Matecumbe (novel)
| Author | James Michener |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Historical novel |
| Publisher | University of Florida Press |
Publication date | 2007 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (Softcover) |
| Pages | 165pp. |
| ISBN | 0-8130-3152-4 |
Matecumbe (2007) is a novel by American author James A. Michener, published unfinished, posthumously.
Set in Florida, Matecumbe is a small, character-driven story detailing the relationship of a mother and daughter, both divorced and living parallel lives. The book was abandoned by Michener when Random House urged for more of his larger, epic-scope novels.[1] It was published during the 10th anniversary year after his death (and the 100th anniversary year of his birth) in its unpolished state.
Reception
[edit]Christopher Reynolds of the Los Angeles Times wrote that the novel is "not much good" and that the "details don't particularly resonate, the insights don't arrive."[2] William McKeen of the Tampa Bay Times called it a "lightweight compared with earlier works" and wrote: "The dialogue is cloying and not believable; the story has no depth. The afterword claims Michener intended it as allegory. If so, he fired and missed."[3] Publishers Weekly wrote that the novel reads "like a formula romance with none of the formula’s pap pleasures."[4]
References
[edit]- ^ Michener: A Writer's Journey, Stephen May, University of Oklahoma Press, 2005
- ^ Reynolds, Christopher (22 September 2007). "Michener, short and slight". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
- ^ McKeen, Williams (18 November 2007). "NOT THE MICHENER YOU KNOW Series: SPECIAL TO THE TIMES". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
- ^ "Matecumbe". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
 | This article about a historical novel of the 2000s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. See guidelines for writing about novels. Further suggestions might be found on the article's talk page. |