What do readers think of The Map of True Places by Brunonia Barry? Write your own review.

I loved The Map of True Places! Barry captivates with a wonderful, believable cast of characters and a great plot. I was taken in by Zee from the first page and enjoyed the entire journey. I thought the story was suspenseful and well-written!

I enjoyed reading The Map of True Places, but it wasn't a book that kept me awake late into the night reading it. Zee, the main character, has many problems that involve many characters and this seemed to lead to lots of introduction but not a lot of development. I would recommend this book to friends for a light read, if they enjoyed the Lace Reader, they would enjoy this. I imagine it would appeal most to people, especially women from late thirties onwards. There is lots to fuel discussion in Book Clubs and would lead to lots of interesting discussions.

There was just enough suspense in this book to make me keep on reading. I found Zee's linking the suicides of Lilly and her mother confusing at first, but the last part of the book brought out how all the different stories going on were all linked together. There were clues scattered through the book that allowed you to guess the true identity of some of the male characters. I thought the story moved slowly until the end when Ms. Barry tied up all the loose ends.

Early in her novel, Brunonia Berry includes a quote from Herman Melville: " It is not down on any map. True places never are." I found this book with its setting by the sea to be about navigation: navigating the twists and turns of one's life. But the more I read about Zee Finch and her journey, I found myself getting impatient and hoping for a detour. For me, the book needed more focus.

I liked Barry’s first novel, The Lace Reader, so I was excited to read her latest. This one also takes place in and around the Salem area and even references some of the characters from the first novel. Barry does an excellent job creating an environment and making you feel like you want to plan a trip to Salem and take in the beautiful scenery and unique culture. They say you should write about what you know, and it’s obvious that Barry knows and truly loves her hometown. The story of Zee Finch and her strange and troubled family is interesting and definitely a story worth telling. But I think Barry misses the mark. Some of the events in the story seem far-fetched and forced. And some of the characters are too prescribed and unreal. But it’s definitely entertaining and keeps your interest to the final page.

I loved the Lace Reader so I was a little disappointed in this book. It was too predictable and I felt the characters were not uniformly well developed. I never really got "connected" to Zee so it wasn't a page-turner for me at all. I did, however, really like the story within the story very much and wished it had been longer. Not a bad read, but rather one where you read on hoping to get to the great part--but never quite make it there.

I read The Map of True Places in only a few days. It is an easy read with great descriptions of modern day Salem and a masterfully created sense of wonder and power concerning the sea. The story is maybe a little too complicated so the weaving of it does not always hold together. There are many players in Zee, the heroine's, life who all seem to have a piece of the puzzle for her. The ending was as I expected, but the journey was good. It is indeed a novel about courage. I thought I would learn more about Salem's witches but did not find that to be so. I will recommend it to my book club but will also relate that it is not a great book .... just a good read and what's not to like about a good read!

There is nothing good to say about this book. The story is unbelievable, the events too coincidental, the characters forgettable. Too much conversation and too little plot development. I truly didn't care what happened to these people. It was a chore to read.