Many of the memories of important people in my life are tied to the specific gestures that they make. My best friend in high school would tenderly flutter her open palm over her chest when words were not enough to express her deepest emotions. I wonder if she knows she does it or how much I loved seeing her make that expression. I never told her that I found it endearing. In 2005, a dear friend and co-worker at Barnes and Noble made a similar hand over heart gesture when she described De Los Santos's first novel. Even though I didn't pursue Love Walked In at that time, I remembered Barbara's gesture. Years later when I saw the advanced reader copy of Belong to Me I quickly seized it in eager anticipation.
From the book jacket: "A devoted city dweller, Cornelia Brown surprised no one more than herself when she was gripped by the sudden, inescapable desire to leave urban life behind and head for an idyllic suburb. Though she knows she and her beloved husband, Teo, have made the right move, she approaches her new life with trepidation and struggles to forge friendships in her new home. Cornelia's mettle is quickly tested by judgmental neighbor Piper Truitt. Perfectly manicured, impeccably dressed, and possessing impossible standards, Piper is the embodiment of everything Cornelia feared she would find in suburbia. A saving grace soon appears in the form of Lake. Over a shared love of literature and old movies, Cornelia develops an instant bond with this warm yet elusive woman who has also recently arrived in town, ostensibly to send her perceptive and brilliant son, Dev, to a school for the gifted."
My review: So, let me in the sincerest way I know, hand over heart, express to you how much I adore Marissa De Los Santos's book Belong to Me. Full of people who love one each other, this book is surprisingly thoughtful, big-hearted, and kind; even her antagonists are sympathetic. This story deals with topics that my friends and I are now contending--namely having children, settling into our careers, and buying homes.
De Los Santos earned her PhD in literature and creative writing. Her poetry background, she has won several awards for her poetry, has translated beautifully making her book amazingly lyrical. While reading you are going to want to re-read and savor many of her phrases.
In a video interview, De Los Santos revealed that she likes to write characters who are more courageous than she is. She went on to explain that the Cornelia Brown, the protagonist of Belong To Me, makes a decision at the end of the book that she, Marissa, didn't know if she could make were she faced with the same circumstance. You will find no white knights slaying dragons in this book. Instead the courage needed is in the emotional realm. Ever since, I too have wanted to write characters who are more courageous than I am.
Love Walked In is actually De Los Santos's first book featuring Cornelia Brown. But have no fear, dear reader, you do not need to read them in order. Both books can be read separately.
I don't want to oversell this book, because I don't want you to have too high expectations. So I am going to end my review now. You can find the first chapter of Belong to Me here.
From the book jacket: "A devoted city dweller, Cornelia Brown surprised no one more than herself when she was gripped by the sudden, inescapable desire to leave urban life behind and head for an idyllic suburb. Though she knows she and her beloved husband, Teo, have made the right move, she approaches her new life with trepidation and struggles to forge friendships in her new home. Cornelia's mettle is quickly tested by judgmental neighbor Piper Truitt. Perfectly manicured, impeccably dressed, and possessing impossible standards, Piper is the embodiment of everything Cornelia feared she would find in suburbia. A saving grace soon appears in the form of Lake. Over a shared love of literature and old movies, Cornelia develops an instant bond with this warm yet elusive woman who has also recently arrived in town, ostensibly to send her perceptive and brilliant son, Dev, to a school for the gifted."
My review: So, let me in the sincerest way I know, hand over heart, express to you how much I adore Marissa De Los Santos's book Belong to Me. Full of people who love one each other, this book is surprisingly thoughtful, big-hearted, and kind; even her antagonists are sympathetic. This story deals with topics that my friends and I are now contending--namely having children, settling into our careers, and buying homes.
De Los Santos earned her PhD in literature and creative writing. Her poetry background, she has won several awards for her poetry, has translated beautifully making her book amazingly lyrical. While reading you are going to want to re-read and savor many of her phrases.
In a video interview, De Los Santos revealed that she likes to write characters who are more courageous than she is. She went on to explain that the Cornelia Brown, the protagonist of Belong To Me, makes a decision at the end of the book that she, Marissa, didn't know if she could make were she faced with the same circumstance. You will find no white knights slaying dragons in this book. Instead the courage needed is in the emotional realm. Ever since, I too have wanted to write characters who are more courageous than I am.
Love Walked In is actually De Los Santos's first book featuring Cornelia Brown. But have no fear, dear reader, you do not need to read them in order. Both books can be read separately.
I don't want to oversell this book, because I don't want you to have too high expectations. So I am going to end my review now. You can find the first chapter of Belong to Me here.
0 comments:
Post a Comment