Click here to read reviewer Heather Darcy's take on Divisadero.
Michael Ondaatje’s poetic writing within the pages of Divisadero captures the reader in the same great way that all successful artists mesmerize their audience. Using many tools of writing Ondaatje brings several dimensions into this story
- a story which speaks of distance on several different levels.
Divisadero tells the tale of a father, two daughters, and a hired hand, all brought together by fate or chance then torn apart through the same mysterious means. The story is told through the voice of several characters as well as a distant narrative, adding to the intrigue of the novel.
While each sister works at coming to terms with their past, they do so in very different ways and across a great distance. One finds herself in the chaos of Nevada, while the other does so in the country side of France, immersed in the manuscripts and journals of an early 1900’s writer.
The pace of the modern-day stories are fast and full of adventure, while the stories from long-ago France are slow and intense. Neither era finds resolution, which may leave some readers unfulfilled.
Divisadero is one of those richly layered books that uncover new treasures with each time you read them. If you long for an artistic journey this is definitely a book that will not disappoint.