Book Jacket

 

rank 2741
word count 11565
date submitted 12.09.2008
date updated 10.02.2009
genres: Fiction, Other
classification: universal
complete

A Shadow in Yucatan

Philippa Rees

Recaptures the dying sixties., Stephanie walks from pregnancy to pain through the world of betrayed promises and finds a steel resolve, and an unexpected friend.

 

Remember Bob Dylan and ‘Boots of Spanish Leather’? He walked these same streets to a bar in Coconut Grove before his guitar was amplified. Remember Joan Baez and Woodstock? Recall the flowers in the rifle barrels and the braziers of Aldermarston? What about Mary Quant, and Abbey Road? If you remember those, then this is may be for you. It will remind you, and help your children to know the country of your past, and why you sometimes seem disappointed.

This distilled novel fits no category: It is not exactly fiction because the story is true in essence, truer as myth; it is not poetry as such, there are too many insistent voices; it is not history although its place and time are past. It is simply experience singing a song, to the ears and eyes of memory.

It recaptures the optimism of innocence when all things still seemed possible; before the dreams surrendered to the grey men in grey suits. It tells Stephanie’s tragic story but her story is also the story of that golden time

To order contact here or visit www.trafford.com/06-1520


 
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tags

emotionally rich, evocative, musical, poetic, tragic, uplifting, vibrant characters

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92 comments

 

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Rob Malagola wrote 837 days ago

Philippa,
And an ending just as moving and exquisite as all that went before.
Nothing to add, nothing to take away. A Shadow in Yucatan stands alone, and is of-a-piece, a completeness that is of the writer, the work itself, and the reader, too. A shard of true, anyway, amongst the rattle and hum of real. I’ve traveled with it slowly, word on word, and through its impeccably cadenced and measured artistry; the world as we knew it, as we know it, the world as we pass through it.
I do thank you,
Rob

Odysseus wrote 1121 days ago

I don’t know how I found this; nor do I care. It was a mistake. I just started reading. I did not think I would read anything like this on here, or frankly anywhere these days. I am not prepared to critique this in any way

“She would bestow her body to kernel the child, and split from stem to stern.

Her tireless knees rowed boulders of pain which crushed her bones like rock salt, gnawed loose the links of her spine...

The cry of life escaped her, as in fire she crowned her king.”

I envy no man's nightingale or spring;
Nor let them punish me with loss of rime,
Who plainly say, My God, My Queen”

With apologies to George Herbert.

Simply wonderful and a joy to find something so intellectually uplifting. Oh let me rise like larks harmonious and eschewing the crowd that flowed over London Bridge make such mistakes again. Backed

Lord Dunno wrote 1129 days ago

This is a powerful journey and it leaves you drained at the end. It captures the time superbly. Like anothe Blonde on Blonde or Tarantula crossed with Ray Bradbury at his most musing there is so much to enjoy here...
Is it only your red-eyed dawg that weeps?'

'Now the sun is cracked for breakfast in the middle of the street'
Two saffron monks, pale-pated cross the grass...
Gorgeous. If anything neede dputting to music this is it.

CarolinaAl wrote 642 days ago

An engaging, measured story with fascinating characters. Wonderful imagery. Sparkling dialogue that evokes the era. A pleasure to read. Backed.

klouholmes wrote 661 days ago

Hi Philippa, The atmosphere evoked with this verse-narrative and the story coming out reminds of that carefree, present-oriented time. The poetry is both vivid and revealing of the characters. Liked the phrases "the gap-toothed rubber plant", "sunk in her talcum sleep", "sleek glass door is guillotine." Fiction told in poetry is a difficult thing these days but yours feels natural with the contemporary imagery and portraying a time when people found lyrics so vital. You've resurrected an old form in an original way! Happy to shelve - Katherine (The Swan Bonnet)

Wilma1 wrote 662 days ago

Most unusual I have not come across anything like this on here before. Your poetic verse is most engaging it is clever and both light and dark in shading. It does indeed encompass the era I knew and loved so well. Congratulations on writing a well crafted stand alone piece.

