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What's the matter with Maria?: A tale of love and return
Sometimes, what we fear most turn out a gateway to our true self Meet Maria : a sensitive and spirited little girl living in the harbor town Ferrysville on Matter Island. Here, she discovers the world from her hideaway in a beloved apple tree, watchfully studying the humble setting inhabited by hard-working fishermen and farmers: a down-to-earth and jovial people. One summer, some city folks move to the village: vibrant single mother Helen, a small boy Jay and his big sister. Maria and Jay fast become best friends. As good as inseparable, the two of them form an affectionate alliance. Alas, the newcomers unexpectedly leave. During a disturbing incident shortly after her loss, the imaginative girl encounters a new friend and ally named Ray. The boy is precocious and softhearted like Jay, but strangely elusive... In this tender & timeless tale , we follow our jumpy yet resourceful heroine's rocky journey through her childhood years. Join the intuitive introvert as she grapples with family life and school troubles, haunting night terrors, belittling and bullying, lightened by tiny glimmers of magic. All the while and always she wonders: will my first love ever return?
342 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 29, 2019
1 person is currently reading
12 people want to read
About the author
Mona Kristensen
5 books4 followersMona Kristensen is an intuitive author from the northern part of Denmark, a sweet spot where meadows entwine with green fields: here, she finds inspiration for her conscious storytelling.
She cherishes the mystery of Life; the subtle ways in which it speaks to us.
A fan of fairy tales and books by beloved children's book author Astrid Lindgren, Mona now loves to dance with the muse and create evocative metaphors that may help people navigate in life.
She also has a big heart for our inner Wonder child: an open, expressive and imaginative part of us that sadly often ends up wounded. Through her words, she hopes to mend a bit of this unfortunate damage.
Mona is passionate about Jungian dreamwork, loves dogs and enjoys soft indie music on calm mornings, watching the sun rise whilst sipping green tea.
In February 2020, Mona's novel "What's the Matter with Maria?" won the title "Book of the Month" at MagicBeans Bookstore: https://magicbeansbookstore.com/
She cherishes the mystery of Life; the subtle ways in which it speaks to us.
A fan of fairy tales and books by beloved children's book author Astrid Lindgren, Mona now loves to dance with the muse and create evocative metaphors that may help people navigate in life.
She also has a big heart for our inner Wonder child: an open, expressive and imaginative part of us that sadly often ends up wounded. Through her words, she hopes to mend a bit of this unfortunate damage.
Mona is passionate about Jungian dreamwork, loves dogs and enjoys soft indie music on calm mornings, watching the sun rise whilst sipping green tea.
In February 2020, Mona's novel "What's the Matter with Maria?" won the title "Book of the Month" at MagicBeans Bookstore: https://magicbeansbookstore.com/
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 16, 2021
I fell in love with this subtle, beautifully written book within the first few pages, and never have I seen my own child self reflected back to me so perfectly. It was uncanny how much I recognized myself in the main character of this book, Maria. At times I felt that the author must have been spying on me when I was a child and used my experiences to write this book. It was so eerie how accurate she was in describing the experience of the highly sensitive, intuitive child.
I won’t give spoilers, but this novel basically follows the main character, Maria, from the time when she’s about six years old to about twelve. Maria is intelligent, thoughtful, sensitive, artistic, and definitely an introvert. She feels strong and deep connections with animals, plants, the earth itself, and many different forms of art. Because she’s so intuitive and sensitive she also tends to feel like an alien in school and other places of mainstream society (hello, that’s me even today!). But even though she feels so out of place, she’s able to use her intuition and sensitivity to see deeper into people and situations than others can, and this deep profound vision she has for the hidden layers of the world is what ultimately brings meaning to her life.
Do not let the description fool you, this is not a simple book, and while it is enthralling, it’s not for those looking purely for entertainment. This book is serious literature, and it’s powerful. It’s for those who love to explore unconventional ideas and deeply meaningful philosophies, and for those who know they are different, and struggle mightily with it. It’s for everyone who has ever felt that their innate sensitivity was a crippling burden, but also somehow know that it’s a rare gift and they were given it for a purpose.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is Highly Sensitive, intuitive, an empath, an INFJ or INFP personality type, and/or who loves children’s literature with a magical feel or metaphysical literary fiction. This is a seriously beautiful book that will stay with you for a long time, and that you will come back to again and again.
