A novel by Jane Smiley
By Rachel Sammons
Jane Smiley’s Pulitzer-award-winning novelty thrives with
betrayal, tragedy, and unalterable fractures within a seemingly-united
family. Set in a vast Iowa countrytown,
a passive character named Ginny narrates her story with a subtle yet absolutely
present tone of innocence. Smiley uses
this guiltless voice and bias insight to portray an innocent side of the family
in contrast to the setup of Shakespear’s King
Lear. In a nutshell, King Lear features a selfish set of
family relatives versus their mistreated
set of family relatives; while Smiley shows just the same only flip-flopped to
reveal a misunderstood angle of the picture.
Ginny and her sister, Rose, would essentially be related to the vain
Shakespearean characters who betray their father but, in A Thousand Acres, the two women are viewed as blameless to the ways
they react to their hostile, unfairly dominating, and strongly opinionated
father. However, Smiley’s subplots and
ongoing themes of constant consuming and false reality expand the story to a
far more different level of perspective.
A Thousand Acres
revolves around a family crisis so intense that one could almost view the story
as belonging in a soap opera; however, instead of a sappy tale with little
impact, the motives and tensions within Smiley’s novel are fueled by actual
concrete reasons and a shocking backstory.
The most intriguing element of the book is the hazardous development of
almost every apsect: relationships, home, and most importantly, the people. Smiley achieves a consistent style of voice
for Ginny, however the narrator gradually elaborates into a person forced to
abandon her instintively submissive responses and deal with the family issues
that have errupted. A Thousand Acres demonstrates Smiley’s technique for revealing a
side of the family who is unfailry judged and rejected by the remaining
relatives and even the society. However,
Ginny is still an unreliable narrator which provokes debate by the perceptive
readers over the absolute innocence of the mindset shared by her and her side
of the family. This controvery
wonderfully adds to the novel’s theme of illusion and readers of A Thousand Acres will definitely be
picking different sides depending on their own opinions.
By the novel’s end, it’s clear how very few characters turn
out as innocent as assumed. With juicy
affairs, family relationships, and a bittersweet conclusion—this book is candy
for literary devotees. Even those who
struggle through Ginny’s laborious monologues detailing how to run a farm can
experience the engaging effect Smiley creates through her story of a flawed
family feud. A-
5 comments:
I loved how in depth this review is and how you relate it to King Lear and show the differences. My favorite part is when you said "in the nutshell" :) good job
If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were already a professional book reviewer. The review seems flawless in the way it was designed, and while it contained some spelling errors, we're all human. The explanation of the plot and Ginny was accomplished along with the stimulation of interest in the reader (it did with me anyway). The review was well organized and easy to follow.
I very much enjoyed reading your review, it was entertaining, while at the same time accurate in the comparison of the two works, you did a great job
Wow Rachel. You really have a way with words. It's as if you have been reviewing books for a long time. You really dug deep into the novel. Good job!
Rachel,
I hope you pursue writing; you are a thoughtful and nimble reviewer. I would have loved to hear your opinion of the novel further up because I love your statement toward the end: "With juicy affairs, family relationships, and a bittersweet conclusion...". Great points about Smiley's technique for painting a portrait of a family in crisis. Really nice job and thanks for sharing!
- Mrs. Jaffe
Post a Comment