Isola: Reese's Book Club: A Novel
REESE’S BOOK CLUB PICK • NATIONAL BESTSELLER •
A young woman and her lover are marooned on an island in this “lushly painted” (People) historical epic of love, faith, and defiance from the bestselling author of Sam.
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Readers say *Isola* is a richly detailed historical novel that vividly brings to life Marguerite de la Rocque’s journey from noble privilege to surviv...
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What’s it about?
This historical novel is loosely based on the life of Marguerite de la Rocque de Roberval, a sixteenth-century French noblewoman. She was deserted on an island off the coast of Canada sometime in the 1540s and is said to have lived there for two years. In this version, Marguerite is a spoiled and lonely orphan who is totally at the mercy of her male guardian. When he spends all of her inheritance, she has no recourse but to follow him on an expedition to New France.
What did it make me think about?
This story certainly makes you understand how powerless women have been throughout history.
Should I read it?
I find most historical fiction falls into two categories. One category writes a fairly straightforward story that conveys some historical context or story to the reader. The other group of books falls into a more literary category. These books appear to be pieces of literature that incorporate history. I would put this book in the latter category. I read Kaaterskill Falls and The Family Markowitz ages ago, and I remember enjoying them both. I read SAM and reviewed it a couple of years ago, and although I was less enthusiastic, I still enjoyed the book. But this novel felt like a big departure for Allegra Goodman. It was neither a sprawling family drama nor a contemporary story. I am always impressed when an author shows such flexibility. It was not what I expected, but it provided a compelling glimpse into the life of a privileged woman in the mid-1500s. Anyone who enjoys historical fiction is in for a treat.
Quote-
“I knew as little of the chateau’s public rooms as I did of my farms and vineyards, for like all my property, they were mine in name only.”
“I turned to Auguste, and I thought how rare he was to believe and yet to doubt-to entertain both.”
What’s it about?
This historical novel is loosely based on the life of Marguerite de la Rocque de Roberval, a sixteenth-century French noblewoman. She was deserted on an island off the coast of Canada sometime in the 1540s and is said to have lived there for two years. In this version, Marguerite is a spoiled and lonely orphan who is totally at the mercy of her male guardian. When he spends all of her inheritance, she has no recourse but to follow him on an expedition to New France.
What did it make me think about?
This story certainly makes you understand how powerless women have been throughout history.
Should I read it?
I find most historical fiction falls into two categories. One category writes a fairly straightforward story that conveys some historical context or story to the reader. The other group of books falls into a more literary category. These books appear to be pieces of literature that incorporate history. I would put this book in the latter category. I read Kaaterskill Falls and The Family Markowitz ages ago, and I remember enjoying them both. I read SAM and reviewed it a couple of years ago, and although I was less enthusiastic, I still enjoyed the book. But this novel felt like a big departure for Allegra Goodman. It was neither a sprawling family drama nor a contemporary story. I am always impressed when an author shows such flexibility. It was not what I expected, but it provided a compelling glimpse into the life of a privileged woman in the mid-1500s. Anyone who enjoys historical fiction is in for a treat.
Quote-
“I knew as little of the chateau’s public rooms as I did of my farms and vineyards, for like all my property, they were mine in name only.”
“I turned to Auguste, and I thought how rare he was to believe and yet to doubt-to entertain both.”
They say that truth is stranger than fiction. This book, as a Historical Fiction novel, would be less compelling were it not for the fact that the plot is essentially true! I respected and admired the strength of the protagonist Marguerite for the way she suffered and overcame the wrongs perpetrated by Robervale. And he, as the antagonist, was the villain that I loathed. I thought this book documented a story that needed to be told, and I was gratified to read it.
The book was kind of bore. I did get a kick out of Damienne though at times.
“The men staggered, nearly dropping her, for she was deadweight, almost paralyzed with fear…”
After she died, I was like, how is there still so much book left? It’s over now. I wasn’t invested in Marguerite’s character.
The passages from the “Lessons for My Daughter XI” also ENRAGED ME, notably this one: “because of their weak feminine nature, it is especially important for all gentlewomen desiring a good reputation to be so modest and afraid of error that they do not take a single step unless they must, and that compassed by reason, they behave with perfect delicacy.”
After this one, I thought maybe I’m not cut out to read books set in the 16th century.
"Isola" is an engaging historical fiction novel that vividly reimagines the life of Marguerite de la Rocque, a 16th-century French noblewoman.
Orphaned at age three, Marguerite's inheritance was squandered by her guardian and cousin, Roberval. As an adult, he sold her estate to pay his debts and forced her to join his expedition to New France (Canada). During the voyage, Roberval noticed a growing attraction between Marguerite and his secretary, Auguste. Angered, he banished the lovers and Marguerite's nurse, Damienne, to a small island in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. Left alone and uncertain of their fate, they faced immense challenges.
Allegra Goodman's lyrical prose immerses readers in Marguerite’s world, exploring her deepest thoughts, her complex relationships with Roberval, Auguste, and Damienne, vibrant scenes of island life, and her remarkable evolution from privilege to resilience. Themes of loneliness, self-reflection, and transformation run throughout, leading to a profound sense of closure.
"Isola" provides a highly realistic portrayal of the harsh realities of 16th-century patriarchal society, where Marguerite’s safety was always precarious, both on and off the island.
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