Spelling Mississippi

Theresa Paltzat is the Smart Search librarian at the Edmonton Public
Library.

Set in New Orleans, Marnie Woodrow’s debut novel draws the reader into
the lives of two women: the restless and unhappy Cleo, who is troubled
by her mother’s absence from her life, and Madeline, who is
dissatisfied with her marriage and still living in the shadow of a
dominant mother. When Cleo sees Madeline jump into the Mississippi late
one evening, still clothed in an evening gown and a tiara, she becomes
obsessed with finding out more about her. When the two women finally
meet, they find they are connected by a shared fascination with water,
issues with their mothers, and a general unhappiness with life.

The fast-paced story, which alternates between the two women, is
interspersed with flashbacks that reveal key events in their lives. The
depiction of New Orleans is dark and sensual, with an emphasis on the
nightlife and the mysterious Mississippi. Despite the exploration of
deep emotional and sexual issues, there are moments of humor, including
a wonderful scene in which Madeline performs Bach before an audience of
stolen lawn ornaments.