6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Unfolds like a Wildflower after Rain, April 24, 2008
This review is from: Belly of the Whale (Hardcover)
By the time we meet Hudson Catalina Emerald on the first pages of "Belly of the Whale," she's already lost both breasts, and "the beast," as she thinks of the breast cancer that killed both her mother and grandmother, is about to swallow it's third Catalina family member in succession; her.
She has reached a point just, and we mean JUST, short of death.
And then, from there, this tantalizing, lyrical, and utterly believable story unfolds like a wildflower after rain, revealing a surprising network of family connection, simple goodness, blind faith, and random acts of kindness that show humanity as it should be - and that despite Hudson's denial, has underlain and defined her existence all along.
Belly of the Whale is a stunning read, visceral and violent, yet at the same time utterly believable and gripping. Highly recommended.
Art Tirrell is the author of the 2007 adventure, "
The Secret Ever Keeps."
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Most Compelling Metaphor, April 21, 2008
This review is from: Belly of the Whale (Hardcover)
Belly of the Whale is an extended metaphor that never outruns its material. Hudson Catalina, the protagonist, has lost both breasts to cancer, a disease also suffered by her mother and, she suspects, her grandmother. She tries not to think what lies in store for her daughter. She also tries not to think about the way her body has been crushed by the endless chemotherapy that her doctor--and her husband, friends, and family--insist she undergo.
Against this unsentimental backdrop, Hudson struggles to accomplish one last thing before she gives up, stops treatment, and lets the cancer win. In the midst of a raging New England blizzard, she goes to a neighborhood store, Whales Market, so she can put on what she is sure will be the last birthday party she will ever see her daughter celebrate. While she's there with the proprietor, Ruby Desmond, and Willy Wu, the mentally-impaired man/boy who helps her, low-life Buddy Baker arrives, drunk, angry, and ready for murder. Baker's gun and the raging storm outside keep everyone trapped until the final, bloody climax.
This novel/metaphor works because it is well-punctuated with good stories. Stories about the characters and people the characters know, stories about the town and world they live in, stories about the forces both positive and negative that shape their lives. The most compelling story is told by the narrator, Hudson Catalina, who not only tells us what's going on, but never loses sight of the real main character in the novel, her breast cancer.
This isn't a novel awash in sweetness and light. How could a woman who's undergone a double mastectomy and endured months of brutal chemotherapy have a sunny outlook on life? Thankfully, Merlino doesn't impose any Pollyanna treacle on the reader. Instead, she's written a powerful story about the emotional roller coaster that has captured not just Hudson but her husband, children, family, and friends. It's nerve-wracking for them, but a wonderful ride for the reader.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Excellent Read, April 10, 2008
This review is from: Belly of the Whale (Hardcover)
Belly of the Whale is a powerful and poignant novel about hope in the face of despair. It is a gripping tale filled with suspense and an unforgettable character in whose life we are immediately invested. Merlino does not disapppoint with this excellent read!
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