Christina Meldrum's Blog
February 8, 2011
In celebration of today's publication of AMARYLLIS IN BLUEBERRY....
In celebration of the publication of AMARYLLIS IN BLUEBERRY, I thought I would share some blogger reviews of the novel that posted today and during the last few days. Thank you to these reviewers for not only taking the time to read and review AMARYLLIS IN BLUEBERRY, thank you also for such thoughtful reads and reviews. As a writer, I am so grateful to readers who approach books with this level of care and curiosity.
http://www.devourerofbooks.com/2011/0...
http://bookingmama.blogspot.com/2011/...
http://www.greatthoughts.com/2011/01/...
http://www.jennsylvania.com/jennsylva...
http://www.devourerofbooks.com/2011/0...
http://bookingmama.blogspot.com/2011/...
http://www.greatthoughts.com/2011/01/...
http://www.jennsylvania.com/jennsylva...
February 5, 2011
AMARYLLIS IN BLUEBERRY, MADAPPLE and Justice
With my second novel AMARYLLIS IN BLUEBERRY being officially released in a few days, another common question I've received from advance readers is: why another trial? In my first novel MADAPPLE, the protagonist Aslaug was on trial. In my second novel AMARYLLIS IN BLUEBERRY, the mother in the family, an American woman named Seena, is on trial--albeit Seena's trial takes place in a village in West Africa, in a "customary court."
So why another trial? Because as a former lawyer and human rights worker, I am interested in justice: What is it? How do we decide? Is justice independent of culture? Or is there some fundamental form of justice that exists irrespective of culture? The trials in both of my books were means by which I hoped to explore these questions. Seena's trial in Africa is dramatically different than the trial in MADAPPLE, where Aslaug is said to be "innocent until proven guilty." And yet, is it really that different? Of course, in some fundamental respects the trials are night and day. As Seena says, the characters of Okomfo and Queen Mother are her "accusers, judge and jury." But as the trial in MADAPPLE suggests, our system of litigation, with its lawyers, judges and juries, does not necessarily arrive at truth in the end—any more than do Okomfo and Queen Mother. Cultural assumptions and prejudices play a role in both trials. Hence, the question: particularly with regard to the rights of any subset of society, be it women or the disabled or a particular ethnic group, should cultural norms be relevant to determinations of what is just and unjust?
So why another trial? Because as a former lawyer and human rights worker, I am interested in justice: What is it? How do we decide? Is justice independent of culture? Or is there some fundamental form of justice that exists irrespective of culture? The trials in both of my books were means by which I hoped to explore these questions. Seena's trial in Africa is dramatically different than the trial in MADAPPLE, where Aslaug is said to be "innocent until proven guilty." And yet, is it really that different? Of course, in some fundamental respects the trials are night and day. As Seena says, the characters of Okomfo and Queen Mother are her "accusers, judge and jury." But as the trial in MADAPPLE suggests, our system of litigation, with its lawyers, judges and juries, does not necessarily arrive at truth in the end—any more than do Okomfo and Queen Mother. Cultural assumptions and prejudices play a role in both trials. Hence, the question: particularly with regard to the rights of any subset of society, be it women or the disabled or a particular ethnic group, should cultural norms be relevant to determinations of what is just and unjust?
January 30, 2011
Amaryllis in Blueberry and The Poisonwood Bible
My second novel AMARYLLIS IN BLUEBERRY will be released on February 8th and questions from advance readers have begun to roll in. Not surprisingly, I have received many inquiries about the connection between AMARYLLIS IN BLUEBERRY and THE POISONWOOD BIBLE in part, I suppose, because my publisher describes AMARYLLIS IN BLUEBERRY as being in the tradition of THE POISIONWOOD BIBLE, but also because both novels take place in Africa, albeit very different parts of Africa; both involve a family with four daughters; both involve Americans going to Africa for missionary work; both are told from varied points of view.
Yet even with these similarities, the books are very different books; my intention was in no way to write another POISONWOOD BIBLE. Barbara Kingsolver's book is incredible: one of my all time favorites. Its breadth and depth are truly extraordinary. But the catalyst for my writing AMARYLLIS IN BLUEBERRY came from my own very different experience in West Africa and my subsequent and related interest in synesthesia.
When I was in my early twenties, between college and law school, I traveled and worked for a short time in West Africa. I lived in a village that was very similar to the village Avone, the village in AMARYLLIS IN BLUEBERRY. As I grew older and thought back on that time, I wondered how much of my experience of Africa and my memories of Africa were colored by the kaleidoscope of my own culture, values and expectations.
