Customer Reviews

Miri, Who Charms

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Miri, Who Charms is about the friendship between two women as they mature, marry and develop their professional lives. The relationship between the women is unequal, and Ms. Greenberg explores the stresses created by the disparate measure of their give and take. Most of all in this novel, however, Ms. Greenberg does what she does best in so many novels from I Never Promised You a Rose Garden to In This Sign: that is to turn a discerning eye on the ethics and ramifications of every-day decisions. This is a thoughtful book that lingers in the mind long after one has finished reading it.

Miri who Charms is like a rich pastry which you want to savor, but it's so good, you wolf it down. Our most important relationships drive the plot: family, friendship and community. Through the eyes of her childhood friend, Rachel, we learn about the title character, Miri whose beauty, charisma, and intelligence enable her to manipulate people throughout her life. To Rachel, Miri and her family,represent an order that contrasts with the chaos of her own contentious and bitter parents.

The prologue frames the story: Rachel accompanies Miri in a police car to the rescue site of Miri's eleven year old daughter, Tamar, who has been in a caving accident.

Using flashbacks, Greenberg fills out the canvas of these relationships. Tensions between the desire for autonomy and connection, order and chaos infuse the story. This is a bewitchingly written book. Just as bread crumbs inexorably led Hansel and Gretel to the witch's house, so too are readers lured as the plot unfolds. Moreover, the reader is privy to absorbing snippets about caving, architecture and cell pathology. It all works. Joyce Carol Oates is quoted on the cover as saying, "Not only artistically `beautiful,' but morally and spiritually beautiful as well." I couldn't agree more.

The latest from one of the better serious novelists writing today. Her first novel where her Jewish background is highlighted but is not the focus of the tale of two women and their regard for the daughter of one. A delightful read.

I was roped into this story under false pretenses! Notice the happy ladies on the cover, notice the sweet childhood reminiscences. Sure, there's tension right from the beginning, but no tension = no story. Your regular relationship(chick lit) novel has a longstanding relationship, a crisis, a falling out, deeper understanding, moral point, reconciliation, hugs and kisses, cue the strings. Lovely, but leaving no deep dent in your mind or heart.

All that is present, but the moral point has a sting and the reconciliation is not where you expect. Altogether an excellent story and meditation on finding love and one's perception of others. This one does stay on the mind long after you've turned the last page and lent the book out.

There is also a theme of rules to meditate on - rules lived serenely or stormily, rules defied to your peril(or someone else's), making your own rules, putting rules where your heart should be.