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There are currently 38 member reviews
for The Resurrection of Joan Ashby
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Erin C. (Clawson, MI)
A beautiful debut
A sweeping exploration of the way womanhood is inextricably linked with the philosophy of motherhood. Joan Ashby is beautifully defined both by her choices, and the life that chooses her. With sweepingly poetic prose, and an unconventional format that is a breath of fresh air, I loved every part of this book and would recommend it to any reader, young or old. I feel that it's in the class of books that can be reread over the years, and you'll always find new meaning to appreciate each time you sit back down with it.
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Barbara C. (Fountain Hills, AZ)
Joan Ashby is Resurrected
Joan Ashby is a writer. She has works published to rave reviews. She spends 11 years writing a novel she has copywrited but never publishes. She gets married to a brilliant ocular surgeon. She has son, Eric, who is teenage genius and multimillionaire. She has son, Daniel, who resents the family's fame and talent. Son, Daniel, steals her manuscript and publishes it under his name. Joan discovers the duplicity, decides she really does not want to be wife and mother and absconds to India, where son Eric has escaped civilization. Joan and Eric both find themselves as they immerse into the simplicity and spirituality of India. Joan leaves husband and finds love and happiness with famous, handsome birder. She forgives Daniel. That is the crux of the story, but it does not do justice to the gorgeous writing of Cherise Wolas. Her characterizations are point on without being trite. Her descriptive passages are mesmerizing. For a long, long book of over 500 pages, and dense with ideas, it kept me reading, but not at long intervals. There were too many things to think about in this book. How does fame and genius in family members influence other not-so-brilliant members? Does marriage and motherhood tamp down female aspirations and creativity? Is it selfish to want your own space and time to create without interference of family? The book is rich with Joan's stories-within-the story, which serve to develop her ideas and relationships with the other characters. Probably the book is about 100 pages too long because of the constant reminders of Daniel's traitorous theft,and Joan's need to create, but it is so well written and the language so compelling, I would heartily recommend this book.
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Mary M. (Beverly Hills, FL)
A Marvelous Novel
This is an amazing, marvelous book. I haven't read something so satisfying and that gripped me so thoroughly since "The Goldfinch." Cherise Wolas has given us a complex, intelligent, extraordinary woman in Joan Ashby. She is not easy to wrap your arms around as the book begins. She is unrelentingly single-minded in her resolve to be a writer, and she is a brilliant writer. But she is waylaid by love, by marriage, by children. She sacrifices her writing, her true self, to domesticity, and she does it well. She is a good mother and an good wife. But she eventually begins to retake her own life and talent. Then, everything is upended. It is shocking. How Joan resurrects herself is absolutely wonderful. By the end of the book, I loved her very much.
Throughout the book, Joan's own writing is excerpted. This could be confusing or off-putting to some, but I found that it made me believe in Joan's talent, instead of simply being told she was a genius. Cherise Wolas is superbly talented herself to have done this so perfectly. I loved it.
I would recommend this novel to anyone who appreciates a beautifully written, multi-layered story, the exploration of identity, especially women's identity, and complex characters. It is not an "easy" read, but thoughtful book clubs will have a wonderful time with it.
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Peggy H. (North East, PA)
Couldn't Put It Down!
Yes, I agree..the beginning is a bit confusing, until you realize that it is really samples of the literary writing of the main character. But then you follow her though her struggles with wanting to write...and not planning to fall in love or have children...but does both..to the detriment of her writing.
It's a fine rendering of every woman's struggle of having to choose..because you can't do it all. And then you have to live with your choices. Great thoughtful read!
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Nancy L. (Staunton, VA)
A Story Within a Story
"The Resurrection of Joan Ashby" by Cherise Wolas is amazing. It follows the life of acclaimed young writer, Joan Ashby as she falls in love, marries, and raises two sons, all the while struggling to find a space in her busy life for her writing, the lifeblood of her existence. But the story isn't as straightforward as it sounds. Wolas executes such clever plotting. Much like Russian nesting dolls, she packs stories within stories within stories. I was completely intrigued and found it very hard to put down. "The Resurrection of Joan Ashby " is remarkable, and despite its length (531 pages), it kept me engrossed until the very end. Indeed, I wanted more. I wanted to follow these characters into their next stories.
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Bink W. (Sopchoppy, FL)
complex and interesting
Best book I've read in quite a while. Great characters and sense of place throughout. Circulating my copy to my book club, who are often reluctant to read the longer books.
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Gwen C. (Clearfield, PA)
Te Resurrection of Joan Ashby
Wow! And double wow! This book made everything else I've read lately seem simplistic, dull, unimaginable and shallow. Just as Joan's husband quizzed her as to HOW she could create what she did, I found myself asking the same of the author. Simply the most worthy book of this year! The tantalizing story snippets within the story have stand alone power. Kudos to Wolas. Book clubs can wallow in these pages - so much to explore!
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