Although AMARYLLIS IN BLUEBERRY takes place partly in West Africa, partly in Michigan, the story is really less about West Africa or Michigan, more about the question: to what degree is each of our lives a myth of our own making? It is this question that led to my interest in the power of perspective, which led me to synesthesia and ultimately to my beloved character Yllis.
AMARYLLIS IN BLUEBERRY is told from varied viewpoints because of my interest in perspective and synesthesia. But I was well aware when I began writing the novel of Barbara Kingsolver's THE POISONWOOD BIBLE. For this reason, the form of AMARYLLIS IN BLUEBERRY is, in a way, a tribute to Barbara Kingsolver's amazing book, but the substance of the two books could hardly be more different.
I hope readers will approach AMARYLLIS IN BLUEBERRY on its own terms. The book is far less about any particular culture, far more about how each of us finds meaning and truth in life from our own unique place in the world.
Yet even with these similarities, the books are very different books; my intention was in no way to write another POISONWOOD BIBLE. Barbara Kingsolver's book is incredible: one of my all time favorites. Its breadth and depth are truly extraordinary. But the catalyst for my writing AMARYLLIS IN BLUEBERRY came from my own very different experience in West Africa and my subsequent and related interest in synesthesia.
When I was in my early twenties, between college and law school, I traveled and worked for a short time in West Africa. I lived in a village that was very similar to the village Avone, the village in AMARYLLIS IN BLUEBERRY. As I grew older and thought back on that time, I wondered how much of my experience of Africa and my memories of Africa were colored by the kaleidoscope of my own culture, values and expectations.
Although AMARYLLIS IN BLUEBERRY takes place partly in West Africa, partly in Michigan, the story is really less about West Africa or Michigan, more about the question: to what degree is each of our lives a myth of our own making? It is this question that led to my interest in the power of perspective, which led me to synesthesia and ultimately to my beloved character Yllis.
AMARYLLIS IN BLUEBERRY is told from varied viewpoints because of my interest in perspective and synesthesia. But I was well aware when I began writing the novel of Barbara Kingsolver's THE POISONWOOD BIBLE. For this reason, the form of AMARYLLIS IN BLUEBERRY is, in a way, a tribute to Barbara Kingsolver's amazing book, but the substance of the two books could hardly be more different.
I hope readers will approach AMARYLLIS IN BLUEBERRY on its own terms. The book is far less about any particular culture, far more about how each of us finds meaning and truth in life from our own unique place in the world.
January 12, 2011
Reality is reality, right?
One of the characters in my new novel AMARYLLIS IN BLUEBERRY has a condition called synesthesia. What in the world is synesthesia? Technically speaking, synesthesia is the conjoining of two or more senses; stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to an automatic, involuntary experience in a second sensory or cognitive pathway. That doesn’t sound all that interesting, does it? But wait. Let’s say you have synesthesia. There are a whole variety of types of synesthesia, some far more prevalent than others. Let’s say you have one of the more common types of synesthesia: you’re a grapheme-color synesthete. You’re writing a check at the grocery store. Using your black pen, you write the check for $56.73. But to you, the number five you write is pink, not black. The number six is orange. Seven is blue. Three is green. Because to you, all fives are pink, all sixes are orange. And so on. Does this mean you are off your rocker? I mean, five does not have an inherent color, right? Reality is reality, right?
Well, not so fast. Synesthetes are not off their rockers. You, synesthete that you are, truly experience all fives as pink. You don’t imagine pink fives. You see them. In your reality, fives are pink, and that’s that. And this is what is so incredibly interesting about synesthesia: it raises some fascinating questions about the nature of reality. All of us must experience reality through our senses. Our senses are the filter through which we must take in the world. But how do we know that our sensory experience of the world matches the sensory experience of our neighbor? And if it doesn’t match, then who’s right? Whose read of reality is the “right” read? It turns out, reality is far more subjective than most of us realize.
So what about my character? Amaryllis, also known as Yllis, is an emotional synesthete. Her experience of different emotional states triggers an automatic and involuntary sensory experience. To Yllis, anger has a smell, joy has a sound, love has a taste—meaning it is very difficult for others to hide their emotions from Yllis. Yllis detects their emotions on a subconscious level then experiences the emotions through her senses. In a way, Yllis is forced to carry others’ burdens, whether the people want to share those burdens or not, because Yllis senses the unspoken.
Did you know there are people like Yllis in the world? Most of us assume that, for the most part, when we see, hear, smell and taste, we are seeing, hearing, smelling and tasting exactly as those around us. Then come synesthetes. Who experience the world differently. Not incorrectly. Differently.
