Book: The
Drago Tree
Author: Isobel Blackthorn
Publisher: Odyssey Books
Publisher: Odyssey Books
Synopsis:
Haunted by
demons past and present, geologist Ann Salter seeks sanctuary on the exotic
island of Lanzarote. There she meets charismatic author Richard Parry and
indigenous potter Domingo, and together they explore the island.
Ann’s
encounters with the island’s hidden treasures becomes a journey deep inside
herself as she struggles to understand who she was, who she is, and who she
wants to be.
Set against a
panoramic backdrop of dramatic island landscapes and Spanish colonial history, The
Drago Tree is an intriguing tale of betrayal, conquest and love, in all its
forms.
Book Review
A little
overdue but finally here. The Drago Tree by Isobel Blackthorn is a story
of self-discovery and understanding oneself and life. The story is mainly about
Ann, along with two other characters, Domingo and Richard, who teach her
different things about herself and life.
Ann runs away
from an abusive husband and travels to the exotic island of Lanzarote, a
Spanish-speaking island off the coast of Morocco. Personally, I had never heard
of it but having read this book, I fell in love with it.
The Drago
Tree is a beautiful example of travel literature, as
Blackthorn gives the reader exquisite detail about the setting and the country.
"For
Ann, names were important. A change of name wasn't just about change of
ownership; it involved change of identity. Even married to Andrew, she'd held
onto Salter."
When Ann
arrives on the island, she begins by writing a single sentence and is quite
critical of herself. She meets the handsome author Richard, who gives her harsh
criticism, but also introduces her to the local potter-maker Domingo.
Ann then
begins to write regularly, but the story takes up after many of her experiences
and her family problems, particularly those of her sister and failed marriage –
both of whom we are introduced to in the form of flashbacks.
"Too
many times she'd been shut in this courtroom of a marriage, forced by her own
sense of injustice to defend her position to an irascible judge."
Some of the flashbacks
were a bit confusing for me, especially when they were in a new chapter. Both Ann
and Richard have flashbacks.
The Drago
Tree is full of stunning imagery, quotes, lines and
setting. The pace is very slow; however, the book is an experience in of
itself.
The overall
description, whether for characters, emotions or setting, was done very well. If
Blackthorn ever decides to give writing courses, I'll be the first to sign up. The
narrative is simply brilliant.
"He
was a bulldozer of a man, with a deep gravelly voice. He had bushy eyebrows,
flaring nostrils, and a coat hanger of a moustache."
I particularly
liked the idea of Ann writing, first a sentence, then later a book. The writing
process is a kind of catharsis for her – and many writers can relate to that. It
was interesting for me to see how her views of her writing and of Richard develop
in the course of the novel.
"While
her writing allowed for a certain outpouring of emotion, the narrative was
about as therapeutic as a knife twisting in her guts…May be she needed to
change the characters' names, make them less like their real life
counterparts."
Character development
is significant for the main character Ann. I liked Domingo, whom Richard sees
merely a source of information and history to help with his book, but who is
truly a wiser person than Richard, with his colonialist views, is.
"Before
long she was a faucet turned on full, words blasting out of her, tumbling so
fast her pen could scarcely keep apace."
Overall rating: 4 stars
To get a feel
of The Drago Tree, check out an excerpt along with a short interview with author Isobel Blackthorn here on Nadaness In Motion.
Note: I received a free copy
of The Drago Tree from the author in exchange for an honest review.
