Matecumbe

by James A. Michener

Pulitzer Prize-winning author James A. Michener was in his sixties when he began traveling frequently to the Florida Keys. One result of those visits was the novel "Matecumbe, " named after two of the islands that comprise the town of Islamorada, located approximately half way between Miami and Key West.

Never before published, "Matecumbe" features many of the hallmarks of Michener's best work, including detailed descriptions of place. However, the plot is much more intimate than that found in most of his large-scale, epic historical novels. Focusing on the parallel lives of a woman and her mother, both divorced, Michener spent his creative energy on character development and allegorical storytelling. Random House, his publisher, wasn't pleased, and wanted the mega-best-selling author to concentrate on producing "heavyweight" books like "Hawaii" and "Centennial. Matecumbe" seemed too much in the vein of his earlier romance novel, "Sayonara." So it sat in a drawer until, eventually, Michener gifted it--including the copyright--to Joe Avenick, his friend and former ghostwriter. Avenick played a key role in the research and writing of "Sports in America" and "Chesapeake, " and introduced Michener to Melissa (Missy) DeMaio, who soon became the primary reason for Michener's increasingly frequent visits to the Keys.

Biographers and critics have long agreed that Michener's personality and his characters were both affected by his relationship with DeMaio. As perhaps his most encompassing autobiographical novel, and the one written in the midst of these changes, "Matecumbe" provides what may be tantalizing glimpses into Michener's life.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction

192 pages, ebook

First published September 9, 2007

About the author

James Albert Michener is best known for his sweeping multi-generation historical fiction sagas, usually focusing on and titled after a particular geographical region. His first novel, Tales of the South Pacific , which inspired the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific, won the 1948 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

Toward the end of his life, he created the Journey Prize, awarded annually for the year's best short story published by an emerging Canadian writer; founded an MFA program now, named the Michener Center for Writers, at the University of Texas at Austin; and made substantial contributions to the James A. Michener Art Museum in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, best known for its permanent collection of Pennsylvania Impressionist paintings and a room containing Michener's own typewriter, books, and various memorabilia.

Michener's entry in Who's Who in America says he was born on Feb. 3, 1907. But he said in his 1992 memoirs that the circumstances of his birth remained cloudy and he did not know just when he was born or who his parents were.

Reviews

[Ron · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little too predictable of a dual love story. The best part was at the "afterward" by Joe Avenick discussing about how no publisher wanted to publish the book, as well as his ghost writing experience with Michener. I did not get all of the hidden meanings. It might make a good "chick flick"

[Barbara Nutting · Rating 5 out of 5]

You would never recognize Michener in this book! Only little giveaway was the info about the 1935 Hurricane. This was a parallel love story that was of course beautifully written. I enjoyed every word.

I loved the locale, as the drive from Key Largo to Key West is my most favorite. Yes, I stopped for a photo op at the Hurricane Memorial. Also, I have been to the Everglades more times than I can count, and he took his characters through there as well. The rest of the story took place in Pennsylvania, which I know nothing about!!

[Carol Skarbek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not worth reading.

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Barely ok. I was disappointed. The place info presented on the Keys was more or less accurate but was boringly inserted, the conversations were stilted, and the thoughts running through the characters' minds just did not ring true as self-talk. Too bad since a Michener on the Keys could have been fabulous (way too many legends and characters to go wrong). I have read others by him, such as The Novel, that are not typically historical fiction, and they were excellent, but Matecumbe just does not make it. At least it's short.

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great love story written years ago. A major departure from Micheners typical novel, part love story, part autobiography. Made me feel like I was reading a Nicholas Sparks book.

Great afterword about how no publisher wanted to touch it, writen by the person he gave it to as a gift.

[Jeanette Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a surprise. Different than other Michener books, but I enjoyed it.