If you want to learn more about synesthesia, Yllis or AMARYLLIS IN BLUEBERRY, please take a look below at some early reviews and a description of AMARYLLIS IN BLUEBERRY.
"Amaryllis in Blueberry is a beautifully written, completely compelling novel that grabbed me from the very first page and wouldn't let me go."
--Kristin Hannah, New York Times bestselling author
"Amaryllis in Blueberry will stay with readers long after its surprising and satisfying ending, and leave book clubs talking late into the night." --Meg Waite Clayton, author of the national bestseller, The Wednesday Sisters
"A perfect melding of family saga, murder mystery and a meditation on faith, loyalty and love, this novel will both haunt and entertain you." --Susan Wiggs, New York Times bestselling author
“A gripping and satisfying read. First you'll race to the end, then you'll tell everyone you know to read it--partly for their benefit, partly so you'll be able to talk about it with someone.”
--Catherine Ryan Hyde, author of Pay It Forward, Becoming Chloe, Jumpstart the World
"Intoxicating... [Meldrum's] combination of coming-of-age and culture clash narratives has a seductive intensity." -- Publisher's Weekly
"With Amaryllis in Blueberry, Christina Meldrum has woven a beautifully layered, intensely emotional story, with unforgettable characters whose voices will remain with you long after their secrets have been revealed." --Michelle Richmond, author of the New York Times and international bestseller The Year of Fog
"Christina Meldrum pierces the facade of a middle American family, exposing the heart of each individual through the unflinching voices of the others. Her keen, distinct prose pulls you into a world both mystical and recognizable. A uniquely memorable read that will stay with you long after you turn the last page." -- Carol Cassella, national bestselling author of Oxygen and Healer
Product Description
In the stirring tradition of The Secret Life of Bees and The Poisonwood Bible, Amaryllis in Blueberry explores the complexity of human relationships set against an unforgettable backdrop. Told through the haunting voices of Dick and Seena Slepy and their four daughters, Christina Meldrum's soulful novel weaves together the past and the present of a family harmed--and healed--by buried secrets.
"Maybe, unlike hope, truth couldn't be contained in a jar..."
Meet the Slepys: Dick, the stern doctor, the naive husband, a man devoted to both facts and faith; Seena, the storyteller, the restless wife, a mother of four, a lover of myth. And their children, the Marys: Mary Grace, the devastating beauty; Mary Tessa, the insistent inquisitor; Mary Catherine, the saintly, lost soul; and finally, Amaryllis, Seena's unspoken favorite, born with the mystifying ability to sense the future, touch the past and distinguish the truth tellers from the most convincing liar of all.
When Dick insists his family move from Michigan to the unfamiliar world of Africa for missionary work, he can't possibly foresee how this new land and its people will entrance and change his daughters--and himself--forever.
Nor can he predict how Africa will spur his wife Seena toward an old but unforgotten obsession. In fact, Seena may be falling into a trance of her own. . . .
Well, not so fast. Synesthetes are not off their rockers. You, synesthete that you are, truly experience all fives as pink. You don’t imagine pink fives. You see them. In your reality, fives are pink, and that’s that. And this is what is so incredibly interesting about synesthesia: it raises some fascinating questions about the nature of reality. All of us must experience reality through our senses. Our senses are the filter through which we must take in the world. But how do we know that our sensory experience of the world matches the sensory experience of our neighbor? And if it doesn’t match, then who’s right? Whose read of reality is the “right” read? It turns out, reality is far more subjective than most of us realize.
So what about my character? Amaryllis, also known as Yllis, is an emotional synesthete. Her experience of different emotional states triggers an automatic and involuntary sensory experience. To Yllis, anger has a smell, joy has a sound, love has a taste—meaning it is very difficult for others to hide their emotions from Yllis. Yllis detects their emotions on a subconscious level then experiences the emotions through her senses. In a way, Yllis is forced to carry others’ burdens, whether the people want to share those burdens or not, because Yllis senses the unspoken.
Did you know there are people like Yllis in the world? Most of us assume that, for the most part, when we see, hear, smell and taste, we are seeing, hearing, smelling and tasting exactly as those around us. Then come synesthetes. Who experience the world differently. Not incorrectly. Differently.
If you want to learn more about synesthesia, Yllis or AMARYLLIS IN BLUEBERRY, please take a look below at some early reviews and a description of AMARYLLIS IN BLUEBERRY.
"Amaryllis in Blueberry is a beautifully written, completely compelling novel that grabbed me from the very first page and wouldn't let me go."
