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Not Knowing: A Novel
When Meg was a little girl, Abuela María predicted she would travel to the moon.
Now she’s an archaeologist digging up Mayan ruins in Belize while trying to keep her own past buried beneath hard work and professional responsibility. It isn’t working. The summer of 2022 seems destined to push all of Meg’s buttons—her deep-seated aversion to marijuana and guns and the unwanted presence of a boy who reminds her of a certain horrific summer in Mexico. Digging deeper only unearths more questions. And then her husband buys a lottery ticket for the first tourist flight to the moon. What Meg doesn’t want to know may yet be her redemption.
Now she’s an archaeologist digging up Mayan ruins in Belize while trying to keep her own past buried beneath hard work and professional responsibility. It isn’t working. The summer of 2022 seems destined to push all of Meg’s buttons—her deep-seated aversion to marijuana and guns and the unwanted presence of a boy who reminds her of a certain horrific summer in Mexico. Digging deeper only unearths more questions. And then her husband buys a lottery ticket for the first tourist flight to the moon. What Meg doesn’t want to know may yet be her redemption.
325 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 20, 2019
14 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 5, 2019
This book focuses on archaeologist Meg Fitzellen, spending her summer at 'her' Mayan ruin site in Belize; for her, digging in ancient history is more pleasant than reminders of her own past. Insights and Belizean events still have an influence on her after returning home to Texas.
With "Not Knowing", Donna Dechen Birdwell has created a nicely developing and intense story about Meg Fitzellen. The story comprises a variety of characters with sufficient depth, interesting turns, archaeological knowledge, and has a good flow. I was drawn into the story right away, close to Meg and Seth; captivated by what their story had to offer. I had a good time reading "Not Knowing" – also a great source of food for thought.
"Not Knowing" may be categorised 'Contemporary Women's Fiction' - it offers a lot more. I enjoyed the human touch, the dreams, as well as the little mysteries; a story not easily forgotten.
This is for you if you like female protagonists, stories that let you follow along and inspire your own train of thoughts, as well as books you would like to read again.
Recommended.
With "Not Knowing", Donna Dechen Birdwell has created a nicely developing and intense story about Meg Fitzellen. The story comprises a variety of characters with sufficient depth, interesting turns, archaeological knowledge, and has a good flow. I was drawn into the story right away, close to Meg and Seth; captivated by what their story had to offer. I had a good time reading "Not Knowing" – also a great source of food for thought.
"Not Knowing" may be categorised 'Contemporary Women's Fiction' - it offers a lot more. I enjoyed the human touch, the dreams, as well as the little mysteries; a story not easily forgotten.
This is for you if you like female protagonists, stories that let you follow along and inspire your own train of thoughts, as well as books you would like to read again.
Recommended.
August 19, 2019
Dreamy and mysterious; I was hooked from page 1! As a mom of two littles I was forgoing sleep so I could read another few pages...the next chapter...well the baby is going to wake up any minute, I’ll just keep going till she does....
I was surprised at how much I liked the very flawed Meg. I cheered her on in some places and bemoaned her late insights in others. Her supporting characters were cheering her on too. They and the book in general make me appreciate how much the people we surround ourselves with shape our lives. I loved seeing the tangled thoughts of a woman trying to find herself while outwardly showing strong leadership and confidently in charge to others. And of course I loved the mystery slowly unraveling to the reader and Meg- would I figure it out before the character did? Would Meg’s premonitions actually come true? There is a clear bit of magic in this story- not Wizardry but the real kind of magic we glimpse in our teens, when we fall in love and at certain serendipitous times in our lives. Ephemeral and moving. Full of coincidences that spiral back to formerly known truths. I loved it.
I was surprised at how much I liked the very flawed Meg. I cheered her on in some places and bemoaned her late insights in others. Her supporting characters were cheering her on too. They and the book in general make me appreciate how much the people we surround ourselves with shape our lives. I loved seeing the tangled thoughts of a woman trying to find herself while outwardly showing strong leadership and confidently in charge to others. And of course I loved the mystery slowly unraveling to the reader and Meg- would I figure it out before the character did? Would Meg’s premonitions actually come true? There is a clear bit of magic in this story- not Wizardry but the real kind of magic we glimpse in our teens, when we fall in love and at certain serendipitous times in our lives. Ephemeral and moving. Full of coincidences that spiral back to formerly known truths. I loved it.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews