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There are currently 27 member reviews
for Hieroglyphics
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Janice P. (South Woodstock, VT)
Palimpsest
"Palimpsest" might be a better title for this novel which alternates between four characters retrieving their memories at different points in time: some are recent, some buried, some "reread" in light of new experiences. Two of the characters, Frank and Lil, are a longtime married couple from Boston who have recently moved to the small town in North Carolina where Frank spent part of his childhood. A retired professor of archaeology, Frank wants to retrieve relics and dig up memories of that time, which followed the death of his father in a horrific train accident. Lil meanwhile is wading through boxes of keepsakes and journals she has kept throughout her life, sorting them to pass on to their children, as at intervals she revisits her own childhood loss, the death of her mother in the Coconut Grove nightclub fire. Their early experience of tragedy brought Frank and Lil together in their youth, but now the lingering impacts of those memories in different ways shadow an otherwise happy marriage. Shelley is a young single mother remembering her troubled childhood and failed relationships, while trying to cope with an imaginative and challenging son, Harvey. The two live in Frank's childhood home. At the close, we find out how these two families are connected, in a way that suggests how we all misread the "hieroglyphics" of each other's lives, even those closest to us.
Much as I admire the author's craft in capturing the flow of consciousness in distinctively different characters, moving between present and different layers of the past, I found it a hard story to sink into; with conflicts largely buried, and so many shifts back and forth in time and between characters, I missed a unifying narrative thread to propel the action. There's much insight and feeling here, but the drama is all offstage.
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Richard B. (Caledonia, MI)
Connecting Trust and Understanding
The past should usefully inform the present but all memory, more often reimagined memory, should be handled as if fragile. The novel is all about the fragility and foibles of human connection and disconnection. McCorkle shows delicate sensibilities with her subject matter.
She reveals how trauma can shred trust, with far-reaching consequence. The author deftly employs a variety of forms showing our (often strangled) attempts to better understand ourselves and others, to better trust and be trusted, to be better loved and appreciated.
A myriad of collected objects, recalled events, and reimagined memories evoke sensory overload, at first, but together they become useful triggers to stir up the sediments in the reader's own past.
I liked the flux of unresolved tensions stretched among good and bad memories, as nuanced in each of the principals. I also liked the author's treatment of personal bonds and relationships developed, broken, then repaired and remolded when they were better understood.
The metaphor of home, where life is secure and firm, is invoked in a number of ways. All roads lead home, as voiced by one of the mothers, might not be a truism … but it is appropriate to consider: what if "going back home" is a real and realistic human desire. What if we understand ourselves better when we are authentically connected through the trust of loving home and family.
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Marilyn, L.D. Fargo Public Library, Lake Mills, WI
Hieroglyphics by Jill McCorkle
I enjoyed this story which I think would appeal especially to those 'of a certain age'. Two of the central characters are nearing the end of their lives, and there are references to events that might not be relatable to a younger audience. I found the jumping back and forth to be a bit confusing but it was intriguing to follow the story lines as the main characters looked back on their lives.
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Ariel F. (Madison, WI)
Is the past every really what we thought it was?
It was difficult for me to get into Hieroglyphics. I put the book down several times before I finished reading it. It's the story of a retired couple that moved from the North East to North Carolina to be closer to their daughter. They appear to feel that a part of their respective lives are missing. Frank, the husband, wants to search for his childhood home for memories.He finds it with a single woman living there. Lil, the wife, spends her days keeping notes on her daughter and thinking about old times.
I would recommend this book for book club. I feel that it would provide lively discussions. Topics covered could include loss, love, reminiscing.
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Sharon J. (Raleigh, NC)
Hieroglyphics: Story of raw emotions
I cannot say that I enjoyed reading Hieroglyphics but I was intrigued by how well the author, Jill McCorkle was able to communicate the characters raw emotions and fears. The writing switching back in time to childhood memories and back to current while meaningful was choppy and disjointed much like I felt their lives were. I did find her description transported the reader back in time as the character's memories shared events that were still affected their lives. The book deals with loss, pain, helplessness and each characters attempt to manage. The memories, secrets and struggles woven throughout will transport the reader to a not so pleasant world.
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Anne M. (Madison, WI)
A Book you literally can't put down
Though I loved the writing style and the character development, I found the switching between characters by chapter to be confusing. Not enough of a story was revealed before moving on to the next character and chapter. Stories of childhood were hard to keep straight -- what happened to whom? Thus, my title of the review. Had I been able to sit down and read the book all at one time, it may have been less confusing. Every time I picked up the book, I had to re-read the previous chapter in order to keep straight what was happening. The flow was not there, and I so wanted it to be! The premise of the story was something I was very much looking forward to exploring -- stories and secrets parents have, but never pass along to their children and the importance of logging your own history, whether for your offspring or to come to terms with your own story. Sadly, this book was not a favorite. It didn't grip me and hold me, like a good story should.
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Christine P. (Gig Harbor, WA)
Hidden Messages?
The subjects of loss, grief and secrets are central themes in the novel, Hieroglyphics. Each of the characters spent a lot of time "digging and searching' into the lives of those that they had lost. They were a group of people who were crying out for help and no one was paying attention. They were left to flounder in their own way. It made for an unsettling read. I kept expecting something monumental to be revealed but it wasn't for me. Melancholy is what I walked away with when I was done.
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