--Kristin Hannah, New York Times bestselling author
"Amaryllis in Blueberry will stay with readers long after its surprising and satisfying ending, and leave book clubs talking late into the night." --Meg Waite Clayton, author of the national bestseller, The Wednesday Sisters
"A perfect melding of family saga, murder mystery and a meditation on faith, loyalty and love, this novel will both haunt and entertain you." --Susan Wiggs, New York Times bestselling author
“A gripping and satisfying read. First you'll race to the end, then you'll tell everyone you know to read it--partly for their benefit, partly so you'll be able to talk about it with someone.”
--Catherine Ryan Hyde, author of Pay It Forward, Becoming Chloe, Jumpstart the World
"Intoxicating... [Meldrum's] combination of coming-of-age and culture clash narratives has a seductive intensity." -- Publisher's Weekly
"With Amaryllis in Blueberry, Christina Meldrum has woven a beautifully layered, intensely emotional story, with unforgettable characters whose voices will remain with you long after their secrets have been revealed." --Michelle Richmond, author of the New York Times and international bestseller The Year of Fog
"Christina Meldrum pierces the facade of a middle American family, exposing the heart of each individual through the unflinching voices of the others. Her keen, distinct prose pulls you into a world both mystical and recognizable. A uniquely memorable read that will stay with you long after you turn the last page." -- Carol Cassella, national bestselling author of Oxygen and Healer
Product Description
In the stirring tradition of The Secret Life of Bees and The Poisonwood Bible, Amaryllis in Blueberry explores the complexity of human relationships set against an unforgettable backdrop. Told through the haunting voices of Dick and Seena Slepy and their four daughters, Christina Meldrum's soulful novel weaves together the past and the present of a family harmed--and healed--by buried secrets.
"Maybe, unlike hope, truth couldn't be contained in a jar..."
Meet the Slepys: Dick, the stern doctor, the naive husband, a man devoted to both facts and faith; Seena, the storyteller, the restless wife, a mother of four, a lover of myth. And their children, the Marys: Mary Grace, the devastating beauty; Mary Tessa, the insistent inquisitor; Mary Catherine, the saintly, lost soul; and finally, Amaryllis, Seena's unspoken favorite, born with the mystifying ability to sense the future, touch the past and distinguish the truth tellers from the most convincing liar of all.
When Dick insists his family move from Michigan to the unfamiliar world of Africa for missionary work, he can't possibly foresee how this new land and its people will entrance and change his daughters--and himself--forever.
Nor can he predict how Africa will spur his wife Seena toward an old but unforgotten obsession. In fact, Seena may be falling into a trance of her own. . . .
January 7, 2011
Amaryllis in Blueberry, a new novel by Christina Meldrum
I'm very happy to announce that my second novel, AMARYLLIS IN BLUEBERRY, will be released on February 8th, 2011. I hope you'll take a look at the trailer.
AMARYLLIS IN BLUEBERRY is adult fiction--unlike MADAPPLE which was young adult fiction. That said, both books are more "crossover" books, meaning they are appropriate for older teens to adults. Please take a look at some early reviews and the description of the novel below. If you are interested in winning a free copy, look out for the giveaway soon to be posted on Goodreads.com. Thank you!
"Amaryllis in Blueberry is a beautifully written, completely compelling novel that grabbed me from the very first page and wouldn't let me go."
--Kristin Hannah, New York Times bestselling author
"Amaryllis in Blueberry will stay with readers long after its surprising and satisfying ending, and leave book clubs talking late into the night." --Meg Waite Clayton, author of the national bestseller, The Wednesday Sisters
"A perfect melding of family saga, murder mystery and a meditation on faith, loyalty and love, this novel will both haunt and entertain you." --Susan Wiggs, New York Times bestselling author
“A gripping and satisfying read. First you'll race to the end, then you'll tell everyone you know to read it--partly for their benefit, partly so you'll be able to talk about it with someone.”
--Catherine Ryan Hyde, author of Pay It Forward, Becoming Chloe, Jumpstart the World
"Intoxicating... [Meldrum's] combination of coming-of-age and culture clash narratives has a seductive intensity." -- Publisher's Weekly
"With Amaryllis in Blueberry, Christina Meldrum has woven a beautifully layered, intensely emotional story, with unforgettable characters whose voices will remain with you long after their secrets have been revealed." --Michelle Richmond, author of the New York Times and international bestseller The Year of Fog
"Christina Meldrum pierces the facade of a middle American family, exposing the heart of each individual through the unflinching voices of the others. Her keen, distinct prose pulls you into a world both mystical and recognizable. A uniquely memorable read that will stay with you long after you turn the last page." -- Carol Cassella, national bestselling author of Oxygen and Healer
Product Description
In the stirring tradition of The Secret Life of Bees and The Poisonwood Bible, Amaryllis in Blueberry explores the complexity of human relationships set against an unforgettable backdrop. Told through the haunting voices of Dick and Seena Slepy and their four daughters, Christina Meldrum's soulful novel weaves together the past and the present of a family harmed--and healed--by buried secrets.
