2021 book 178

 Lauren Groff's Matrix

I haven’t been into literary fiction lately (boring, depressing), but I’ve stanned Lauren Geoff since her first book and will read anything she writes…. especially if it’s a book about a convent in the 1100s??? Unexpected, but awesome! Our protagonist is Marie, a seventeen year old Royal bastard, raised by a family of Amazonian lady crusaders, crushing madly on Eleanor of Aquitaine—who sends her from France to England to be prioress of a convent (since Marie is too tall and awkward to be married off). And then it is the story of Marie living at the convent, accepting her role, determined to protect her sisters and make their lives better. Somehow Groff makes this super compelling, though of course I am into stories about the inner lives (I typed “loves” there and that is true too) of women, and the community Marie builds is honestly amazing. This book is totally stunning, in all senses of the word. A.

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A review copy was provided by the publisher. This book will be released on September 7th.