The Disappearance of Irene Dos Santos by Margaret Mascarenhas | Fiction | DONNE TEMPO
The Disappearance of Irene Dos Santos by Margaret Mascarenhas
June/19/09 10:16 PM Filed in: Fiction
Review by Cecie O’Bryon
England
There is no photo of the author in this printing of the book The Disappearance of Irene Dos Santos by Margaret Mascarenhas (Hachette Books; Isbn 978-0-446-54110-7).
Mascarenhas, is “An American citizen of Goan origin who grew up in Venezuela” and who currently resides in Goa. India.
It is a question in my mind, because not only do I like to put a face to the names of the authors I read, but, this in this
novel
inhabits the psyche- and with specific
descriptions of mentalities, politics, races,
religions and histories - of a variety of
Venezuelans in such a way as to clarify
populations with deft characterizations of
seemingly clear characters.
In most novels a surprise ending seems like a speedy exit- or a tricky re-interpretation of the truth as the reader has come to know it. Does the reader re-read? Or accept the clever twist that allows the ending?
In this novel the stories that make up the eight primary books of the novel are as independent as short stories. The connections between the characters weave the tale more tightly and yet, even as a devoted fan of the character based novel I can accept the final challenge as part of the story without doubting the whole.
This is the beauty of Mascarenhas’ novel.
It is the magic realism that pervades the unfolding tale, regressing through history to fill out the past lives of the vibrant characters, Lily- the pregnant wife suffering from childhood trauma, Luz, her jealous compatriot, Ishmael, her freedom singing father, Consuelo, her magically captivating mother, Ephraim, the engaging boy prophet, and a host of other deepening relationships that flesh out the life of Lily’s birth story.
As an appreciator of magical realism and its brilliant proponents such as Amy Tan and Isabel Allende The Disappearance of Irene dos Santos calls forth ardent love for the magic in our daily lives, and thankfully in my reading material.
The history embedded in the novel is engaging and titillating. The characters are self-sustaining and true. The story itself is captivating. What better choice can there be for entertaining reading?
Margaret Mascarenhas is a new voice to look for. I can’t wait to see what her next project brings.
There is no photo of the author in this printing of the book The Disappearance of Irene Dos Santos by Margaret Mascarenhas (Hachette Books; Isbn 978-0-446-54110-7).
Mascarenhas, is “An American citizen of Goan origin who grew up in Venezuela” and who currently resides in Goa. India.
It is a question in my mind, because not only do I like to put a face to the names of the authors I read, but, this in this
In most novels a surprise ending seems like a speedy exit- or a tricky re-interpretation of the truth as the reader has come to know it. Does the reader re-read? Or accept the clever twist that allows the ending?
In this novel the stories that make up the eight primary books of the novel are as independent as short stories. The connections between the characters weave the tale more tightly and yet, even as a devoted fan of the character based novel I can accept the final challenge as part of the story without doubting the whole.
This is the beauty of Mascarenhas’ novel.
It is the magic realism that pervades the unfolding tale, regressing through history to fill out the past lives of the vibrant characters, Lily- the pregnant wife suffering from childhood trauma, Luz, her jealous compatriot, Ishmael, her freedom singing father, Consuelo, her magically captivating mother, Ephraim, the engaging boy prophet, and a host of other deepening relationships that flesh out the life of Lily’s birth story.
As an appreciator of magical realism and its brilliant proponents such as Amy Tan and Isabel Allende The Disappearance of Irene dos Santos calls forth ardent love for the magic in our daily lives, and thankfully in my reading material.
The history embedded in the novel is engaging and titillating. The characters are self-sustaining and true. The story itself is captivating. What better choice can there be for entertaining reading?
Margaret Mascarenhas is a new voice to look for. I can’t wait to see what her next project brings.