Maison Cristina immerses readers in an existential question: can the powers of storytelling and spiritual searching return to life a young woman sunken by mysterious wounds into a state of catatonia?
In Maison Cristina Eugene K. Garber creates a dramatic bond between two memorable characters striving to redeem themselves from failure and suffering, a quest made arduous and uncertain by the deep wounds each has suffered in the past. The medium of their struggle is storytelling. Octogenarian Peter Naughton tells stories to youthful Charlene, narratives dark but paradoxically healing. And even as he spins his tales he must confront painful memories and a serio-comic demon who has haunted him from his youth.
Witnessing the process of redemptive remembering and telling are three nuns and an aide of strong faith who understand that the saving of a human self is fraught with struggle and uncertainty.
Two other inmates of Maison Cristina offer comic relief uncannily pertinent to the central themes of the novel. Ms. Trask, imagining herself a descendant of a great rail family and witness of her sister's insanity, makes raucous assault on her mental and physical confinement. Mr. Gerrity is struggles torturously to lift himself up from sloth-like inertia to articulate humanity.
The novel plunges readers into mysteries compounded of existential battle against darkness and heroic struggle to reach the light.
