The Land of Women

by Regina McBride

Akin to Alice McDermott, Regina McBride has crafted a gem that explores exile and memory, and the ways in which passion transcends time and distance.
She tries to remember her mother's voice and the pitch and treble of it passes through her; the rhythm of it so clear that for a moment they are...connected by frail strings.
So begins The Land of Women, and we are swept into Fiona O'Faolain's last summer in Ireland, the season of her burgeoning sexuality. It is a time, too, when mother and daughter step toward friendship among the voluminous gowns they make for local brides. Yet that giddy summer also delivers betrayal. Fiona's journey from the shame that ended her girlhood takes her to Santa Fe and to Carlos Aragon, a restorer of antiquities, whose ancestry is mysteriously linked to hers. As he explores their pasts with the precision of an artisan, Fiona must face her excruciating memory.
In The Land of Women the past lives in the present, and physical and emotional geography touch.

Genres: Fiction

234 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Regina McBride is the author of The Nature of Water and Air, The Land of Women, and The Marriage Bed. She is the recipient of fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the New York Foundation for the Arts. Her poems have been widely published in literary journals and magazines, and her book of poetry, Yarrow Field, won an American Book Series Award.

She grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and lived for a time in Ireland. She teaches creative writing at Hunter College in New York City, where she lives with her husband and daughter.

Reviews

[Miranda Clark-Selby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Giving this a 3.5. This book had a very different writing style that I wouldn't normally be into, but it kinda grabbed me and I was pretty into it. Lots of weird taboo, sex stuff that I didn't expect, but the story itself was interesting, yet simple. Probably wouldn't tell my friends about it or read it again, but no regrets.

[Elizabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

Comments before reading: I think I read this book before a little bit. Not sure what happened. I better get to reading it again. I hope I am in a more fitting mood to read this book then last time.

Comments after reading: I had to force myself to finish this book. It wasn't something I would normally read. I am not sure why I ever picked it up to read. It wasn't a horrible story or anything but not very good. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone but I'm sure there were people who liked it.

[Mary · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this book two years ago. I know I read it, I marked in my journal. Yet I don't remember it. For me, that's the best indication of a lightweight read.

[Jdee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how Regina writes about complicated relationships. She draws you in with her beautiful words. I didn’t love this book as much as I did The Nature of Water. Both stories aren’t that different. Complicated mother and daughter relationship with a man mixed in. It didn’t take me long to figure out where this one was going. I loved Fiona but couldn’t stand her mother. She lived up to what I expected. I would like to have known what happened to Michael. But I guess in the end it didn’t really matter.

[Barbara Parrish · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I ever read.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elegant evocative prose that sometimes glides into poetry

[Patricia Vroman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Melancholy. Switches between a young woman's life in New Mexico and her upbringing in Ireland, her relationship with her mother, myth and magic, folklore involving her first love, betrayals, dresses and what they represent, the myth and history being pursued by Carlos in New Mexico and western Ireland. Quite intriguing and disturbing.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully written book about a young woman who finds herself unable to finish much of what she starts. Fiona O'Faolain moved to Taos, New Mexico to live with her father and wants nothing to do with her mother, back in Ireland. In an interlude which comprises the main portion of the book, we learn why she felt it necessary to cut herself off from her mother and the land of her birth, and in the meantime we also learn a little of what has led to her present paralysis. Meeting a man, Carlos, who restores antiquities, and is fascinated with all things Irish, provides the impetus for breaking the spell she has been under. The language is nearly poetic, and the scenery comes alive under Ms McBride's pen. We come to care deeply for the characters she introduces us to, and none of the plot devices feel forced. The story flows naturally from the character of the people in it. Not quite magical, but close enough.

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

very sensual and lyrical prose style, with traces of Irish folk and fairy lore. While the flashback portions of the book, which make the main section of it, are very strong, I think the main character is weak almost to the point of disappearing in the "now" chapters. But there's a symbolism possible in that weakness that becomes evident in the final chapters. Still, I'm not sure that it resolves my issues with her development through the book, just as I'm not sure that all the different stories really come together satisfyingly enough for me at the end. Still, it's a lovely piece of work and worth the time spent reading.

[Lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up at the free book giveaway last year and finally picked it up again. The story follows Fiona through two separate time periods, her teenage years in Ireland and her adult years in New Mexico. The author does a good job of mixing the two stories together, sometimes when authors try to do that it gets confusing, however McBride does not create that problem. I really enjoyed the Irish folktales and the description of the Irish landscape. The “big” turning point in the book wasn’t a huge surprise, which was a big disappointment. This was an easy read and all in all quite enjoyable. Plus, Irish people!

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the author's first book enough that I read this one, too. Different material, but the same lyrical prose. And it's written about two of my favorite places on the planet - New Mexico and Ireland! I had to read it! This book was a bit more hopeful, a tad more uplifting and that characters certainly are more relatable. I like how she ties fairy lore into a present-day narrative, although I wish she had concentrated a bit more on making the present-day chapters as dynamic as the flashbacks. Entertaining read! Good for the beach, a vacation or rainy, mindless day.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had an ethereal dream like quality of the best kind. The best comparison I could think of was fog. It's quite and soft, and damp without being depressing. It's fog like, but somehow uplifting. Perhaps because all the really sad events take place through the main characters memory. I think it was the perfect time in my life to read this book, and in some ways it made me feel whole again. I would highly recommend it too anyone who enjoys books with beautiful and tender prose.

[Carin · Rating 4 out of 5]

"You have the great failing of the Celtic soul...nostalgia."

"It seems almost strange to remember what things once were and what they eventually become."

"He was telling her about the impulse of life beginning under the valve that caused the heart to pump."

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little too fraught, but okay.

[Kate Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a perfect book. Incredibly beautiful, poetic writing style, page-turner story, great characters. I suck at writing reviews.

[Amy Butterworth · Rating 3 out of 5]

A coming of age story told in the present and in flashbacks. Wonderful Irish folklore.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It made me want to travel to Ireland and become a dressmaker.

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as her other two books but still compelling enough to read in a day.

[Lynette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Read

[Lynne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just a bit overly focused on women's 'dependence' on men- if that element were not there I could recommend this book. McBride has talent, but not enough to pull this one off.

[Linda Poore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a book I would recommend. Though there were parts of the book I really liked. Specifically the parts set in Santa Fe, NM. Unfortunately, the majority of the book is set in Ireland.

[Shay Strong · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very gentle book. It was a fast read that really transported me to Ireland and New Mexico.