Neat Little Packages Maria Troia 9781432787875 Books
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Meg Callahan Harris has the perfect life – or at least, that’s how it looks to her childhood friends. As Meg fell out of touch while she created her illusion of an ideal life in the Arizona desert, her friends drew closer to each other and to her brother, Ken, who has hurt Meg with his evasive and confusing behavior. What none of them know is that behind her stoic façade, Meg has suffered painful years of infertility treatment. Her carefully constructed world comes to a crashing halt when she receives the best and worst news she can imagine, forcing her to reconnect with the brother and the friends she left behind Carl Bonadonna, the former Catholic seminarian turned Buddhist; Jess Bonadonna, Carl’s sister and a feminist torch singer; and Rosanne Spinelli, the exotic, tragic woman who is closest to Ken, the woman he fiercely loves and protects. As Meg realizes that these friends have replaced Ken’s family, her resentment and confusion trigger a crisis of faith that will ultimately lead her on a powerful journey of healing. As Meg heals, Ken’s world is crumbling and, with his relationship about to crash, he journeys to Ireland where he immerses himself in Celtic wisdom and decides to risk his emotional safety for the people he loves the most. Neat Little Packages is the story of lives coming apart, and people seeking healing through reconciliation with themselves, their loved ones, and shadows of the past. An inspiring story about faith, family, and friendship, set against the magnificent landscapes of the Arizona desert, the Colorado Rockies, and the shores of Ireland, Neat Little Packages will resonate with readers from all walks of life.
Neat Little Packages Maria Troia 9781432787875 Books
NEAT LITTLE PACKAGES centers on Meg, a nurse in Arizona. Finding herself pregnant after years of struggling with infertility, she barely has time to tell her husband the good news before a tragedy forces them to travel to Colorado where she comes face to face with her semi-estranged brother and some of the friends they grew up with. The meeting leaves Meg reeling and triggers a series of events which challenge everything she believes about herself, her marriage, and her family.Religion--or religious reconciliation--is one of the central themes of the novel. Meg and other main characters struggle to find that place where faith and real life can co-exist. Between this, Meg's struggles to become a mother, and the complicated relationships among the characters, Troia takes on a lot. There are places where the book becomes a bit weighty. At the same time, the finely drawn emotional landscape is compelling and keeps the reader invested.
The author has a keen eye for detail--both in the small actions of her characters as they negotiate their angst-filled days and in the particulars of the stunning environments that provide the novel's backdrop. Colorado and Arizona are both beautifully rendered. Ireland--where Meg's brother seeks to resolve his most pressing personal issues--is somewhat less convincing. There's an overabundance of stock Irish charm, and it comes off a wee bit thin when compared to the stark realism of the rest of the book.
Taken as a whole, I found this novel rich and satisfying. Kind of like enjoying a heavy meal on a cold winter's night. Highly recommended.
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Tags : Neat Little Packages [Maria Troia] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Meg Callahan Harris has the perfect life – or at least, that’s how it looks to her childhood friends. As Meg fell out of touch while she created her illusion of an ideal life in the Arizona desert,Maria Troia,Neat Little Packages,Outskirts Press,143278787X,Fiction - General,Fiction Literary,General & Literary Fiction,Literary,Modern & contemporary fiction (post c 1945)
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Neat Little Packages Maria Troia 9781432787875 Books Reviews
This is the debut novel by Maria Troia, which is described as "an inspiring story about faith, family, and friendship." We meet Meg, a 36-year old OB nurse, in the very first sentence, as she simultaneously holds a positive pregnancy test, and receives bad news over the telephone. The back story is that Meg had been secretly undergoing fertility treatments, desperately trying to look and feel "normal", and not letting anyone know how things really were in her life. The phone call she received told her about the death of a male childhood friend--one she had lost touch with over the years--who had died of AIDS. Meg had not even known that this friend was gay. This prompts a trip to Colorado, where her somewhat estranged brother, who had kept in touch with this friend, was holding the wake. This sets the scene for old expectations conflicting with new realities . . . .
As the story unfolds, we see character after character that all seem to have similar problems great secrets that keep them from communicating with the ones they love--and the escapist tendency to say, "I just can't handle this right now" as they run, deflect and shut each other out. I will not lie; the central portion of this novel is so bogged down with the tearful angst of the disenfranchised that I was tempted to put it down. (Or slap some sense into a character or two . . .) The novel's tone is somber from the first page, and continues thus for a long, long time as each character (tearfully) ruminates over their respective struggles. But, that being said, I found that I was growing more and more invested in Meg and company, the support and love (and tears) that they shared, and I was interested in how the story would turn, although one could readily anticipate a happy (even predictable) ending. Rest assured there is a light at the end of the tunnel. As for the question of faith, I feel it could have been explored more fully. The author offers a liberal interpretation of church doctrine--one that will surely offend certain members of the church. What is lacking, in my opinion, is a voice expressing the traditionalist point of view, to address, oppose and discuss the important issues brought up--perhaps an opportunity missed there.
I could quibble about an awkward turn of phrase here and there, and some questionable copy editing, but the bottom line is that this novel is worth picking up. I was frustrated in spots, and touched in others--even *tearful*--much as the characters were, which speaks to power of this new voice in literature. Recommended!
Neat Little Packages is a well written tale of several diverse people. Ms Troia managers to bring them to life and share their real life problems with you. I recommend it as a good read or gift to a friend.
NEAT LITTLE PACKAGES centers on Meg, a nurse in Arizona. Finding herself pregnant after years of struggling with infertility, she barely has time to tell her husband the good news before a tragedy forces them to travel to Colorado where she comes face to face with her semi-estranged brother and some of the friends they grew up with. The meeting leaves Meg reeling and triggers a series of events which challenge everything she believes about herself, her marriage, and her family.
Religion--or religious reconciliation--is one of the central themes of the novel. Meg and other main characters struggle to find that place where faith and real life can co-exist. Between this, Meg's struggles to become a mother, and the complicated relationships among the characters, Troia takes on a lot. There are places where the book becomes a bit weighty. At the same time, the finely drawn emotional landscape is compelling and keeps the reader invested.
The author has a keen eye for detail--both in the small actions of her characters as they negotiate their angst-filled days and in the particulars of the stunning environments that provide the novel's backdrop. Colorado and Arizona are both beautifully rendered. Ireland--where Meg's brother seeks to resolve his most pressing personal issues--is somewhat less convincing. There's an overabundance of stock Irish charm, and it comes off a wee bit thin when compared to the stark realism of the rest of the book.
Taken as a whole, I found this novel rich and satisfying. Kind of like enjoying a heavy meal on a cold winter's night. Highly recommended.
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