Wilma1

Knowing Liam Riley – I hope you have a moment to take a look


Despinas1 wrote 668 days ago

Dear Philippa,
You have a very original voice, as an author that is an outstanding bonus. There is also an elegance to your pros and you write with such an eloquent expression.
A Shadow in Yucatan, is a great novel, I commend you.
Backed with utmost pleasure
Helen
The Last Dream

yasmin esack wrote 725 days ago

Stimulating the mind, body and soul. Glad to read this.
Backed
The Lord of the dawn

Melcom wrote 769 days ago

Wonderfully poetic prose that you kind of sink into, like sinking into a well worn chair and wrapping a comforting blanket over your legs, to keep you snug. I love the short sentences and the structure attached to your story. The only thing I wasn't sure about was the way your stunning book is uploaded.

Happily shelved,

Melxx

Burgio wrote 781 days ago

This is a beautiful written story about a time that needs to be remembered. You describe scenes wonderfully. You've created good characters. Makes it a good read. I'm adding this to my shelf. Burgio (Grain of Salt).

Kit Matthews wrote 796 days ago

Hi Philippa
a real treat. This style is rarely done well. Your voice is haunting and compelling.
I wish I had time to read it all...
I loved the lines 'Stephanie stirs to the flapping of sheets' and 'slatted sun flickers' - so evocative.
Happily backed, I wish you the best of luck.
Kit Matthews (insight)

Famlavan wrote 798 days ago

What an absolutely exquisite style, took a tiny bit of time to get into it, but boy was it worth it – this could invent a genre all of its own – good luck

Steve Jensen wrote 799 days ago

Absolutely beautiful writing - a revelation, in fact, and a truly 'sentimental education'. The author takes us on journey unlike any other (certainly at Authonomy), and the poetry of her prose makes it an unforgettable sojourn.

This can only be viewed as a story of loss, with the hindsight we 'enjoy' now at least. We have lost the innocence so poignantly captured in A Shadow in Yucatan; more's the pity...'we' might have been somewhat naive back then, but don't doubt that we were wiser than we are now...

That Philippa Rees' original writing style so readily gives us a bittersweet reminder of those carefree days is testament to her skill as an author; that she makes us mourn the loss of our 'childhood' as human beings suggests a more rare talent, for she has shown us ourselves, our shared conscience, in effect.

Quite splendid work. Highly recommended.

lizjrnm wrote 805 days ago

I grew up in the sixties and I have to say this is so well rendered and wisely crafted! Descriptive prose are polished and the characters are down to earth and believable! BACKED

Liz
The Cheech Room

lionel25 wrote 814 days ago

Philippa, I've looked at "The Beauty Parlour, Coconut Grove" and "The Specialist." I guess I'm only qualified in this case to comment on your writing style. And it is beautiful. Good work.

Happy to back this.

Joffrey (The Silver Spoon Effect)

soutexmex wrote 819 days ago

SHELVING you because Tim did. I can use your comments on my book when you can get a chance. Cheers!

JC
The Obergemau Key

Bob Steele wrote 820 days ago

A Shadow in Yucatan is a unique work that initially I found hard to get into. Then I stopped looking for the conventional forms of storyline and narrative and started paying attention to the characters, and found it really enjoyable. The languorous and gossipy feel of the beauty parlour and its denizens, Wally and the banjo he never plays, Mrs Martin shaking her Sabbath fist and Doctor Paul who does it by the book all seem to be part of some greater mosaic that in time will be revealed. The nearest I've come to this sort of feel before is Dylan Thomas 'Under Milk Wood' - so I'll have to back you!

bonalibro wrote 824 days ago

Hi,

I backed your book some time ago.
I wonder if you might have a look at mine
Good luck with it.

Tim Chambers
Moonbeam Highway: With Apologies to Miguel de Cervantes.