[Cheryl Lesage · Rating 1 out of 5]

A FRAUD!! Not a novel by James A. Michener. Planning notes published by a former research assistant. And it shows.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

The descriptions of the Florida Keys and paces up north ranging from Philadelphia to New York and everything in between were good. Mr. Michener had trouble getting this loose autobiography published. Read it to find the why. Mary Ann was a single mother raising four little girls, one of whom was Melissa. Mary Ann meets a wealthy man and marries him. Problem solved for her. There was no tension in the couple's relationship. Melissa did well for herself having a master's degree in Library Science and working in Philadelphia. After her husband divorces her, she Takeshia trip to the Florida Keys where she meets Joe, a cop. He has never been to college. Nothing was mentioned about his going to a police academy. They marry although the disparity in education bothers her. There was never a breakup of their courtship or marriage. There was opportunity on many fronts for a real story to development, but the author did not bite. In real life, Michener had a love interest in the Keys.

Michener wrote sexually graphic material in this book that was strange for him to write. Joe and Melissa were way past cutesy words, yet he referred to her stomach as a tummy. I would have given my husband the cold shoulder for at least two days had he asked me if I had a tummy ache! Ernest Hemingway had a home in the Keys. Both Joe and Michelle referred to him as Ernest. That was low. I do not know any author to whom I would refer to by his or her first name, not even John Grisham who wrote my son's reference letter into law school.

See how picky I am?

Thank you, Mr. Michener, for the read.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first Michener book, one not published in his lifetime. Definitely not one of his famous one. I really liked the travelogue parts, where he describes the sites and history of a location, in this case Islamorada and Key West as well as Philadelphia. The love stories of mother and daughter were interesting, but nothing special. They seemed a little contrived, a little unrealistic. But it was a short, easy read. A taste of Michener.

[Jennjfer Gauntt · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve admittedly not read any Michener, but picked this book up on a recent trip to the Florida Keys…this read way too much like a romance novel for my taste….I can’t really recommend because I just didn’t care for the multiple detailed romance scenes in such a short story. If you like romance it could be great.

[David Wurster · Rating 1 out of 5]

This should never have been published. The dialogue is not believable. The love stories are simplistic. If I ever knew that Michener used ghostwriters, I had forgotten that fact until reading the afterword here. I am not surprised that editors turned this down during Michener's lifetime.

[Gordon Lamothe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matecumbre is a slice of life book about 2 divorced women finding love again. It is not usual Michener 700+ pages with detailed description of locations and scenery, but it is beautifully written and worth the read.

[Jan Norton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This doesn’t read like a Michener book. It was predictable and boring. The thing I did like is that it is set partially in Philadelphia where I grew up and partially in Florida where I currently live.

[Claire Lang · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did not care for books that you

A book for adolescents'''''' I only finished it because I used to live in Islamorada, and I loved reading about this familiar places,
Characters uninteresting, plot non exist
Ing

I usually love Michener, don't believe he wrote it,

[Vincent Darkhelm · Rating 1 out of 5]

Michener's worst novel. Not convinced he even wrote it.

[Rob A · Rating 1 out of 5]

Schmaltzy. Far different than Michener's classic novels this one seems to lack substance. If there is deeper meaning, I completely missed it. His other novels are among my favourites.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was on a suggested reading list for a Miami/Florida Keys tour I am embarking upon today, so I read 90% of it on the plane. The plane ride was only 3 hours long, so that is the first clue that it is not like the other Michener books I have enjoyed which would have taken much longer to read. It has been many years since I've read Michener, but being a geologist and a fan of historical sagas, I enjoyed Hawaii, Caribbean, Texas. If any of them contained romance-novel dialogue like Matecumbe does, I did not remember that. Examples:

"By the end of their mini-vacation, she and Joe had completed three full days in Islamorada, days when they did nothing except soak up the sun - and each other."

"Melissa particularly admired the tight fit of his clothing. The suit, she thought, made Joe's body look slim, strong and, above all, sexy."

"Soon they were wrapped together in their nakedness, clutching each other feverishly - kissing, holding, and, before long, locking together passionately in their first lovemaking as man and wife."

The other aspect of this book that surprised me was the frequent, almost excessive, use of the two primary female characters talking to themselves. That may be somewhat explained in the afterword, where it is mentioned that the story was originally written as a play. The other thing that is explained in the afterward is this, which I wish had been in a foreward:

"Michener himself admitted that most of his loyal readers would like it but would probably fail to appreciate all facets of Matecumbe and would assume that it was merely a tale of two love relationships.

