Dorrestein, Renate. A heart of stone.Penguin. 244p. c1998. 0-14-200023-X. $13.00. SA The title of this book refers to two things: the heart-shaped stone that marks the graves of Ellen van Bemmel's mother, father, her brother and two sisters, and the state of Ellen's own heart as she tries to deal with and recover from the personal tragedy that changed her life forever on her 12th birthday. The novel, translated from the Dutch, portrays a coming-of-age story of sorts that spans four decades as Ellen comes to terms with human failings, misconceptions Misconceptions is an American sitcom television series for The WB Network for the 2005-2006 season that never aired. It features Jane Leeves, formerly of Frasier, and French Stewart, formerly of 3rd Rock From the Sun. , guilt, blame and forgiveness. As the narrative alternates between past and present action, between Ellen's voice and those of other characters, the reader pieces together clues and gradually begins to unravel the mystery. After 25 years, Ellen's decision to confront the evidence by purchasing and living in the old family home, looking through the family photograph album and conversing with Bas, a former employee of her parents' newspaper-clipping service, enables her to revisit re·vis·it tr.v. re·vis·it·ed, re·vis·it·ing, re·vis·its To visit again. n. A second or repeated visit. re the memories of her childhood and develop an understanding of what really happened. In spite of the profligate prof·li·gate adj. 1. Given over to dissipation; dissolute. 2. Recklessly wasteful; wildly extravagant. n. A profligate person; a wastrel. life devoid de·void adj. Completely lacking; destitute or empty: a novel devoid of wit and inventiveness. [Middle English, past participle of devoiden, of all love which Ellen has led up to this point, the reader is encouraged to believe that she and her new baby are finally on the right road. While the horrific elements of Margje's postpartum depression Postpartum Depression Definition Postpartum depression is a mood disorder that begins after childbirth and usually lasts beyond six weeks. Description and domestic violence in the book may be disturbing to some teen readers, most YAs will appreciate the gripping suspense SUSPENSE. When a rent, profit a prendre, and the like, are, in consequence of the unity of possession of the rent, &c., of the land out of which they issue, not in esse for a time, they are said to be in suspense, tunc dormiunt, but they may be revived or awakened. Co, Litt. 313 a. of the story and realize that the ultimate message here is one of hope. Susan G. Allison, Libn., Lewiston H.S., Lewiston, ME |
|
||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion