The White Mary has an intriguing premise. The main character, Marika Vecera, returns to her home in Boston after a hellish journalistic assignment in the Congo. Unable to get past her experiences there, Marika has withdrawn, pulling away from her boyfriend Seb when he tries to explain to her that talking about what happened would only be beneficial to her and to them as a couple. Marika has always been able to internalize her feelings and to detach herself mentally from what's she's seen during her career, and doesn't want help from anyone, especially from Seb. But when she discovers that her iconic idol, Robert Lewis, Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist, has committed suicide, Marika decides that she wants to write a book about Lewis. While she is gathering information and writing, she discovers that a missionary working in the wilds of Papua New Guinea has seen a man that he swears is Lewis and decides that she needs to go in search of him.
For me, the best parts of the book were the scenes of Marika's time in New Guinea -- in the journey through the wilds and in the villages of the local natives. The scenes in the Congo and the story of Lewis in East Timor were raw and gritty, and very much worth the read. As far as characters, my favorite was Tobo, Marika's guide and the shaman of a local village in New Guinea. Salak's portrayal of Newlove, the missionary was also well done, even though he was a totally unlikeable character. The main characters were all a bit larger than life and I wasn't really impressed with any of them. Seb didn't come off as realistic (a bit too good to be true), and Marika's psychological issues made her at times not very likeable and I never really came away with the feeling that I'd bonded with her as a person. The dialogue was often stilted and unrealistic, especially between Marika and Seb. But Salak's novel tackles some important issues: how far can a person internalize pain and suffering without losing himself or herself, and at what point does one accept that sometimes no matter what you do, there's nothing you can do.
I liked the book, didn't love it, but the writing was overall quite good, so much so that I'm planning to pick up some of Salak's nonfiction works. It's hard to believe that this is her first novel, and although this book was kind of overdramatic for me, it has received rave reviews elsewhere so it's something you'll just have to read it and judge for yourself.
For me, the best parts of the book were the scenes of Marika's time in New Guinea -- in the journey through the wilds and in the villages of the local natives. The scenes in the Congo and the story of Lewis in East Timor were raw and gritty, and very much worth the read. As far as characters, my favorite was Tobo, Marika's guide and the shaman of a local village in New Guinea. Salak's portrayal of Newlove, the missionary was also well done, even though he was a totally unlikeable character. The main characters were all a bit larger than life and I wasn't really impressed with any of them. Seb didn't come off as realistic (a bit too good to be true), and Marika's psychological issues made her at times not very likeable and I never really came away with the feeling that I'd bonded with her as a person. The dialogue was often stilted and unrealistic, especially between Marika and Seb. But Salak's novel tackles some important issues: how far can a person internalize pain and suffering without losing himself or herself, and at what point does one accept that sometimes no matter what you do, there's nothing you can do.
I liked the book, didn't love it, but the writing was overall quite good, so much so that I'm planning to pick up some of Salak's nonfiction works. It's hard to believe that this is her first novel, and although this book was kind of overdramatic for me, it has received rave reviews elsewhere so it's something you'll just have to read it and judge for yourself.
I was surprised by this book.
You can almost feel the heat, humidity and the bugs of Papua New Guinea. Very descriptive.
It also goes into great detail about the horrors that men can do to one another. It opened my eyes to the human pain and suffering some people have to go through
You can almost feel the heat, humidity and the bugs of Papua New Guinea. Very descriptive.
It also goes into great detail about the horrors that men can do to one another. It opened my eyes to the human pain and suffering some people have to go through
âThe White Maryâ is the story of Marika and her search to find reporter Robert Lewis. On her search to find Robert Lewis, she finds herself. Marika is a war correspondent and has been to many dangerous places to report people's stories.
The narration style of âThe White Maryâ is one that alternates between the past and the present. As we watch Marika traverse Papua New Guinea in search of Robert Lewis, we also learn about what she left behind in order to find Robert Lewis, the reporter who indirectly became Marika's âmentorâ.
The imagery of âThe White Maryâ is amazing. It actually felt a bit as if I were in PNG. But, she did such a good job of describing life while traversing PNG, that I don't know if I am dying to go or if I should never go there as long as I live. However, it does go into very graphic descriptions of events. It made it rather difficult.
I can't really recommend âThe White Maryâ not just because I didn't like it. But I'm not recommending that you read it because the resolution had nothing to do with the rest of the novel. It felt as if Salak needed to finish the book fast, so she wrote the last chapter without really considering that it had nothing to do with the rest of the book.
Read more and post your own comments at www.carriesclassics.com
The narration style of âThe White Maryâ is one that alternates between the past and the present. As we watch Marika traverse Papua New Guinea in search of Robert Lewis, we also learn about what she left behind in order to find Robert Lewis, the reporter who indirectly became Marika's âmentorâ.
