Hodgen writes like a christian mystic who has god speaking through her mingled with her own wild, lyrical mix of popular culture and high art. Christie hodgen audio books, best sellers, author bio. Its one of those very sad but ultimately lifeaffirming stories. Mary and her sister, malinda are burdened with a beautiful mother who copes by running from man to man in a dying new england factory town. Discover more authors youll love listening to on audible. She has a husbandbouncing, absentee mother, a drunk and high sister, and an alcoholic, showuponceinabluemoon father. Author stewart onan says yes and he recommends a great one by christie hodgen. December 12, 2011 can a book of elegies rise above maudlin. Refer to the synopsis of elegies for the brokenhearted. For mary murphy, there are five, eulogized here in an. I think christie hodgen did a great job with the setup of what could have been a very confusing book.
It is a rather bleak look at life of the main character, mary, told through elegies to five influential people in her life. Christie hodgen wins raves for elegies for the brokenhearted. Christie hodgens book elegies for the brokenhearted 2010 is a collection of linked short stories with a common narrator. Elegies for the brokenhearted by christie hodgen kirkus. Making these elegies not just for the brokenhearted, not just for her, but for anyone who has struggled and lost. Elegies for the brokenhearted bernardsville public library. Christie hodgen is the author of two novels, elegies for the brokenhearted w. Her father shown above with her daughter is john hodgen, a poet and college teacher.
A novel by christie hodgen available from rakuten kobo. In elegies for the brokenhearted, mary murphys story develops through the tales of five people, marys elegies to them. I enjoyed elegies for the brokenhearted by christie hodgen. Each of the five sections focuses on an important person in the life. Elegies for the brokenhearted audiobook by christie. Her characters live on a blasted heath where love is illusory, family a horror show, and crushing failure the norm. She teaches at the university of missourikansas city, where.
The brokenhearted download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. In this way we learn about the people she loved and her own life as well. Her smart, mordant heroine, mary murphy, narrates in the second person rather than the first, piecing. Npr coverage of elegies for the brokenhearted by christie hodgen. The prose is powerful and compelling, as more is revealed about marys own difficult life. Christie hodgens second novel offers a twist on the contemporary comingofage story. This is the first of christie hodgens books ive read and its made me a fan. Jul 22, 2010 christie hodgens new novel, elegies for the brokenhearted, reminds us that an elegy is a mix of sorrow and exuberance, like an upbeat tune with rueful lyrics. Jul 17, 2010 in elegies for the brokenhearted, mary murphys story develops through the tales of five people, marys elegies to them. Elegies for the brokenhearted by christie hodgen goodreads. This is the first of christie hodgen s books ive read and its made me a fan. Elegies for the brokenhearted by christie hodgen is a compilation of stories about mary and the people in her life who were most important to her. Dark, funny elegies for the brokenhearted shepherd express.
Christie hodgens elegies for the brokenhearted has lots to offer for discussion. Christie hodgen reads from elegies for the brokenhearted. In christie hodgen s novel, there are five elegies written by mary murphy about five people who had an influence on her life. Christie hodgen mary murphy searches for identity and purpose as she tells the story of her erratic childhood, her runaway sister, and the histories of people with whom shes crossed paths. These characters are not only brokenhearted, they are broken, as is the narrator. A skirtchasing, carracing uncle with whiskey breath and a threeday beard. Christie hodgen who are the people youll never forget. Sep, 2012 i saw elegies for the brokenhearted written up on npr and was intrigued by the premise. Christie hodgen author of elegies for the brokenhearted. The life around us had the thin, flimsy quality of a stage set, the walls and furniture and props made of the cheapest, lightest materials. Christie hodgen is the author of elegies for the brokenhearted. This book has heartchristie hodgens prose embodies the. Browse christie hodgens bestselling audiobooks and newest titles.
They are heartbreaking, and theyre really for mary murphy. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Can a book of elegies rise above maudlin morbidity. Elegies for the brokenhearted johnson county library. Written by christie hodgen, audiobook narrated by holly fielding. Deeply, satisfyingly originalelegies is the literary equivalent of a. Elegies for the brokenhearted drew me in from the first sentence. Elegies for the brokenhearted by christie hodgen bookforum. The first, most deeply felt elegyto mary murphys uncle michael 195289describes marys lessthanstable new england childhood in the 1970s. Elegies for the brokenhearted by christie hodgen librarything. That structure suited hodgens storytelling, and it reflects the way many people experience their livesin chunks.
