Contains spoilers!
Because I am a fan of Gregory Maguire;
Because I picked up the lessons the book had to offer;
Because I believe that this work of variation is a gem and a product of the author's sweat and effort and writing and brainstorming and all the other things that come between;
Because the description of the book cover utterly fails to reflect what is in the true contents of the pages;
Because I believe that we have different perspectives when it comes to religion, Christmas, family and all that have special meaning concerning the season;
I think that the back cover description of The Next Queen of Heaven should be rewritten.
There are a few things that have to be straightened out:
- Mrs. Leontina Scales does not speak in tongues, in fact, ommitting the beginnings of her sentences and utterances is barely speaking in tongues. Speaking in tongues is considered by some to be more profound and sacred.
- Her children do not attempt to surrender her to Jesus. They abandon her in the basement of a retirement home for nuns and leave her to God's mercy on Christmas Eve.
- The ancient Sisters of the Sorrowful Mystery adopt a gay singing group, and gain a family and socialize in the process.
- A Christmas concert is hardly a pageant.
- And there is nor clear illustration of which child or whose child is born (figuratively or literally). Does Tabitha really find herself pregnant?
Themes/ Lessons learned from the book:
Although the style and language is very different from Gregory Maguire's previous treasures, the lessons and themes offered in its pages still make it a keeper. Here's what I have learned from the book.
- Whether it comes sooner or later, we all have to forgive and let go. This circles Tabitha as she lets go of Caleb and for Jeremy as he gathers courage to do the same to Willem.
- Family is still family. Family members accept you for who you are. Mommy Leontina may be the single mom, but she fights and lives for her children as she raises three teenagers all on her own. Sean Riley's parents may not come to terms with his homosexuality and having AIDS but they show up as a family just the same. And whether or not the Catholics and the Radical Radiants are on different sides of the spectrum, they do help out each other in the case of the Scales family.
My favorite character in the book would be Sister Alice Coyne of the Our Lady of Scarcese Parish. The Nissan-riding outgoing nun is too smart for her age and reaches out to anyone belonging to her church-even those who are not. And she does not condemn nor chastise anyone.
There. Now, I will be moving to another book.
Even after reading, I still don't know exactly who is the Next Queen of Heaven. But I'm still keeping it on the shelf between Confessions and Mirror, Mirror.
Any thoughts? Share them below!
