When Madeline Was Young
About This Book
Condition Size
When Madeline Was Young
Jane Hamilton
Large Paperback
Yellowing Pages
Jane Hamilton, award-winning author of
The Book of Ruth and
A Map of the World, is back in top form with a richly textured novel about a tragic accident and its effects on two generations of a family.
When Aaron Maciver's beautiful young wife, Madeline, suffers brain damage in a bike accident, she is left with the intellectual powers of a six-year-old. In the years that follow, Aaron and his second wife care for Madeline with deep tenderness and devotion as they raise two children of their own.
Narrated by Aaron's son, Mac,
When Madeline Was Young chronicles the Maciver family through the decades, from Mac's childhood growing up with Madeline and his cousin Buddy in Wisconsin through the Vietnam War, through Mac's years as a husband with children of his own, and through Buddy's involvement with the subsequent Gulf Wars. Jane Hamilton, with her usual humor and keen observations of human relationships, deftly explores the Maciver's unusual situation and examines notions of childhood (through Mac and Buddy's actual youth as well as Madeline's infantilization) and a rivalry between Buddy's and Mac's families that spans decades and various wars. She captures the pleasures and frustrations of marriage and family, and she exposes the role that past relationships, rivalries, and regrets inevitably play in the lives of adults.
Inspired in part by Elizabeth Spencer's
Light in the Piazza, Hamilton offers an honest and exquisite portrait of how a family tragedy forever shapes and alters the boundaries of love.
About Readmatter Online Used Bookshop
Born from a dream during the COVID-19 pandemic, ReadMatter has grown into one of South Africa's premier online used bookstores. With two dedicated online depots and a by-appointment public store in Gauteng, we're always ready to connect readers with the books they love. Our custom-built bookmobile brings the joy of reading to events and underserved communities across the region, offering access to hundreds of books on wheels.
At Readmatter, every title is hand-picked to meet our quality standards. We have over 10,000 unique books in stock, with an additional 100,000 titles available upon request. Our inventory evolves constantly, with approximately 250-300 new books added each week. It's worth visiting our site often or signing up for stock updates to stay in the loop!
With a 100% user rating on Bobshop, a 5-star Google rating, and recognition as a finalist in Radio 702's Gauteng's Greatest Bookshop Competition, we are dedicated to quality, customer satisfaction, and sharing the magic of books with every corner of South Africa.
