Moon over Madeline Island
Reading , Moon Over Madeline Island, you get the notion that the novel is written by a female. It’s written from a first-person female point-of-view. The author is, in fact, a male hairdresser whose clientele is mostly women, as are all the major characters in the book.
“Moon” is a mostly enjoyable chronicle of two Wisconsin women who embark on a change of scenery that becomes both an adventure and a life-altering event. Eve Moss is a 47-year-old hairdresser, single and unapologetic about it. She’s bored and ready for a life change, but not sure what to do about it.
Her long-time client and newly widowed best friend Ruby (who is almost 20 years her senior) is ready for a change too and decides, after much thought, to give her Madeline Island cottage to Eve. They throw caution to the wind, move to the cottage, and embark on a business venture together. Is this the long sought after transition they both desire?
What follows is a series of events filled with colorful female characters they meet along the way. These range from a shy, timid housewife afraid of her abusive husband to a Wal-mart employee who has psychic abilities.
One of the refreshing things about “Moon” is its sweet and upbeat tone. While at times this tone can get a bit saccharine, it’s done in such a way that it doesn’t bog down the reader. There’s also a definite sense of female equality throughout the novel. This is most evident toward the end of the book when a tragic turn of events occurs, and the women of the story all band together.
Kudos go out to author Gilbertson for not turning “Moon Over Madeline Island” into a stereotypical man-bashing story. This is no “Thelma and Louise.” In fact, most of the male characters in the novel are gay (and happily so, I might add). “Moon” also ends with a cliffhanger, which Gilbertson promises, in his 4-page “special chat with the author”, will be resolved in an in-progress second installment.
If you’re looking for an easy read, with a book that will put you in a good mood, “Moon Over Madeline Island” is for you.
by Jay Gilbertson
$14.00 Kensington Books