The imagery of âThe White Maryâ is amazing. It actually felt a bit as if I were in PNG. But, she did such a good job of describing life while traversing PNG, that I don't know if I am dying to go or if I should never go there as long as I live. However, it does go into very graphic descriptions of events. It made it rather difficult.
I can't really recommend âThe White Maryâ not just because I didn't like it. But I'm not recommending that you read it because the resolution had nothing to do with the rest of the novel. It felt as if Salak needed to finish the book fast, so she wrote the last chapter without really considering that it had nothing to do with the rest of the book.
Read more and post your own comments at www.carriesclassics.com
Clearly, this writer is well-traveled and an astoundingly good researcher. The amount of detail about the Papua New Guinea jungles made me feel like I was stomping through, right along with her. Her descriptions of malaria, leeches, and amoebic dysentery both amazed and repulsed me. It is evident that she's a travel writer with a love for dangerous and exotic locales; even the horrible depictions of some of the residents of these areas (The Congo, in particular) nonetheless display a deep love and affection for them. She immensely values other cultures, regardless of their irrational and superstitious ways. Salak explains the validity of their beliefs in such a way that I couldn't help thinking, "Oh. Well, if it works for them" (Had she mentioned anything about women's oppression or abuse within the tribe, I would have jumped all over that).
This novel had the feel of a female version of Conrad's Heart of Darkness: Mistah Lewis, he dead, indeed. However, unlike my exhausting experience with Conrad's book, The White Mary kept my interest (at least the current story). I didn't care for the Seb storyline, felt like he was a flat character, and ultimately thought Marika was a complete whore, but the jungle scenes made up for it.
I had a difficult time relating to Marika; she is unlike me in nearly every way. I never understood why she felt the way she did about risky trips to hazardous third-world countries. The author didn't offer an sufficient explanation Marika's motivations.
I did like the ending and her relationship with Tobo, her "humbug" guide; the growing connection with him in the book made it endearing to me. I ended up liking him best of all.
This novel had the feel of a female version of Conrad's Heart of Darkness: Mistah Lewis, he dead, indeed. However, unlike my exhausting experience with Conrad's book, The White Mary kept my interest (at least the current story). I didn't care for the Seb storyline, felt like he was a flat character, and ultimately thought Marika was a complete whore, but the jungle scenes made up for it.
I had a difficult time relating to Marika; she is unlike me in nearly every way. I never understood why she felt the way she did about risky trips to hazardous third-world countries. The author didn't offer an sufficient explanation Marika's motivations.
I did like the ending and her relationship with Tobo, her "humbug" guide; the growing connection with him in the book made it endearing to me. I ended up liking him best of all.
Being primarily a nonfiction reader, I wasn't sure The White Mary would pass muster. What I found out is that this book is extremely hard to pin down to one genre. It's a work of fiction, yes, but the author's own voice and experiences shine through just enough to make one wonder how much is autobiographical.
The main character, Marika, sets out on a journey to find her presumed dead hero. Travel and adventure are a large part of this book. We're taken to places as disparate as Africa and Missouri, Boston and Papua New Guinea
There are elements of suspense, psychological and physical, as perspective shifts to Marika's past, her relationships and her work as a wartime journalist. Back in the present, she is barefoot in Papua New Guinea not sure she can bare to take another step towards who (or is it what) she is searching for.
There is romance as well. Nothing sappy, but a growing relationship with a psychologist, Seb, that is as hard for Marika to traverse as some of the assignments she's taken in remote war zones. At times he can be too understanding, too needy. Almost at once he seems to forget that he has gotten involved with an adventuresome woman.
Were I a bookstore employee I would have a hard time figuring out where to shelve The White Mary. And that's a very good thing. There is no formulaic plot here, no tired genre cliches. What there is, is an easy flow back and forth through a woman's life and passions - journalism, danger, her literary hero.
The main character, Marika, sets out on a journey to find her presumed dead hero. Travel and adventure are a large part of this book. We're taken to places as disparate as Africa and Missouri, Boston and Papua New Guinea
There are elements of suspense, psychological and physical, as perspective shifts to Marika's past, her relationships and her work as a wartime journalist. Back in the present, she is barefoot in Papua New Guinea not sure she can bare to take another step towards who (or is it what) she is searching for.
There is romance as well. Nothing sappy, but a growing relationship with a psychologist, Seb, that is as hard for Marika to traverse as some of the assignments she's taken in remote war zones. At times he can be too understanding, too needy. Almost at once he seems to forget that he has gotten involved with an adventuresome woman.
Were I a bookstore employee I would have a hard time figuring out where to shelve The White Mary. And that's a very good thing. There is no formulaic plot here, no tired genre cliches. What there is, is an easy flow back and forth through a woman's life and passions - journalism, danger, her literary hero.
