Marie Mutsuki Mockett's first novel covers a lot of territory. A literary work with speculative elements, Mockett's debut represents a keen investigation on the complexities of identity.The narrative spans three generations of women; its settings vary--from Japan to Europe and America. By spanning the globe, the narrative engages cultural traditions and the uncertainty of "place" in foreign locales as a means of investigating connection.
And the connection that is most clear and vital to the story here is that bond between a mother and a daughter.
Mockett's assured prose--active, lively and fluid--makes this a quick read, but the lessons and insights on the complexities of what it means to be a part of something larger (a culture, a generation and, ultimately, a family) are always sharp and accessible.
A very strong debut and a recommended read. Mockett maintains a web journal here...
2 comments:
Hey look! You read my book! This is so very kind of you and I'm so happy to read your thoughts. I'm glad something resonated with you and very happy to finally hear someone refer to my book as containing "speculative" elements, which of course it did. Thank you again!
Thanks for dropping by, Marie.
The book was excellent, and I've enjoyed your blog as well. And I do think it's odd that many mainstream literary critics shy away from using that adjective in how they look at fiction. The simple fact is that much of the best storytelling out there--period--contains strong speculative narrative elements.
Take care, and good writing days to you in 2010!
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