Shades of Morning by Marlo Schalesky
Reviewed by Darlene “Dee” Bishop, Radiant Lit
Genre: Christian Fiction, Fantasy
Publisher: Multnomah
Publication Dates: June 15, 2010
Shades of Morning by Marlo Schalesky is the story of Marnie Helen Wittier, a coffee shop/bookstore owner who stores reminders of her past in a decorated box on her closet shelf. When her only sister dies and leaves a teenage son for Marnie to raise, she struggles to adapt to this precocious, yet lovable, Down Syndrome child while she’s forced to deal with a past filled with secrets and sorrows she’d rather forget.
The book’s ending is, in one way, a huge surprise, and in another completely predictable. The most difficult aspect of it, in mind, was that it stretches too far beyond the realm of realism. As a science-fiction lover, I’m used to allowing a “suspension of disbelief,” as writers call it, in order to dwell in other worlds. But this story seemed too far-fetched even for my open (where fiction is concerned) mind. Of course, you’ll have to judge for yourself, so I won’t spoil it, but I found the ending particularly lacking.
While the book discusses Marnie’s past in vague ways from the beginning, I also found it difficult to relate to Marnie as a heroine. She refused to face her life and her fears, and instead seemed to retreat emotionally whenever life became messy. And when Emmitt enters the scene, Marnie’s life becomes very messy!
The character of Emmitt, the boy who comes to live with Marnie, is the saving grace of this story. He’s loving, yet rebellious… pliable at times, yet stubborn as a mule at others… and it seems that his whole purpose in life is to frustrate Aunt Mar-ee.
The book has a lot of humor, some personal revelation on the part of Marnie and her long-abandoned love, Taylor, as well as heartwarming moments and insight into the life of a Down Syndrome child. As such, it does have some good qualities, but as a fan of Multnomah books, I’ve come to expect a higher quality from them than what Shades of Morning brought to the table for me and I, personally, wouldn’t read it again like I do many of theirs.
Rated G – No concerns about any inappropriate materials here.
