The Mirror
by Marlys Millhiser
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Book Summary Information
Author: Marlys MillhiserEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1997-11
ISBN: 0915230151
Number of pages: 304
Publisher: Rue Morgue
Book Reviews of The Mirror
Book Review: Two Great Time Travel Novels in One
Summary: 5 Stars
I just now finished this novel after only two days of reading - quite a feat to read a 383 page book in such a short time! As one who has a passion for social history, genealogy, and re-enacting, this work by Marlys Millhiser was right up my alley. I mean, to have the opportunity to travel back in time to meet one's ancestors, to experience life "as it was," and to know what the future would hold not only for this person but for the world, well, it tends to make the imagination run. The trouble is, in `The Mirror,' Shay Garrett had absolutely no interest in the past, much less wanting to live there. She all but ignored her mother's family history stories, and could have cared even less about the way folks lived 78 years earlier. But, due to a mysterious mirror, Shay - the very up-to-date modern girl of 1978 - unwittingly finds herself living the life of her grandmother, Brandy McCabe, 78 years earlier, in 1900.
The author did an absolute tremendous job in her social history research, giving very accurate accounts of what life was like in the year 1900, from slow travel and modes of dress to tools, furniture, bed sheets, sicknesses (like consumption, of which Shay has no idea what it is), and types of foods, as well as slow speech patterns and language usage. And poor Shay (now as Brandy) must conform to that life as well as the mores and morals of a very different time, a time when females had very little say in their lives. Miss Millhiser has used her words and research to paint a veritable picture of the past. No easy task and pretty much a rarity from many authors.
Part two of this novel shows the new life that Brandy McCabe - Shay's grandmother - must live. Since her granddaughter, Shay, has inhabited her body 78 years earlier, Brandy has now entered Shay's body 78 years into her future, in 1978.
This second part of the book is a bit disconcerting - many different and unexpected avenues are taken that, at times, I questioned where the author was going. But, what Miss Millhiser did very well once again was to describe in vivid detail the awe and wonder that the 20 year old "antiquated" Brandy (now in Shay's body) feels in this futuristic world with talking picture boxes, disco bars, automobiles, electric blankets...heck, she even learned (through a TV commercial) that she should shave her underarms and legs!
But Brandy, like her granddaughter counterpart now hopelessly living in the past, is not fond of this new (to her) world, especially with its lack of morals (as she knew them to be), scanty clothing styles (bare arms and legs!), and tasteless food.
Brandy definitely has a tougher time accepting her new role as Shay with its freedoms in 1978 than her granddaughter does in her new role as Brandy in 1900 with its constraints, which is surprising. But, I feel it is probably more realistic - morals and mores in the past were much stronger and deeper than today and I feel that Brandy would not so readily accept becoming the modern woman of today, like many others might feel she should have.
Another interesting aspect to the two stories are the way the author intertwines the two girls lives through the mysterious mirror - their visions of each other's events and reactions fit like a puzzle. While reading Brandy's story I was constantly referring back to Shay's story during the mystery mirror scenes (you'll understand once you read the book).
And finally, the middle interim for daughter/mother Rachael became a vital connection to the two stories.
Marlys Millhiser did a remarkable job spinning this time-travel tale. Considering that this is not your average historical/modern novel, I would love to know how long it took her, from her initial idea through historical research to penning and then finally to publishing. Truly amazing.
I must give thanks to Cindy who works in the Adams House at historic Greenfield Village, Michigan for `turning me on' to this story. You were right!
Summary of The Mirror
Our all-time best-selling book isn't even a vintage mystery but it is perhaps one of the most beloved novels of all time. A 20-year-old Boulder girl stares into her grandmother's Chinese mirror on her wedding day in 1978, faints and comes to in her grandmother's body--in 1900--about to be married to a miner. As she moves through life, even giving birth to her own mother, she becomes known as a fairly decent seer. Had she paid more attention in school, she would have been a great one.Action & Adventure Books
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