FICTION

Nine Island

by Jane Alison
Catapult. Sept. 2016. 244p. ISBN 9781936787128. pap. $16.95; ebk. ISBN 9781936787272. F
COPY ISBN
J lives in a glass high-rise on one of Miami Beach's alluring Venetian Islands and is seriously thinking of giving up men. In midlife herself, she's seen her now ailing mother flop at many relationships, and she's just returned from a visit with Sir Gold (as she dubs him), an old flame who had seemed interested in reigniting their passion but after a month decides it's not to be and rather casually dismisses her. Meanwhile, she's translating Ovid, which leads not only to some absorbingly sensuous passages but also sharp, lyrical reflections on physical intimacy and the nature of female sexuality as both need and burden; here, we see mythic characters fleeing violation of body and self. Yet as a friend says, "If you retire from love,…then you retire from life."
VERDICT Novelist/memoirist Alison, also a translator of Ovid's stories of sexual transformation, has written an autobiographical novel-cum-meditation that many readers, and not just women, will find intriguing. Passion matters, and who doesn't contemplate somehow moving forward?
Reviewed by Barbara Hoffert , Nov 15, 2016
Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

FICTION

Secret Fling with the Billionaire
by Douglas, Michelle
FICTION

Holiday Under Wraps
by Mettner, Katie
FICTION

Tracking Down the Lawman’s Son
by Fossen, Delores
FICTION

Cold Case Protection
by Helm, Nicole
FICTION

One Waltz with the Viscount
by Martin, Laura
FICTION

When Cinderella Met the Duke
by Williams, Sophia
More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?