The Moonflower Vine: A Novel (P.S.) Paperback – March 24, 2009

"The Moonflower Vine" was written in 1962. I read it in the "Readers Digest Condensed Books" and found the book has become popular, people want to read it. There are many reviews written. So I ordered the book, an old copy published in 1962, excellent condition, quick service and a wonderful read.The book begins in southwestern Missouri. The three daughters of the elderly Soames couple are visiting to watch and enjoy the blooming of the moonflower vine which blooms for only a short time, plus the ladies are paying duty visits to their parents, now in their early seventies. Mary Jo, who introduces the book, her part is in first person, lives in New York City and works in television. She is almost 30. Her two much older sisters, Jessica is almost fifty, Leonie, two years younger. The other family members are introduced in sections, their stories are told in third person.Matthew is a very complicated character. He loves nature, loves learning, is very religious, church going, yet lusts after young girls. He is trying to be two characters, a farm boy, both he and Callie are from farm backgrounds. Matthew loves the land, but envies those who are sophisticated, world travelers, well educated. Matthew keeps the farm, he and Callie love living in the country. But he goes on to college, becomes school superindendent of the small town school due to hard work. He attends summer school, loves studies and is always learning.Ms Carleton is excellent in portraying her characters and how they relate to each other. Sisters Jessica and Mathy, are close, love each other though the girls are eight years apart . Mathy, the younger an old soul, persuades her sister to be true to herself, to be her own person. Leonie disapproves of her sisters and of the way her parents fail to discipline Mathy. True, her parents are not as strict with Mathy, who is full of mischief and always in trouble, as they were with her older sisters. Matthew feels this wild girl is a punishment for his wrongdoing againstGod. Ms Carleton is wonderful in portraying the landscape and beauty, trees, countryside of the lower midwest. She gets into the minds, hearts, and personalities of her characters and the secrets they carry.Leonie is much like the Bible story of the Prodigal Son. She is the child who stays when the others have left.The book takes the family history over fifty years from when Callie and Matthew meet until they are in their early 70s. Callie is a loving mother, wife and friend. She is happy with herself, but worries about her family. She's a country girl, but has her girls educated, well read, well spoken as her husband wants. But she regrets some of the things she wanted to do but didn't as she comtemplates at 70 her life soon will end.

The Moonflower Vine, by Jetta Carleton (1913-1999) was first published in 1962 by Simon and Schuster. The Harper Perennial edition was released in 2009, ten years after the author's death.The story begins in summer in the 1950's as the adult children in the Soames family are visiting their parents, Matthew and Callie on their rural Missouri farm. The story begins as Mary Jo, the youngest of the four girls, tells of the annual visit to see their parents, which is both a reunion, and a sense of duty. The parents are now up in years and need help around the farm. Much of what occurs during their visits seem to be focused on the blooming of the "moonflower vine". "The vine stormed to life, and the blooms exploded---five, twelve, a torrent of them, tumbling their extravagant beauty into the evening air"........"The blooming of the moonflowers was a kind of miracle, and like all true miracles it had the power of healing".Although on the onset, the Soames clan seems the idyllic, happy family, all is not as it appears to be. The father Matthew, a former teacher and principal, is a God-fearing religious man, emotionally cold and distant, and yet a man driven toward wrong, and faced with guilt. The mother Callie, is good woman with a big heart, submissive and lonely, and longing for the closeness she is often denied. Bit by bit, each of the family members: Mary Jo, Jessica, Mathy and Leonie recall events from an earlier time (early 1900's), where the good times and bad times, private secrets, passions and temptations, and even sorrows, of each family member is revealed.What was fascinating about this character driven novel, is the way the human side of each person shines through. We meet individuals who give in to temptation, make unwise choices, and then must live with aftermath. We see how choices made by one person, affect the rest of the family. Sin, lust, guilt, and forgiveness are themes that surface on a regular basis in this novel. Considering this book was initially published nearly 50 years ago, it was a bold and daring piece. I can imagine that more than a few eyebrows were raised as romantic love, sexuality, lust and desire were prominent throughout this novel.What started out as a bit of a slow moving story, quickly picked up and became a novel that made me anxious to read on. Unlike anything I've read in a long while, I did enjoy this book. Sadly, it was the one and only novel published by the author.

I read this book as a young mother, and have reread it several times throughout the years. Always appreciating the rich character development, and the beautiful way the story unfolds. The family dynamics are complex, with secrets not known by most of its members. Just like real life.I am only sorry this was this author’s only published work.

Moonflower Vine took me back to my grandparents time via certain phrases like"cream" for ice cream. My grandmother could have easily have said that. This story was a comfortable read, but it isn't one to excite the reader or create investigative juices. It does, however, paint a great picture of each of the central characters. I found I had trouble becoming fond of only a couple of the people; I became a little" put-out "with the parents(maybe this is what the author intended). A modern-day reader will probably have trouble relating to the people in the story and think "you've got to be kidding" Again, it doesn't take long to read and it does give a clear picture of these people. I liked watching the "moonflower" bloom and the neighbor who was an inderpendent woman. I could easily picture "flightly, flirty high school girls after the principal. I think the author wanted the reader to sympathize with him, but I could not. Will you? Who was the stronger Callie or Matthew? I became a bit confused mid-way while the author changed to individual descriptions.Those descriptions did help the reader know the characters better. Again flipping back quickly would have helped. I was reading from my Kindle.

Fast delivery, item in good condition. It was a gift and the recipient liked it as well.

Gracias

First read this 36 years ago whilst waiting for the birth of my son. Loved it then, spend the last 20 years looking for it in bookshops. Although I recommend it to anyone who will listen - would not loan and be parted from my copy.

Learning how to live with family,can be quite the adventure, but to keep loving them and keeping them is a chore this family endures with love and compassion. A wonderful book to read, a great story to share, and delightful book to give.

Tiene pasajes muy hermosos, me recordaba un poco a My Ántonia, con una estructura distinta, parecida un poco a la de La mujer justa, pero mucho mejor llevada y más coherente. Un libro agradable y conciliador.