Journal of a Magic Tattoo (the joy of a book write off)
Written: Jun 01 '01 (Updated Jun 01 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Original words and artwork, magical.
Cons: None
The Bottom Line: A fun little literary (and visual) adventure worth a few extra reads.
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| prettyrain's Full Review: Barbara Hodgson - The Tattooed Map Books |
Lydia's story, told by Barbara Hodgson in "The Tattooed Map," starts out simply enough. You begin reading what seems an ordinary travel journal. Well, above ordinary in that Lydia can write, adds all sorts of interesting bits of information to every entry, and she's in Morocco -- full of intrigue and sensation. Lots to report.
Lydia is in Morocco with her ex-lover now travel-buddy, Christopher. During one of their daily travels she encounters a mysterious man named Layesh, and quickly after that develops a rash on her arm which turns, little by little, into a tattoo.
She recognizes the tattoo is becoming a map, but doesn't know where it's going to lead her. Or what it is. Or how she got it. She thinks she's going crazy, of course, and keeps the tattoo covered so she won't have to answer questions.
However, she's obsessed with it and stares at it and takes photographs of it and writes about it. She can't escape it. And while she's writing out her experience and thoughts regarding her arm, she's still travelling around Morocco with Christopher and adding other information to the journal. All sorts of extras and extra information are stuck into the journal's margins (postage stamps, lists of books, menu details and prices, tickets and postage stamps, street names, train tickets, etc.) and you get that wonderful feeling that you actually have someone's private travel journal to peruse.
But then Lydia disappears.
Christopher wants to find her though, and uses her journal to help with his search... thinking he can retrace her steps or get a clue about where she could be. But then he begins to fall into the mystery of Morocco and the tattoo as well (he didn't see it and was reluctant to believe, naturally).
The book is a wonderful journey full of visual extras (the mementoes, photographs, artwork) and a great text that changes voice half-way through without leaving the reader jolted or disturbed. (Well, you're disturbed that Lydia has disappeared, but to begin reading Christopher's thoughts next seems a natural step.)
It's fun, unique, intriguing and mystical. I want to go through it over and over, as if looking at Lydia's souvenirs will remind me of my own trip to Morocco, which of course I've yet to take.
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Please read the epinions of others who participated in this write off:
bmcnichol, cjsmommy, Colleenmf, fallyn96, Marytara,
mellkinwa, nwinston, prettyrain, Telynor, Trevsmom and Debbie26
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
prettyrain
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Location: Toronto, Ontario
Reviews written: 31
Trusted by: 27 members
About Me:
Book-loving, coffee-drinking writer, zine editor, mom and slacker loving the serendipitous life.
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