Mary Coin

By: Marisa Silver

Narrated by: Eva Kaminsky, Alison Fraser, Mark Zeisler

Length: 8 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

In her first novel since The God of War, critically acclaimed author Marisa Silver takes Dorothea Lange’s "Migrant Mother" photograph as inspiration for a breathtaking reinvention - a story of two women, one famous and one forgotten, and of the remarkable legacy of their singular encounter.

In 1936, a young mother resting by the side of a road in Central California is spontaneously photographed by a woman documenting the migrant laborers who have taken to America’s farms in search of work - little personal information is exchanged and neither has any way of knowing that their chance encounter has produced the most iconic image of the Great Depression.

Three vibrant characters anchor the narrative of Mary Coin: Mary, the migrant mother herself, who emerges as a woman with deep reserves of courage and nerve, with private passions and carefully guarded secrets. Vera Dare, the photographer wrestling with creative ambition who makes the choice to leave her children in order to pursue her work. And Walker Dodge, a present-day professor of cultural history, who discovers a family mystery embedded in the picture. In luminous, exquisitely observed prose, Silver creates an extraordinary tale from a brief moment in history, and reminds us that though a great photograph can capture the essence of a moment, it only scratches the surface of a life.

©2013 Marisa Silver (P)2013 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“Mary Coin is quite simply one of the best novels I have read in years. 'You'll know who you are when you start losing things,' says one character, and the story burns in this quietly emphatic way, only to erupt in moments of excruciating pain and beauty. In her portrayal of a time in American history when survival was often a day-to-day thing, Silver drills down to the absolute essentials: family, love, loss, the perpetual uncertainty of life. Again and again I found myself wondering: How does she know that? Silver's wisdom is rare, and her novel is the work of a master." (Ben Fountain, author of the 2012 National Book Award winner Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk)

“Gorgeous.... This narrative of mid-century hope, loss, and disenchantment is both universal and deeply personal. With writing that is sensual and rich, [Silver] shines a light on the parts of personal history not shared and stops time without destroying the moment.” (Publisher’s Weekly, starred review)

“Marisa Silver’s transfixing new novel...deftly sprinkles historical fact into her fictional narrative...a raw and emotional tale that leaves readers with a lingering question: Do photographs illuminate or blur the truth?” (O, The Oprah Magazine)

Great story, narration at times distracting

I enjoyed this story very much. The ability to weave together disparate pieces of history into a compelling story is a gift. Kudos to Marisa Silver! At times, the narration caused me to focus more on the voices than on the story. Definitely worth the listen, though.

Engaging, Inventive . . . Still I Wanted More!

As a reader who loved Grapes of Wrath, you might understand why I selected this book and perhaps, what I expected from it. I got quite a lot, but still sound myself wanting something more. Better narration for one, greater character depth for another.

That said, this is a remarkable work of fiction that weaves the lives and choices of three main characters in ways that seem plausible and realistic. I can imagine that it could have happened just the way the author portends. And what a great story it was. There are surprising choices and decisions made by each of the three characters that they carry with them through life. So it is with all of us.

I wanted better narration for the "voice" of Mary Coin. I wanted to understand her just a little better. I loved the narration for Professor Dodge and Vera Dare, but again, something hard to put my finger on was missing from their characterizations and descriptions that left me wanting.

Despite this, I enjoyed the book and found it offering much to think about. I recommend!

Exceptional writing, moving story, great narration

This is an exceptional novel. Brilliantly written. So many creative phrases which convey a whole world. Really noteworthy. Marisa Silver takes a famous photograph and weaves a meaningful narrative about it. Not gimmicky, only (seemingly) true statement after true statement. I loved the narration. Each narrator contributed just the right tone to their part of the story. The book really should have won prizes. Maybe it did?? I'm sure I will be rereading it in years to come. What a gift to the world. A real find and a real pleasure.

Enjoyable listen

The author has a beautiful, but clever writing style. There were many phrases that I wrote down - something I hardly ever do. Vera's story is almost identical to that of Dorothea Lange and I enjoyed revisiting it. I have to admit that I didn't figure out how the story's were tied together until I was well into the book.

Mary Coin brings the historic photo alive

Where does Mary Coin rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is a very enjoyable book, well written and with an interesting premise. The story is based on real-life FSA photographer Dorothea Lange, Vera Dare in the novel, and the subject of her most famous photograph, the Migrant Mother -- Florence Owens Thompson (Mary Coin).Silver does an excellent job of bringing the two women alive and giving listeners a window both into their lives which were quite different but which were influenced profoundly by this image.I could have done without the Walter Dodge part of the story -- it didn't ring as true as the relationship and lives of Vera Dare and

Who was your favorite character and why?

Vera Dare/Dorothea Lange -- she was one of the few of the women photographers who worked for the Farm Service Administration. Her life story is fictionalized in the book but is based on real life events.

Any additional comments?

Definitely worth listening to!

Don't hesitate! A winner in every way.

Intelligent and beautifully written, this finely constructed narrative will take you on a journey that you will be sad to complete. A novel of heart and a of history, interwoven. Don't hesitate with this one. Wonderfully narrated and even though three interwoven stories, you won't get confused.

Good Listen

Great story and great narration. Did not know there was a story behind this famous photo. Interesting read in these modern day times where we have so many (in my opinion) social programs in place. This story tells of a time when there were no government "safety nets" available.

Poetry

This book is gorgeously written. So many startling phrases that take you to a new place. Having just finished Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, which was full of trite and hackneyed writing, Silver's skill with the written word was heaven.

Narration does not do this book justice

The narrator for Vera was good, but the other two were not. The man had no inflection to speak of and ended every sentence in the same tone. The voice for Mary did the same; every sentence ended in a dramatic whisper and did not convey this character and killed the male voices. Otherwise, the book itself was absolutely stunning!!!! The themes were beautifully interwoven - time, history, family, parenting, self awareness. I am listening again despite my disappointment in the narration.

Devoured it; loved it.

Marisa Silver has done something amazing with this book— she has managed to weave together many recognizable aspects of American life during the depression era to create a fictional-but-historically-accurate narrative about “that woman from the famous photograph.” I cannot count the number of references that tickled deeper historical connections in my mind, or helped me to understand a theme of that history from a new perspective.
Of course there are creative liberties taken, the major one being the reinvention of the photographer’s identity. But regardless, this novel draws on period-specific notions of class, gender, labor, and even race, as well as the relationship between them, and brings to light the depth of emotion, rooted in circumstances, which would have surrounded and shaped the experiences of those who lived it.

As a bonus, the underlying ode to the study of history, and the evolution of the historiography that shapes our understanding of it, is exquisite. Silver leaves the reader with an understanding of the significance of the every-day lives of all different types of “ordinary people”, and the information that evidence of their experiences can provide.

This book is a gift to the discipline of History, both in terms of its literary content conveying serious historical relevance, as well as its eloquent reinforcement of the importance of a curious mind, and human connection, in the pursuit of historical truth. 11/10.