Review: "Marriage of Opposites" by Alice Hoffman

Alice Hoffman is back with another remarkable historical novel. In this spell-binding tale, she brings to life Rachel Monsanto Pomie Petit Pizzarro, the mother of Camille Pizzaro (Pissarro) a man, who in some people’s opinion may be one of the greatest artists of the twentieth century. Rachel is a woman ahead of her time. Born and raised in St Thomas during the early 1800’s to Jewish parents, she is her father’s favorite. She loves to read and spends a lot of time in his library reading and writing her own stories. She is very good with numbers and he teaches her about his business and how to read the ledgers, something unheard of for women. Her mother and she, on the other hand, are adversaries. She is a wild child and seems to do just the opposite of what her mother requires. Her best friend is the maid’s daughter and they run the island freely. Rachel’s stubborn, passionate nature shapes her life and helps to also make Camille the man that he is.

Ms. Hoffman is the master of weaving intricate, interesting tales and she does not disappoint with this one. The plot has unpredictable twists and turns that you don’t anticipate. Most of the characters are well fleshed out with ample backgrounds and emotions. The descriptions of the land are so vivid you can feel the heat of St. Thomas and the chill of Paris.

If you are a fan of Alice Hoffman, you will definitely want to read this book. She continues her tradition of great, page turning novels. If you have never read any of her wonderful stories, this is a great book to become acquainted with her and you will certainly want to read the rest.