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patTX
Posted November 12, 2009
But, the story did not hold true to the setting for the story. I am from Kansas and have friends from Oakley. Why was it important to dwell on this town. And she walked from Oakley to Kansas City. Do you know how many miles the character would have walked?
Kansas City had a sweat-shop factory? These locations are real, but the story had holes that need to be filled in for the reader. There needs to be more research. The book left me wanting!!!
1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.In Oakley, Kansas, tiny twelve years old Tessa Riley is so small she is unable to help her parents or her three normal siblings with the farm. In fact her mother insists that Tessa do one job, stretching exercises so that she would grow to a normal size and no longer be a freak. Tessa feels all alone as everyone in the community and her family following the leads of her abusive father and bible quoting mother treat her like a pathetic sideshow reject.---------- The new librarian Mary Finn has all the townsfolk hopping as she enchantsthe men with her beauty and the women with envy. Mary especially takes a liking to diminutive Tessa telling her tales from her days as the flying Marionetta with the Velasquez Circus. She teaches the child to read and tells her enchanting tales about the residents of Rain Village. Tessa uses the stories to hide her hurt from the scorn of all (except Mary who encourages her) and the sexual assaults of her father. When Mary apparently commits suicide, a distraught now sixteen years old Tessa flees to Kansas City where she joins the circus and marries flyer Mauro Ramirez until her late mentor¿s nephew Costas arrives and tells her he is going to Rain Village.--------------- Though the ending is unwisely rushed, RAIN VILLAGE has a Brigadoon like feel to the wonderful historical tale. Tessa may be short, but she holds the coming of age tale together as she is a fully developed character whether she is preadolescent, teenager, or adult. Mary is more mystical in nature (like her village and the circus) adding to the overall enchantment. Carolyn Turgeon provides a fine early twentieth century character study that brings out a more isolated era.----------- Harriet Klausner
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted September 26, 2007
Rain Village is first a story about loss and longing and second about living a life in the circus. Turgeon has a gentle yet powerful style of writing that catches and holds you suspended from word to word. At times, the secondary characters of Mary and Lollie felt more developed than that of central character Tessa, manifesting itself in confusing emotional outbursts and seemingly uncharacteristic decisions. The story, broken down into three parts, is rich with beautiful scenes of aerial-training and haunting backdrops. When you finish the last page you will may find you were holding your breath throughout it all.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 5, 2011
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Posted August 11, 2011
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Posted October 5, 2010
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Posted June 21, 2011
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Posted July 12, 2011
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Posted March 9, 2011
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Posted September 25, 2010
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Posted March 13, 2011
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Overview
Young Tessa is a diminutive girl, far too small for farm work and the object of ridicule by both her own family and the other children in their isolated Midwestern community. Her father seems to believe in nothing beyond his crops, certainly not education for his misfit daughter. When a mysterious, entrancing librarian comes to town, full of fabulous stories, earthy wisdom and potions for the lovelorn, she takes Tessa under her wing, teaching her to read and to believe in herself—and a whole new magical world of possibilities opens up. But even as she blooms, Tessa’s father begins sexually abusing her. And her mentor carries a dark secret of her own that finally causes her to drown herself. Tessa runs off, following ...