"Maybe, unlike hope, truth couldn't be contained in a jar..."
Meet the Slepys: Dick, the stern doctor, the naive husband, a man devoted to both facts and faith; Seena, the storyteller, the restless wife, a mother of four, a lover of myth. And their children, the Marys: Mary Grace, the devastating beauty; Mary Tessa, the insistent inquisitor; Mary Catherine, the saintly, lost soul; and finally, Amaryllis, Seena's unspoken favorite, born with the mystifying ability to sense the future, touch the past and distinguish the truth tellers from the most convincing liar of all.
When Dick insists his family move from Michigan to the unfamiliar world of Africa for missionary work, he can't possibly foresee how this new land and its people will entrance and change his daughters--and himself--forever.
Nor can he predict how Africa will spur his wife Seena toward an old but unforgotten obsession. In fact, Seena may be falling into a trance of her own. . . .Christina Meldrum
AMARYLLIS IN BLUEBERRY is adult fiction--unlike MADAPPLE which was young adult fiction. That said, both books are more "crossover" books, meaning they are appropriate for older teens to adults. Please take a look at some early reviews and the description of the novel below. If you are interested in winning a free copy, look out for the giveaway soon to be posted on Goodreads.com. Thank you!
"Amaryllis in Blueberry is a beautifully written, completely compelling novel that grabbed me from the very first page and wouldn't let me go."
--Kristin Hannah, New York Times bestselling author
"Amaryllis in Blueberry will stay with readers long after its surprising and satisfying ending, and leave book clubs talking late into the night." --Meg Waite Clayton, author of the national bestseller, The Wednesday Sisters
"A perfect melding of family saga, murder mystery and a meditation on faith, loyalty and love, this novel will both haunt and entertain you." --Susan Wiggs, New York Times bestselling author
“A gripping and satisfying read. First you'll race to the end, then you'll tell everyone you know to read it--partly for their benefit, partly so you'll be able to talk about it with someone.”
--Catherine Ryan Hyde, author of Pay It Forward, Becoming Chloe, Jumpstart the World
"Intoxicating... [Meldrum's] combination of coming-of-age and culture clash narratives has a seductive intensity." -- Publisher's Weekly
"With Amaryllis in Blueberry, Christina Meldrum has woven a beautifully layered, intensely emotional story, with unforgettable characters whose voices will remain with you long after their secrets have been revealed." --Michelle Richmond, author of the New York Times and international bestseller The Year of Fog
"Christina Meldrum pierces the facade of a middle American family, exposing the heart of each individual through the unflinching voices of the others. Her keen, distinct prose pulls you into a world both mystical and recognizable. A uniquely memorable read that will stay with you long after you turn the last page." -- Carol Cassella, national bestselling author of Oxygen and Healer
Product Description
In the stirring tradition of The Secret Life of Bees and The Poisonwood Bible, Amaryllis in Blueberry explores the complexity of human relationships set against an unforgettable backdrop. Told through the haunting voices of Dick and Seena Slepy and their four daughters, Christina Meldrum's soulful novel weaves together the past and the present of a family harmed--and healed--by buried secrets.
"Maybe, unlike hope, truth couldn't be contained in a jar..."
Meet the Slepys: Dick, the stern doctor, the naive husband, a man devoted to both facts and faith; Seena, the storyteller, the restless wife, a mother of four, a lover of myth. And their children, the Marys: Mary Grace, the devastating beauty; Mary Tessa, the insistent inquisitor; Mary Catherine, the saintly, lost soul; and finally, Amaryllis, Seena's unspoken favorite, born with the mystifying ability to sense the future, touch the past and distinguish the truth tellers from the most convincing liar of all.
When Dick insists his family move from Michigan to the unfamiliar world of Africa for missionary work, he can't possibly foresee how this new land and its people will entrance and change his daughters--and himself--forever.
Nor can he predict how Africa will spur his wife Seena toward an old but unforgotten obsession. In fact, Seena may be falling into a trance of her own. . . .Christina Meldrum