Elegies for the brokenhearted by christie hodgen, paperback. Its a book that will break your heart, and warm your soul. In christie hodgens novel, there are five elegies written by mary murphy about five people who had an influence on her life. Elegies for the brokenhearted audiobook by christie hodgen. Both books began as short stories so hodgen discusses the craft of writing short and longform fiction and why, despite her own happy childhood, her work often deals. Elegies for the brokenhearted npr coverage of elegies for the brokenhearted by christie hodgen. She teaches at the university of missourikansas city. Small wonder christie hodgen dedicates her jewel of a novel elegies for the brokenhearted w. Author christie hodgens complete list of books and series in order, with the latest. I intend to read her other two, hello, i must be going and a jewelers eye for flaw. Christie hodgen reads from elegies for the brokenhearted february 15, 2011 christie hodgen reads a passage from elegies for the brokenhearted about an unforgettable skirtchasing, carracing uncle who comes in and out of his familys lives. The novel is broken down into five long stories, all about people who have touched the life of the narrator, mary.
Christie hodgens new novel, elegies for the brokenhearted, reminds us that an elegy is a mix of sorrow and exuberance, like an upbeat tune with rueful lyrics. Jul 06, 2012 christie hodgen, author of elegies for the brokenhearted, is an associate professor of english at the university of missourikansas city and an awardwinning writer. She has won the awp award for short fiction and the pushcart prize. Elegies for the brokenhearted is brilliant, gorgeous, illuminated writing. Christie hodgen s second novel offers a twist on the contemporary comingofage story. In remembrance of characters past can a book of elegies rise above maudlin morbidity. Each story is told through an elegy written after the persons death. Get this book free when you sign up for a 30day trial. In introducing those who have left, mary explores her sad, troubled and unforgiving life. Told in the second person as a series of elegies to five people who pass through marys life, christie hodgen deftly sketches characters who are trying and, more often, failing to escape the worlds they were born into. Deeply, satisfyingly originalelegies is the literary equivalent of a hand grenade.
Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read elegies for the brokenhearted. These characters include marys favorite uncle who was the drunken failure of the family, a high school outcast, her overlyeccentric college roommate who tells fortunes, an. Christie hodgen author christie hodgen is the author of elegies for the brokenhearted. Christie hodgen, author of elegies for the brokenhearted, is an associate professor of english at the university of missourikansas city and an awardwinning writer. A novel por christie hodgen disponible en rakuten kobo. In this interview before an audience at the kansas city public library, christie hodgen talks about her novels, hello, i must be going and elegies for the brokenhearted, which are populated by heartbreaking yet funny characters. Elegies for the broken hearted by christie hodgen book quote. I saw elegies for the brokenhearted written up on npr and was intrigued by the premise. Feb 09, 2015 elegies of the brokenhearted is broken into five sections, each one centering around an individual that influenced the main character, mary murphy, in a significant way.
The narrators own story is told through her elegies for five people in her life. Every family had one and you were ours each portrait details the sadness of poverty, the sadness of dysfunction, the sadness of. The first, most deeply felt elegyto mary murphys uncle michael 195289describes marys lessthanstable new england childhood in the 1970s and 80s. Signin to download and listen to this audiobook today. The story unfolds through the elegies of these five and their somewhat seamy lives and how they have shaped mary into the woman she is today. Christie hodgens third book is the story of mary murphy and the five people in her life she will never forget. The story unfolds through the elegies of these five. Elegies is the literary equivalent of a hand grenade. Her smart, mordant heroine, mary murphy, narrates in.
247 603 1607 832 1303 1581 188 124 1228 1265 1540 1122 1074 499 1497 78 1494 1206 1353 1346 584 1134 816 1020 324 710 817 68 543 999 27 1398 1495 1411 502 922 556 1140 1312 217 759 644 1385 479