Sunday, October 11, 2020

Book Review - Hieroglyphics; Jill McCorkle

Hieroglyphics; Jill McCorkle 
Algonquin - 2020


Hieroglyphics is the story of 4 lives shaped by past trauma. 

Frank and Lil are an elderly couple in their 80s from Massachusetts, now residing in North Carolina, to be closer to their daughter Becca. Frank was a former history professor and Lil a former dance instructor. Frank's father died in a train derailment and his mother severely injured, just before Christmas when Frank was a  young boy staying with his grandmother.  Lil's mother died in a nightclub fire when she was young and, she has never made peace with her death as she didn't understand why her mother was at the Coconut Grove nightclub in the first place.

Shelley, in an overly nervous court stenographer and single mother to an older son, as well as 6 year old Harvey. Harvey is overly anxious, scared of ghosts, somewhat eccentric and inappropriate at school. It's an issue which has put additional stress on his already frazzled mother.

The chapters alternate between the characters and, the story made me think about just how much our present happiness or unhappiness results from childhood joy or trauma. Who would I have become and what would my happiness factor have been if all those stars had been perfectly aligned?

The writing style definitely takes some getting used to, but the writing is thought provoking - a beautiful example of literary fiction. Hieroglyphics is a multi-layered, slow build story that makes the reader think about their own mortality with its themes of grief, loss, secrets and redemption. This is my second novel by Jill McCorkle, I do love her writing. Life After Life is another thoughtful novel of hers that I enjoyed back in 2014.

Rating - 4.5/5 stars

17 comments:

  1. It sounds like a worthy one to tackle.

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  2. Thanks for sharing, Diane. I hadn't heard of this book.

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    1. The writing style takes a bit to get used to Mary, but, it's so well written.

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  3. I think I haven't realized until the past few years the impact of early life on us as adults, especially early trauma.

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    1. Yes, so true that as adults we are generally a product of what we experienced as children.

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  4. Thought provoking and multi-layered sound good. A book that keeps you thinking about its characters and themes is actually something to be appreciated. So many books I read are easily and quickly forgotten.

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    1. Yes, I agree. I love when a story sticks with you. I need to find more books that last.

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  5. Oh good I'm glad you reviewed & liked this one ... I had looked at it and might get it. Past trauma events ... are difficult to shake.

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  6. Hi there Diane, I've never seen this book - but it sounds like a really good read. Thanks for sharing your review!

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  7. I agree with you assessment of this one. I wasn't crazy about Life After Life, and thought this one was considerably better, so I'm looking forward to what she does next.

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  8. I didn't think anyone else I knew had read McCorkle's Life After Life since it was published the same year (month/nearly week) as Atkinson's. It seems I wasn't that impressed with it at the time https://www.exurbanis.com/archives/10147#after but then, my mom had just died.

    Hieroglyphics intrigues me. Thanks for letting me know it's out!

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  9. I have been noticing this book around lately. It sounds like something I would like.

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  10. I love good literary fiction and am eager to read this one. I'm so glad you enjoyed it.

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