2025 Book Review #41: Burning Marguerite

 

A former teaching colleague of mine recommended this book.  WOW. It's a deep one. Really good. 

Sad, humorous in spots, serious, profound. 

STORY SUMMARY

James Jack Wright wakes up one morning in the deep chill of winter and a snowy one, only to find 94 yr old Marguerite Deo lying dead in the woods outside his cabin. 

He begins to confront the mystery of her death:  why would his "Tante" who watched him grow up and actually took him in at age 4 after his parents drowned, walk out into the frigid winter night? 

What was her life like before she settled on the island off the coast of New England? She spent the beginning of her life in New Orleans during the depression and World War Two. Her life was one of secrets and a horrible crime. 

But her happiest times was spent caring for James Jack and their special bond.  A bond that deepens after the terrible accident that took his parents and changed both of their lives forever. 

What exactly happened to Marguerite in her teen years?? 

And what was her last wish?? 

MY THOUGHTS

This is a powerful look at family. It's an excellent literary work. 

The main themes seem to be: forbidden love, racism, secrets, trauma, mother-child relationships; loyalty, loss, betrayal, murder, forced abortion, love, hatred.  

The story is about how love shapes lives.

But it also shows how hatred and racism shapes lives. 

The story is told in the voice of Marguerite and her memory and also in the voice of James Jack. 

It's a bit stark.....but there's a kind of poetic beauty about this novel as well. 

I loved that it is different from most books I choose from the library.  It was the author's debut novel in 2002.

There seems to be some symbolism between fire and ice as well. 

It's very thought provoking, and left me feeling sad but satisfied if that makes sense. I felt some tension in this book that the ending diffused and then a weight was lifted off my shoulders. It's very deep and profound.

This would make a good novel for an advanced literature class.

I found no editing errors.  I also loved that there were no F bombs or crass language. 

In my opinion, this book is appropriate for ages 17 and older (due to some mature content).

On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, I rate this a 10.