The Annunciation of Francesca Dunn: A Novel (P.S.)
by Janis Hallowell
Book Summary Information
Author: Janis HallowellEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2005-03-01
ISBN: 0060559209
Number of pages: 336
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Product features:
- ISBN13: 9780060559205
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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Book Reviews of The Annunciation of Francesca Dunn: A Novel (P.S.)
Book Review: ?How can he be so sure how God works?"
Summary: 4 Stars
The meaning of "annunciation" in the Christian religion is theannouncement to the Virgin Mary by the angel Gabriel of the incarnation ofChrist. This basic tenant provides the backdrop to The Annunciation ofFrancesca Dunn, a gorgeously written but slightly uneven novel by JanisHallowell. Told in sparingly almost disparate prose, and full of delicateimagery and rich emotion, the story poses fundamental questions of scienceand faith and conveys the ever-present dichotomies that exist between thetwo. Told in irregular chapters by four different characters, we witnessFrancesca Dunn's startling transformation into a Virgin Mother - one whois gifted and is given the gift to perform miracles on members of a smallcommunity in Connecticut. This is a story about the elusive nature of the spirit and how people tryto reconcile their faith and religious beliefs in a modern, secular,twenty first century world where the world of science takes precedence.The novel begins with the voice of Chester, the homeless man. He nameshimself the protector of Francesca and he believes she is the BlessedVirgin after seeing her perform miracles on his fellow homeless friends ina local cafe. For Chester, the virgin becomes his only guide, the only oneto tell him what to do. Francesca, the centerpiece of the novel is anaverage, somewhat spoilt fourteen year-old who plays the cello and wishesthat her mother would pay more attention to her. When she releases thatshe has the power to change people's lives and can hold the mystery oflife in her hands, she becomes a celebrity and a deity; but no oneultimately knows exactly what kind of power that Francesca possesses.
Another narrative voice is Sid, Francesca's troubled girlfriend who hasher own demons to contend with as she battles with a drunken, uselessmother, and in a duplicitous act of betrayal, tries to make money fromFrancesca's miracle workings. For me though, the most interestingcharacter is Anne, Francesca's paleobotanist Mom, who believes ferventlyin science and in the God of natural selection, "his was a rigged-upjunkyard full of life, held together with spit and baling wire." Sheinitially scoffs at Francesca's annunciation and likens it to a drop ofwater between two slides, like in biology lab, squashed flat so thatnobody could move, so that everything could be seen, as if being put undera huge microscope.
Hallowell packs the story with meaning and symbolism, but she does it witha grace and simplicity of voice that is impossible not to like. Thenarrative does lose some of its impetus towards the end, and the suddendeath of one of the major characters doesn't quite work. There is still,however, a certain dramatic tension that permeates the entire novel thatshould keep the reader involved until the end. I like the questions thatHallowell raises on the uses of medicine and how prescribing medication toprevent the creative forces of visionaries, mystics and martyrs wouldprevent more suffering, but at the same time, would produce a worldwithout the creativity of saints and madman, because "someone has to walkon the outer edges, Someone has to stir things up." Mike Leonard April 04.
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