Flatiron Books, October 4, 2016.
Four Stars
Four young girls named Guinevere – Vere, Gwen, Ginny
and Win – have all been abandoned by their parents to be raised by nuns in a
convent called The Sisters of Supreme Adoration. The girls share everything,
not just their name, and their consciousness is so intertwined that they even
refer to themselves as “we” when acting alone. It doesn’t occur to the girls
that their all-encompassing connection could ever be severed – until they
receive unexpected guests at the convent.
Outside of the protective walls of the convent, the
world is at war. The conflict is unnamed in the novel, although it is likely
World War II, based on other historical clues such as clothing and technology. Because
we are never told conclusively where and when the novel takes place, the events
have a sense of timelessness, and the girls’ coming of age becomes universal. The
girls are isolated from the atrocities of war, until several unidentified
soldiers arrive – injured and unconscious, the young men are sent to the
convent to be taken care of until they can be identified by their families. The
girls think that nursing the boys might be their way out of the convent – in
the meantime, each of the Guineveres becomes attached to their own boy, as they
practice falling in love.
The novel covers the events of one year, in which the
girls’ feelings for the boys grow stronger, leading to almost fairytale-like
scenes in which they share kisses with the sleeping boys. They analyze the
soldiers’ possessions, hoping to get to know them, but in fact they are growing
and learning about themselves. In between these scenes of convent life, we
gradually learn the story of how each of the Guineveres ended up at the convent
– they are tragic events that led to damaged and untrusting girls. The
Guineveres intentionally isolate themselves from the other girls at the convent,
and even the nuns hesitate to intrude on their special bond. The girls are
fragile on their own, but as the Guineveres, they are powerful and strong.
The story is written from Vere’s first person
perspective, although she speaks interchangeably for all four of the girls – in
fact, Vere is surprised to realize that in fact they are distinct people who do
unexpected things. Because the Guineveres were abandoned by their families in
often horrific ways, their only concept of home is each other. It is not until
they begin to develop romantic feelings for “their boys” that they begin to
separate, as Domet authentically explores the wonder and confusion of girls
becoming women. And when their innocent crushes on the soldiers are contrasted
with a shocking sexual act, the girls’ bond is truly tested.
The Guineveres is a contemplative novel, written in moody and elegant prose – it takes
the ordinary and finds the beautiful and magical elements within it. The convent
setting and church doctrine are heavy but always interesting, especially as it
affects the girls’ upbringing. The religious figures are multifaceted and
realistic, with no clear demarcation between good and evil. It is of course
strange that these girls share the same unusual name, but the strangeness adds
an otherworldly quality to the story, enhancing the contrasting themes of The Guineveres.
I received this book from Flatiron Books and
NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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