I won’t give spoilers, but this novel basically follows the main character, Maria, from the time when she’s about six years old to about twelve. Maria is intelligent, thoughtful, sensitive, artistic, and definitely an introvert. She feels strong and deep connections with animals, plants, the earth itself, and many different forms of art. Because she’s so intuitive and sensitive she also tends to feel like an alien in school and other places of mainstream society (hello, that’s me even today!). But even though she feels so out of place, she’s able to use her intuition and sensitivity to see deeper into people and situations than others can, and this deep profound vision she has for the hidden layers of the world is what ultimately brings meaning to her life.
Do not let the description fool you, this is not a simple book, and while it is enthralling, it’s not for those looking purely for entertainment. This book is serious literature, and it’s powerful. It’s for those who love to explore unconventional ideas and deeply meaningful philosophies, and for those who know they are different, and struggle mightily with it. It’s for everyone who has ever felt that their innate sensitivity was a crippling burden, but also somehow know that it’s a rare gift and they were given it for a purpose.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is Highly Sensitive, intuitive, an empath, an INFJ or INFP personality type, and/or who loves children’s literature with a magical feel or metaphysical literary fiction. This is a seriously beautiful book that will stay with you for a long time, and that you will come back to again and again.
June 11, 2021
In a world that is often loud and boisterous, sensitive souls can have trouble finding where they truly belong. Maria is a quiet, respectful, and empathic young girl who, at the age of six, befriends a boy named Jay when he moves to her small home on Matter Island. The two become fast friends, recognizing similar traits in one another; however, when Jay unexpectedly leaves to return to the mainland, Maria spends years struggling to place her feet back on solid ground.
Spanning about seven years, this introspective book examines a young girl’s experience as she strives to discover her place in the world. Battling bullies, anxiety, and a desire to consistently please the adults in her life, Maria often feels overwhelmed. For years, Maria keeps her complex emotions hidden inside, teetering on the brink of collapse before she finally succumbs. Readers who have ever felt separate from the fast-paced outside world will find a kindred spirit in Maria.
Though the primary focus of this story is on a child emerging into adolescence, the target audience is actually older than that. Written in a poetic style, time shifts from moving quite quickly to lingering over specific, life-affecting moments. This can mean that the narrative moves slowly at times, but in the style of stories written for adults, there is an important revelatory component at the end that makes everything else fall into place.
Several mentions of Christianity and religion are included, though the overarching message is that the soul, no matter one’s feelings on its origin, is the most profound and important element of one’s existence. As Maria navigates her complex emotions, the door is opened for conversations about depression, anxiety, and chronic illnesses that often occur as a result of unmitigated stress. While not explicitly discussed in the book, older readers will recognize many of Maria’s life experiences and possibly be able to work through their own memories through Maria’s story.
Older readers with a bit of distance from their own childhoods will most benefit from the messages shared in this narrative. Lovely, colorful illustrations punctuate the book and give readers a glimpse into Maria’s artistic and creative world. Fans of introspective stories like A Man Called Ove will appreciate the supportive messages Maria receives as she comes into her own. This is an encouraging tale for introverted souls who have struggled to appreciate the voice inside themselves.
I received a copy of this book from the author and I chose to leave this review.
Spanning about seven years, this introspective book examines a young girl’s experience as she strives to discover her place in the world. Battling bullies, anxiety, and a desire to consistently please the adults in her life, Maria often feels overwhelmed. For years, Maria keeps her complex emotions hidden inside, teetering on the brink of collapse before she finally succumbs. Readers who have ever felt separate from the fast-paced outside world will find a kindred spirit in Maria.
Though the primary focus of this story is on a child emerging into adolescence, the target audience is actually older than that. Written in a poetic style, time shifts from moving quite quickly to lingering over specific, life-affecting moments. This can mean that the narrative moves slowly at times, but in the style of stories written for adults, there is an important revelatory component at the end that makes everything else fall into place.
Several mentions of Christianity and religion are included, though the overarching message is that the soul, no matter one’s feelings on its origin, is the most profound and important element of one’s existence. As Maria navigates her complex emotions, the door is opened for conversations about depression, anxiety, and chronic illnesses that often occur as a result of unmitigated stress. While not explicitly discussed in the book, older readers will recognize many of Maria’s life experiences and possibly be able to work through their own memories through Maria’s story.
Older readers with a bit of distance from their own childhoods will most benefit from the messages shared in this narrative. Lovely, colorful illustrations punctuate the book and give readers a glimpse into Maria’s artistic and creative world. Fans of introspective stories like A Man Called Ove will appreciate the supportive messages Maria receives as she comes into her own. This is an encouraging tale for introverted souls who have struggled to appreciate the voice inside themselves.
I received a copy of this book from the author and I chose to leave this review.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews