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When a girl falls into a deep and impenetrable sleep, the borders between her provincial French village and the peculiar, beguiling realm of her dreams begin to disappear: A fat woman sprouts delicate wings and takes flight; a failed photographer stumbles into the role of pornographer; a beautiful young wife grows to resemble her husband's viol. And in their midst travels Madeleine, the dreamer, who is trying to make sense of her own metamorphosis as she leaves home, joins a gypsy circus, and falls into an unexpected triangle of desire and love. Madeleine Is Sleeping received jubilant critical acclaim and was honored with a National Book Award nomination. Part fairy tale, part coming-of-age story, this "dream of a book" (Michael Cunningham) is an adventure in the discovery of art, sexuality, community, and the self.
The novel offers a ripe setting infused with poetic language and seamless sequences of the surreal. Bynum succesfully creates a luscious scene for each part of Madeleine's dream. This novel captures the delicious wonderment of adolescence in all its curious mischeviousness and the strangeness that accompanies it.Bynum fuses poetry and prose to create a beautiful piece. The running theme of music (the opera, le petomane's gift, the violin) the circus, unrequited love, and the gross but sensually delightful images of Mme. Colchon, the sexual mishappening with the town dullard, and the details of Madeleine's enchanted sleep are each uniquely arresting.The form is much like Evan Connell's Mrs. Bridge-- the language mellifluous and never cumbersome. It is no surprise that this book was a national fiction finalist.And as an endnote, I am currently a student of Bynum and have to unashamedly announce my enthusiasm for her love of writing, literature, and teaching. The experience has been challenging and wonderfully enriching.
