Customer Reviews

Serpent in the Garden of Dreams

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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This is a beautifully written story with poetic language throughout. It gets deep into the place where it is set (Brooklyn). The book left me with a feeling of sadness for all of the characters. I read it a while ago, and what sticks out in my memory are carefully described, particular images as well as a feeling of hot hazy summer.

"Serpent in the Garden of Dreams" moved me more than almost any book that I've ever read. I regret not belonging to a book group because when I finished reading this book I wanted so much to discuss it with others. Messing's writing is exquisite and her background as a poet is evident - crisp and concise, with perfect imagery that made me feel what Tildy felt; indeed I felt as if I was Tildy.

The writing itself is a pleasure, economical yet detailed in its descriptions. The book is not about plot, but psychology...a child's need to be loved, and an adult's despair at being rejected. While many books cover this ground, Serpent in the Garden of Dreams shows a new angle, twisting the two together. It is clear part of this is autobiographical and part is invented, but it not obvious which is which (and probably doesn't make a difference). Don't read this if you want to read a comfortable, upbeat book...but do read it if you want to explore how a young girl's strange relationship with her mother marks her whole life.

a compelling read.... her descriptions are incredible and the depth of her characters are wonderful.....

A great read. Impossible to put down. The fact that Tildy, both as a child and adult, never seemed to feel grounded or safe and was always searching for a guarantee that the people in her life would be present gave me a sense of anxiety with each page turned. This book left me with many lingering thoughts about the relationships in our lives and their lasting impacts. It left me thinking particularly about the variation in degree of attachment that people have with the people in their lives and how much our emotional stability is based on whether the desired degree is achieved or not achieved. As I closed the book, I wanted to read more.

I found the story of Tildy's relationship with her mother (as well as with her brother, father, and her mother's lover), compelling reading. There are a lot of books that explore mother-daughter conflicts, but few books like this one, that talks about the seduction at play between mothers and daughters. This book does a great job of showing the kind of enthralled passivity girls fall into with needy, narcissistic mothers.