As a class, we were asked to read Francine Prose's novel Goldengrove. Upon the completion of the novel, each student was then asked to write an Amazon review for the book, and to collaboratively create a Wikipedia page containing information about the novel, and the author. Below you will be able to find both my Amazon review, and the link to the Wikipedia page the class created for Goldengrove.
Goldengrove is Magnificent,
October 6, 2009
Francine Prose's prose within Goldengrove is exquisitely delightful,
taking the reader on a whirlwind trip of love, loss, grief, and
eventual acceptance. Thirteen year old Nico's narrative depicts a
reluctant teenager, who is slowly able to come into her own by dealing
with her adored sister's untimely death. Margaret, her sister, was
beloved by all who encountered her; Nico, with just a tinge of
jealousy, is both comfortably and enviously living within her sister's
shadow. Her admiration of her sister is evident throughout the entire
novel, from her loving encounters with Margaret to her (eventually)
hauntingly similar looks. After Margaret's death, both Nico and her
family make repeated attempts to cope, with very minuscule success in
the beginning. Margaret is seemingly everywhere Nico looks, which is
something Nico has a difficult time dealing with. Eventually, Nico
loses herself in the loss of her sister, taking on a strikingly similar
attitude to that of her former sibling. From bob haircuts to the same
boy her sister dated, Nico allows her entire essence to serve as a
continuation of her deceased sister's life, in an effort to be able to
carry on Margaret's legacy. The relationship that blooms between Nico
and Aaron, however, is one of both comfort and obsession. Recovery is a
slippery slope....
As a secondary education teacher, I would absolutely use this book
in my classroom. Though some of the language is extensive, it is not
more than any secondary student could bear; the plot is both engaging
and addicting to anyone who has experienced loss, or even anyone who
has experienced what it feels like to be completely alone. The story,
told from the point of view of the deceased girl's sister, is a unique
spin on an Alice Seabold-esque story. The reader is able to get a
glimpse into the lives of the surviving family, and is able to see how
the once close-knit family structure is tested by the pressures of
succeeding one of its members. This novel would undoubtedly be a fast
read for students, and one that they will actively and willingly
participate in reading.
