men. So why does Hamilton choose to make Alice Goodwin our accused? Perhaps it's so the reader automatically sides with her, disbelieving that a woman, a mother, could do things so horrible. We probably wouldn't have even had to get to know Alice at all and would still side with her. Yet, Hamilton does set up the first 3rd of the story so we know Alice, the way she thinks, and the way she reacts.It's unfortunate that it was the middle of the novel that had to drag so much, only bumping up at a few moments. If it weren't for the middle of the novel I would have given it a high B or even an A. But it was that long, lengthy, and introspective middle that brought the novel down so much. It happens to many authors though, trying to beef up the middle of their story that lacks so much, but I think Hamilton used fluff instead of something of substance.It would be interesting to come back later and re-read the novel, especially if Hamilton chooses to revise it, and hopefully focuses most of her attention on the center of the story.So many authors think they need to have an extremely lengthy novel, or at least one of 300+ pages, but that simply isn't true. If you are an aspiring author, know that it doesn't matter the quantity... but the quality. Why do I always soapbox at the end of my reviews? *sigh* Oh, well, happy reading.
Several years ago I noticed a copy of Jane Hamilton's A Map of the World and stuffed it into my bulging bag to purchase. I recognized it as having been a big seller and remembered hearing of Hamilton as a wonderful literary writer. Then the book sat on my shelf until recently when I had time between review books to explore a little. I hadn't noticed it was also an Oprah pick or I might not have bought it to begin with. I haven't had much luck with her book club choices.As I opened the cover a couple weeks ago, I discovered a previous reader had left a post-it note: "An awful lot of introspective and retrospective in the beginning. Heats up a bit when trial and jail episodes are told." It was signed with the reader's initials. If that note hadn't been there, I think I would have given up on the story before I had gotten very far, but thanks to it I persevered. To say I liked A Map of the World would be going too far. However, the story with all that introspection and retrospection made me think. I did get involved with the characters and the concept of how we have a tenuous grasp at best on our own lives, and in the blink of an eye it can all come spiraling out of control. A farm couple, Howard and Alice, struggling to make their living and working hard have two small daughters. They are friends with a couple who also have two daughters and one day while all four girls are at the farm, the friends' youngest daughter wanders away and drowns in their pond. Alice has a breakdown.Alice has been working part-time as the elementary school nurse. A boy she dislikes who has been abused at home makes some accusations out of spite, and now the whole world has gone crazy in Alice's mind. Meanwhile, sensible, calm Howard can't seem to make sense of the world either.This is no happily-ever-after story. In fact, I found it depressing reading at a time when I should have been reading cheerful stories. It's definitely food for thought though and I'm not sorry I stuck with it to the end. The quality of Hamilton's writing cannot be denied and I think my literary education is better for having read this book.
What do You think about A Map Of The World (1999)?
Alice and Howard live on the last family run dairy farm in Prairie Center, WI. Though the cookie cutter subdivisions are fast encroaching, the couple is content in raising their daughters in peace. Only Alice feels the watchful, judgmental stares of the townspeople. The book begins from Alice’s point of view. She is self conscious, always questioning her ability, her patience, and her will to be a mother. About 50 pages in her best friend’ daughter drowns in her pond under Alice’s supervision. What would normally be the main conflict of a story, here is just the beginning. It’s a spark that starts something oddly more traumatic than the death of a 2 year old girl. This is an engaging lesson on how misplaced guilt can destroy innocents, of how families can change over the course of suffering, of how the guilty are not always guilty, the innocent not always innocent, and about the long road of forgiveness. tFlipping between perspectives of Alice and Howard, Hamilton creates a couple who are deeply connected, dependent on each other, in Love even, and yet unable to share their feelings and on the brink of loosing their marriage. After reading a slew of romance novels, their relationship seemed painfully realistic.
—Anna
I suspect it may not survive the test of time that would call it literature, but it is a compelling read. It is told in the first person in three parts; first by Alice, then by her husband Howard, and then again by Alice. It is a story told from memory. I once thought that memory was naturally coupled with understanding – with perspective. I have found that not to be the case. Despite the distance I can’t say now I have a clear sense of what happened last summer. I don’t know, either, if you can compare one thing to another, if a specific thing is actually like any other thing. The summer had been a test of some sort. The Library of Congress catalogs it with several fiction descriptions: Dairy Farms-Middle WestFarm Life- Middle WestChildren-DeathDrowningThe drowning of a child happens in the first 20 pages, so that is not a spoiler. It is not the saddest story I have ever read, but most of it ranks somewhere in the upper part of such a list.I have read Jane Hamilton before with her The Book of Ruth, but it was too many years ago that I don’t recall enough about it to know whether it was also filled with sadness. I sort of think it was. What I remember is that I was more than willing to read her again, and I can say that again now. Perhaps not soon, though.
—Elizabeth (Alaska)
I finished this book only becuase I had started it. I am not going to pass this on to anyone as I would not recommend it.Although I liked the story I did not like the writing style. I found the narrative wordy and found myself skipping over paragraphs that didn't advance the story. Also, the story was a bit harsh - the people on the subdivision were made out to be mindless drones, "everyone" was against Alice - too black and white.When I finished the book I read the paragraph about the author and wasn't surprised to see that it is from the same author as The Book of Ruth - another book I didn't care for. I have to stop picking up books just because they have Oprah's Book Club writtin on the cover.
—Julie
