Customer Reviews

A Gift upon the Shore

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

M. K. Wren's "A Gift Upon the Shore" is a rare bird indeed: it's science fiction, written about women characters, in a woman's style, by a woman. Like other fiction written by women, from a woman's point of view (think "A Yellow Raft in Blue Water" and books by Barbara Kingsolver), "Gift Upon the Shore" concerns itself with more lyrical and emotional prose, thankfully glossing over male survivalist-style details for the actual story underneath, and does so much to its advantage.

The tale "Gift" tells is of a woman, Mary Hope, who survives a nuclear holocaust on the Oregon coast with newfound friend Rachel. Rachel is an artist, who teaches Mary the value of the mind, learning, and beauty. Together, the two manage to eke out an existence after the bombs, scavenging books from local houses and libraries to preserve for future generations. The story is told from two consecutive points in time: younger Mary, just after the holocaust, and older Mary, telling the story to a young boy. Both Marys are threatened by the ignorance of a band of ultra-fundamentalist Christian survivalists, who deem the blasphemous things in her books (such as evolution, plate tectonics, and other sciences) a threat to the order that helped them survive.

The beauty of science fiction is that it allows the reader (and writer) to examine possibilities and philosophies under the most extreme of conditions. The problem is that most sci-fi succumbs to reducing those philosophies to mere stereotypes, and Wren comes dangerously close to doing that in "Gift." The Christians are portrayed as utterly ignorant, witch-burning psychotics or as sheep who merely follow along so as not to disrupt the fragile order. Likewise, the agnostic/humanist characters are the only fully-fleshed characters in the book; the main villain is almost a laughable cardboard cut-out, almost not even worthy of the agnostic's attentions. Wren's message is, of course, a vital one, but "Gift" seems to be preaching to the choir - with such obviously vile enemies, those who need to read the book will likely be put off before the message is received.

Otherwise, "Gift Upon the Shore" is a fine, fast read. The prose clips along at a steady gait, although the book is somewhat hard to start (if you can make it past the first fifty pages, you'll be fine). Wren chose to set the novel near the Willamette Valley in Oregon, on the ocean, which is ironically the location of the mythical, paradise-like St. Rose in David Brin's 1984 post-nuclear novel "The Postman." Whether this nod is intentional or not is unclear, but I doubt Wren ignored such a key book in the genre. At any rate, even with its faults and somewhat heavy-handed moralizing, "A Gift Upon the Shore" is a very good novel, and deserves attention as such. It deserves even more so because of the rarity of such a clear, strong female voice in this male-dominated genre. Hats off to Wren for creating such a pleasurable book.

Grade: B+

This novel supposedly takes place in the near future, beginning just before a nuclear war and subsequent plague decimates the human population. Mary Hope is the principle character, and she relates a story that begins when she is a young woman and progresses until she is older, in her 60's, this story being told to a young man named Stephen as Mary attempts to prepare him to eventually replace her as the teacher of their small group on the Oregon coast. Most of the group is of a fanatical religious bent and she has to carefully navigate through this. Author M. K. Wren gives us this interesting tale through the perspective of a woman, and I am aware that women tend to be more introspective than men are, of emotions and their environment, and also more attuned and sensitive to interpersonal relationships, this is all very evident in this novel, and well done. The story is very philosophical, I loved it. The underlying message is that the human race has squandered precious resources preparing for war, plunging us into worldwide recession, culminating in nuclear war and plague. There is no ultimate right and wrong, only human values and the importance we ourselves place on them.

The story gives graphic detail of events at the "end" and far past it, made me feel as though I was really there. It illustrates the strong will and determination some people possess in the face of calamity, and a quest to save part of civilization. I loved the rational world-view of the two principal characters, Mary and Rachel, no mythmaking or herd behavior with these ladies, they accept the true nature of the universe. A very poetic novel, always reflective, I savored every word.

I am a prolific reader who especially enjoys books that deal with "post apocolyptic" story lines. But "A Gift Upon The Shore" is that and so much more. I read it over and over again. I have a large library and re-read many of my favorites, but each time I see this book I want to pick it up and read it again. It is, to me, the perfect book for a writer to read. If you love books, and all that they represent you will love "A Gift Upon The Shore". I believe that once you've read it you will never forget the story and the two women (no make that three women) who are so much a part of the tale.

