In The Mask Maker, Diane Glancy tells the story of Edith Lewis, a
recently divorced mixed-blood American Indian, as she travels the
state of Oklahoma teaching students the art and custom of
mask-making. A complex, subtle tale about flesh-and-blood human
beings, this enchanting novel shows how one woman copes with
alienation, loss, and questions about identity and, in the end,
rediscovers meaning in living.Through Edith's daily life and
efforts to teach, Glancy explores the power of the mask and
mask-making. When Edith tries reaching out to a listless, alienated
student, she knows enough to ask, "Where would you want to go?" He
replies, "Nowhere," to which she responds with the advice, "Then
make a mask to take you nowhere." For Edith, masks go beyond the
limitations of words and surface gloss. "A mask is a face when you
have none," she reflects. Yet some stories need to be confronted,
so Edith struggles with the question of how to use masks to tell
stories without using words. Glancy's Edith is no idealized sage
but a very human character struggling as best she can while
enduring clueless officials and teachers. When Edith explains to
one teacher how the art of mask-making reaches students on a
creative, intuitive level, she is chided as impractical: "We're
supposed to reach them through math and English." In The Mask
Maker, Glancy provides the reader with intriguing new ways of
looking at identity, at language, at intangible values, and at
love. This captivating novel on the human need for self-expression
will delight readers of all ages.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
