The White Mary Book

I read this book in anticipation for a lecture by the author at National Geographic later this month. I am familiar with Salak's nonfiction work about her own travels and experiences, and her first novel had many of the same elements that draw readers into the story.

Marika Vecera is a well-known war correspondent: she takes the dangerous and scary jobs in war-torn developing countries and has had more than one near-death experience. She starts a serious relationship and soon after learns about the apparent suicide of her journalistic "idol", Robert Lewis, and decides to begin research to write a biography. As she details his life, we see Marika learn more about her own through a series of flashbacks. Her search to learn more about Lewis leads her to the jungles of Papua New Guinea; she leaves her home and her loved one with this obsession to learn more about her subject.

While reading the novel, I could not truly divorce the character of Marika with Kira Salak, the author. Of course, I know that most novels are often autobiographical, but this one seemed particularly close to the source.

Stylistically, I had a few (minor) issues with the book, hence the 3 stars instead of four. The character dialogue seemed contrived, particularly between Marika and her lover, Seb. I kept on thinking "do people really talk like this to each other?" At least no one I know... Aside from that, I did truly enjoy the story. I had a hard time putting the book down, and read it in entirety on one rainy Saturday.

Edited to add: after seeing Salak at NGS, I felt that this book was a retelling of her own solo travels across PNG in her first book Four Corners. Also, seeing her in person made me realize that what draws me to her work is the great storytelling - she is a mediocre writer (with a penchant for hyperbole and drama) but a GREAT storyteller.