"Sage advice would be that readers need to think as they read and that they should weigh the possible alternate/hidden meanings in Matecumbe. Specifically, they should ponder the recurring mention of the color blue . . . the 'why" behind the Reynolds character falling in love with Mary Ann, the old woman in the cemetery, the white cat . . . the number of seeds in a watermelon, and especially the dialogue of the Uncle Steve character."

Without the benefit of the afterword, I did not ponder any of those things. All of the above said, though, I enjoyed the book and it was a great preface to a south Florida vacation.

[Pamela Rosenberg · Rating 1 out of 5]

It has been a while since I have read a James Michener book but I always thoroughly enjoyed his books that I had already read and I was anxious to read this one because it takes place in the Florida Keys. Unfortunately, this book was a total disappointment. From the first page, it felt like a Nancy Drew meets romance novel. This was NOT what I was looking for. Where is the history, the character development, and the suspense? I read it to the end thinking he would redeem himself, but sadly, it never happened. If you are looking to read something Michener, pass on this one and move on to Chesapeake, Hawaii, or Centennial.

[Jonathan Byrd · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was super excited to find this book because every time I move I go to the local library and read any Michener book on the new town's shelves I haven't read. It's been much harder since he passed. But I had never heard of this book. Reading the back cover got me anxious. Normally I don't read any reviews before reading a book but because I was on Goodreads to update something else I checked it out and my interest began to wane. It seems every other review talked about how good it was while the alternating reviews said it wasn't Michener. Despite that damper I read the book.

It definitely was classic Michener, but not at all classic Michener. The writing style was there but it was ultimately a parallel love story. I'm not big on romance stories but this one was pretty good. At the end there is an explanation about how this story came to be published a decade after Michener's passing. Also included in there is the fact that he had intended this as an allegory. It mentioned that there could be several books written about the symbolism and allegorical aspects but I don't think I got any of them. There were some specific things to consider but even then I still didn't get them and normally I am pretty good at making connections (even when they aren't always intended).

Despite not "getting" the allegorical aspects of the book, and the fact that I'm not a big romance fan, I did like the book a lot. It was a return to paradise for me. A lost friend found in the stacks.

And there was Michener.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have just about every work that Michener wrote. I love them all. But, Matecumbe was not pleasant to read. True, it did not have earth-shattering events or intriguing mysteries to solve, which are Michener hallmarks, but it just had very "forced" writing--sometime it was hard to tell if it was conversation or reflective comments. The person who was given this manuscript by Michener, Joe Avenick, was a ghostwriter for Michener for several years. He claims that Michener wrote Matecumbe to be a "symbolic" representation of love and to convey life's deepest meanings. Could be--there are two love stories in it. After that fact, I am not sure. Yes, there are colors, and flowers, and some wildlife, and fire, etc., but there appears to be no continuum of symbolic representation with regards to themes--they are thrown around. Of course, there are moments in these love stories that are deftly described, but on the whole I was left feeling so-so about the whole endeavor. sadly.

[Jtomassetti · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read the end of the book first where it explains how this book was published after James Michener died. All in all I didn't really like it. It is a romance novel and not historical fiction. Too many descriptions of the clothes they are wearing or plan to wear. Nothing exciting happens. I tried to look for the symbolism as mentioned in the back of the book but i did not see anything significant. Readthis book only if you want to say you have read every Michener book.

[Helena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this would have a more Keys-y feel to it, but it was much more about the (not very interesting) characters than it was about the Keys. It was okay, but the author's habit of presenting so much of the characters' thoughts as internal dialogue--complete with quotation marks--was distracting and kept the story from flowing as well as it could have. Overall, though, it was an okay read.

[Penny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slightly disappointing, a little contrived in places, the sexy bits were a little uncomfortable to read as it seemed they were a little difficult to write! I really missed the historical detail associated with Michener!

[Curt Blair · Rating 1 out of 5]

If Michener wrote this awful novella, he should have burned it. My suspicion is that his ghost writer, to whom Michener gave the writes to this work, made substantial alterations between the time Michener died and the book was published.

[Robin]

Michener's last novel, published posthumously 10 years after his passing in its unedited form.