Back in January, I was lucky enough to win When Madeline Was Young by Jane Hamilton on Dolce Bellezza's Buy a Friend a Book Week contest. How appropriate that with less than a month to the next Buy a Friend a Book Week, I finally finished my prize!
I have been a fan of Jane Hamilton's since Amy introduced me to A Map of the World back in 1997. A friend of mine met Ms. Hamilton when she was chosen to appear on Oprah when The Book of Ruth was Oprah's Book Club Selection. While my friend was not overly impressed by la Oprah, she found Jane Hamilton to be down-to-earth and real. And that is how I would characterize her books...down-to-earth and real.
When Madeline Was Young is told from the perspective of Mac who, as an adolescent, learns that his "sister" Madeline is not really his sister, but his father's first wife who has been cared for lovingly by his father and mother since experiencing a traumatic brain injury in a bicycling accident. Madeline lives the life of a 6-year old despite her chronological age and Mac, although much younger, lives the role of the protective older brother. Underlying Mac's story is a rivalry with his cousin Buddy and between the two families.
Hamilton does a fine job of bringing her characters to life with realism and without melodrama. The story, the characters and their interactions ring true throughout. Even Mac's mother who remains purposely (I believe) enigmatic does so without creating an unrealistic sense of mystery. Although I haven't felt that any of Jane Hamilton's books have matched the emotional impact of A Map of the World, When Madeline Was Young was a good book with an interesting story to tell.
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