Review: Mariana by Monica Dickens.

I am glad that I found that "used" copy of Mariana by Monica Dickens sitting on the shelf. And I am even more glad that I brought it home with me.

My very first Persephone experience has shown me that I must get my hands on more of these lovely books. Mariana has been a wonderful first read for me, and perhaps it is the novel that has finally pulled me from my reading slump.

In Mariana, we are introduced to Mary, a young woman who is alone and awaiting news of her husband who is away in war. While she waits, Mary begins remembering moments of her childhood. We are first taken back to when she is eight, and traveling with her mother to her grandparents' house in the country. We learn that her father died in the Great War, which has affected her deeper than she lets on.

Gradually we are introduced to the other members of her family-given small glimpses of who they are and what they strive to be. Some instances made me chuckle (like the play the kids perform) and others took my breath away.

Her memories continue forward to the other experiences that have shaped her life-different jobs and relationships. Some of these are positive, but there are bad experiences as well. All of them shape her and turn her into the person she is when we first met her.

I loved this novel. So much that I really want to dive back in and explore more in the person that Mary becomes. Monica Dickens is a marvelous writer, weaving in humor and delicacy to Mary's story. One of my favorite pieces is the following:

"She had a feeling of calmness, almost of dignity, that she had never had when she was not alone. With other people one was only an unconsidered fragment of the company; alone, one was a complete entity by oneself," (72).

I love the depth of passion that weaves beneath all the small stories of Mary's life, that leads ultimately to the climax. Monica Dickens achieved this supremely and has left me feeling that she is the Dickens I should have been reading all along. I will most definitely be reading more of her work, when I can find it, in the future.

As to the whole Persephone experience? As this was my first novel published by them, and I had such a high opinion of it when I finished it, I have to say that I cannot wait to get my hands on more of their titles. If all of their books are as beautifully written and as elegant as this one, then I will have many more happy reading experiences.

Persephone Reading Weekend and Mariana by Monica Dickens.

In case you haven't heard the buzz, this weekend is the Persephone Reading Weekend. Persephone books is a small UK based publisher that focuses on publishing out-of-print titles, little known women authors, and all kinds of delights from the 20th century.

You can find more information about the books they publish and all that good stuff at their website.

This is the very first time I read a Persephone title and I am extremely excited about. Reading through the books they have published, there are a great deal that I would absolutely love to get my hands on. The best part is that many of these titles are considered classics, so while I am again straying from my project list, I don't feel quite so guilty about it like I did last weekend.

I found my very first Persephone title a few months ago when I was scanning the shelves in the used section of my local bookstore. As soon as I saw the title, I knew it was a Persephone and I snatched it up. Sure enough, it was one of the paperback editions of one of their titles. It had a used price sticker on it, but it looked like whoever owned it before had never even opened it. It was a great steal, so I snatched it up and brought it home with me.

I am so glad that I did. The title I own is Mariana by Monica Dickens. She is the great-granddaughter of my arch-nemesis, Mr. Charles. And while I am not finished read this great little book, I am in love with it. I love her writing and the ease of the words across the page.

The plan for today is to finish the title, so I can gush here with all of you who have already read this one.

And, for those of you unfamiliar with this whole project, you need to and see all the goods things happening. Here is where you can find more information about what is going on this weekend: Paperback Reader and CardiganGirlVerity.

I'm going to go read. :)