Miss Emily
by Nuala O'Connor
Synopsis:
Eighteen-year-old Ada Concannon has just been hired by the respected but eccentric Dickinson family of Amherst, Massachusetts. Despite their difference in age and the upstairs-downstairs divide, Ada strikes up a deep friendship with Miss Emily, the gifted elder daughter living a spinster’s life at home. But Emily’s passion for words begins to dominate her life. She will wear only white and avoids the world outside the Dickinson homestead. When Ada’s safety and reputation are threatened, however, Emily must face down her own demons in order to help her friend, with shocking consequences.
My Review:
Emily Dickinson... Love, love, love!!! What more can I say. Reading a story about the great Emily Dickinson can't go wrong. Nuala O'Connor certainly does not disappoint and pays homage beautifully to Emily. This story is told from the perspective of Emily and one of the house employees - Ada. Ada comes from Ireland to Boston in search of employment and to seek better opportunity than her family has had. Her uncle finds her work at the Dickinson home in Amherst. It is there that Ada and Emily become friends. Emily has a huge heart and a great deal of courage and loyalty towards the people she loves. In spite of her agoraphobia (along with the many other phobias that plagued her in her life) Emily does not come off as "off" in this telling of her story. As a matter of fact, I felt that Emily's love of humanity, nature and all things was beautifully displayed in the connection between her words (which she seemed to not only put to paper but seemed to speak without restraint) and her actions.
This book made me smile so many times. Although I am nowhere as well-versed in the works of Dickinson as some true, die-hard fans of the poet, this book made me want to know more.
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