First, let me say that this is a slow paced book, and not riven through with violence, though there is enough. If your looking for Post Apocalyptic Fiction such as the Stand or Swan Song (both of which are proudly on my shelf) this is not for you. There's no Mad Max Thunderdome. Instead, there is a quiet, almost Quakerish view of a very small part of a world gone terribly bad.

This wonderful book has earned a permanent place in my collection of Post Apocalyptic Fiction, along with Jack McDevitt's Eternity Road and Walter M. Miller's A Canticle for Leibowitz. Why? Because not only does the book observe The End through the eyes of a woman, which is quite unique, it shows the constant human need for knowledge, the quest for lost knowledge, and best of all, the complete love of books that inhabits these three novels.

I've been on a Post Apocalyptic kick, lately, working my way through books never before read and those read and nearly forgotten. It has left me, surprisingly, with some hope for us, for our future.

This book will quietly haunt you, you will remember it, you will pass it along to a friend, you may reread it. I think you will never forget it.

A beautifully written book which is assured of a place in my personal library. The characters are believable and the frailties of human nature so true to life. Being a book lover, I can relate to these woman trying to preserve books for future generations. It goes beyond that, in the struggle to not only survive, preserve books but to bring forth life to a dead world. However, the ugliness of human nature raises its head, but it does not triumph. A must read.

I find it very hard to believe that I just read "A Gift Upon the Shore" for the first time just recently. I have been a big fan of post-apocalyptic books for a long time and somehow missed this high calibre example of the genre when it first came out back in the early 1990's.

I am glad that a friend sent this to me thinking I might enjoy it - because I definitely did. First of all, it takes place in Oregon and I enjoy books that take place in areas I am familiar with. I could visualize Mary and Rachel's farm - Amarna - and all of the different locales within the story.

Mary and Rachel are strong female protaganists - unusual in P-A books that a lot of times have macho militaristic survival types narrating the stories. Mary and Rachel were strong but still feminine, very capable, artistic, and had a common vision of there being literature and information available for any possible future generations.

I think this glimpse of a possible future could be realistic. If disasters of this calibre strike mankind, I believe many if not most people will turn to fundamental religion as a way of dealing with the pain and looking for answers. Were the Flock overly zealous? Who knows how any of us would act in the event of these catastrophes? I think Wren's depiction of this future is plausible and scary.

This is a book I'll be keeping for my own library and re-reading every so often. It lingers after you read it and I've questioned how I would act in similar circumstances - hopefully with as much dignity and capability as Mary and Rachel.

Set against a post-apocalyptic background, the story focuses on the platonic love of two women, their struggle to survive in the face of extinction, and their love for free thought and unjudged beauty.
Seldom have I become so involved in a novel's characters. I found myself mirroring Mary Hope's pain, anger, and frustration, as well as her overwhelming love of Rachel.
This is a book to share with love and friendship.

A Gift Upon the Shore is strikingly beautiful and profound in its verse. The set-up of alternating chapters really keeps one intrigued and its interesting to see the past/future of events.

I loved this book so much; I wondered why it was given 1 star by some few. The biggest issue is that the religion in this book is portrayed to be extremely fanatical. That is the whole point, which I think some didn't read the back of the book. I think many readers will understand that this is only one portrayal of the Christian religion. It is an example of what has been and what is most certainly possible of becoming again if the way we know the world was to end.

And as the reader will delve into the book more, you can see that it is really only a few of the characters to hold such strict beliefs by choice (I mean that they weren't brainwashed as a child).

I think this book is excellent post-apocalyptic and a great scenario for something that could possibly unfold.

A Gift Upon the Shore by MK Wren: an end of days, post apocalyptic book with 2 women protagonists and what they did to save books and knowledge. Very good, clear writing. A moving and well written tale.

Great book: Excellent characters, plausible scenario, well written. There was some drama in the midst of this experience that was quite nail-biting. There was a sensitive, timeless quality about this story, e.g. as a commentary on life and the companionships we form along the way. I loved it.