Rob Malagola wrote 837 days ago

Philippa,
And an ending just as moving and exquisite as all that went before.
Nothing to add, nothing to take away. A Shadow in Yucatan stands alone, and is of-a-piece, a completeness that is of the writer, the work itself, and the reader, too. A shard of true, anyway, amongst the rattle and hum of real. I’ve traveled with it slowly, word on word, and through its impeccably cadenced and measured artistry; the world as we knew it, as we know it, the world as we pass through it.
I do thank you,
Rob

Pia wrote 838 days ago

Philippa,
A Shadow of Yukatan – strong, lived images … experience singing a song to the eyes and ears of memory.
.… I shall sink. I shall surface like mermaid seal, untouchable … All colours here are black. All movement is mechanical. All gestures calculate … The embroidered air hums an octave of sea … women remain, to spin the flax of deep unquestioning … the cradle of compassion lies in an open palm … the well polished horns of conflict impale all skidding hope …
And, the storm: … the landscape lies down. Spreads its limbs, and turns its head.
I had to read the whole story. The birth, Christopher been given away for adoption, and a surprise moment of sweet beauty in the hairdressing parlour … He stilled bewilderment.
Thanks for sharing this song. Pia (Course of Mirror)

Rob Malagola wrote 851 days ago

Safe to say, I haven’t seen anything like this here, nothing as original, nothing as good. So far, it’s the opposite of breathless, it is an even and barely heard inhaling and exhaling.

Having read the pitch, you’ll know what to expect – won’t you? Whatever your expectation, once started, there’ll be no going back. Even if you don’t quite know where you are as you set off, it’s easy and important to get up and go, the language and the voices able to carry you effortlessly along (not like a David Lynch film at all, but you have to go with it in the same way, with faith, and pleasure in the doing, and such reward).

All familiar, never met before; not only sumptuous and evocative, but also of other words that have abandoned me now. From half-sleep, and from all those times when you sit and write, your eyes leaden, and mysteriously conjure things that have no accountable place of origin, yet arrive anyway; real, dreamt, and true.

So much to enjoy, so much to learn (and then there’s Minding the Gap).
Rob


Ana G. Ram wrote 852 days ago

This is a joy to read. It took me a few seconds to get into the prose, but once in, I couldn’t stop. I’ve never read anything like this in English, but I’ve read plenty of classics in Russian who use similar style. Wonderful, truly wonderful. You say it’s not poetry, but it is. In Russia, we call this style of writing Poema.

Thank you for the pleasure,
Backed.
Ana G. Ram

Freeman wrote 853 days ago

I was a teenager in the sixties and remember all the people in your pitch so I was keen to see how you saw it. I missed the flower power brigade. I read a little but as I said in my information, I am not good with poetry and I found it hard to read. I am sure many other more worth souls will appreciate it more than I can. I wish you luck your book.

Tony
Life Bringer

SteveLB wrote 854 days ago

Philippa,

What a fine style you have - so different than most things I read - on this site or in novels.

You can clearly write extremely well - subjectively, it would not be what I would choose to pick up and read, although that doesn't take anything away from the quality of what you have produced.

Backed and impressed

Steve

SteveLB wrote 854 days ago

Philippa,

What a fine style you have - so different than most things I read - on this site or in novels.

You can clearly write extremely well - subjectively, it would not be what I would choose to pick up and read, although that doesn't take anything away from the quality of what you have produced.

Backed and impressed

Steve

Francesco wrote 854 days ago

I thought I'd backed this quality piece but a friend said I hadn't...I definitely read it a while back and loved it!
Backed...I checked.

scarletjg wrote 854 days ago

You have a lovely way of using words. I'm pleasently impressed.

Shelved.

Janice (Blood of Eden)

scarletjg wrote 854 days ago

You have a lovely way of using words. I'm pleasently impressed.

Shelved.

Janice (Blood of Eden)

lynn clayton wrote 855 days ago

Philippa, Stephanie is a wonderful creation. The whole book is. Backed.Lynn

AlanMarling wrote 864 days ago

Dear Philippa Reese,

Thank you for sharing your story with us. I skipped to chapter four to cover less-traveled ground and was rewarded by a swath of my favorite words: “skeins”, “sluice”, “shorn”, and “skims”. And that was just counting the “s” words. I really like the idea of “cataract mind”. This is fully deserving of the “Other” genre category, as you meld poetry and storytelling. The lines reminded me much of Bob Dylan, who would get his audience to “feel” what he was singing about through creative visuals rather than just telling them. He and you effectively use “show not tell”.

Bravo! Backed.

Best wishes,
Alan Marling

paxie wrote 865 days ago

Phillipa

An embroidery of words, this is a credit to you....I cant find anything to complain about, nothing at all.....

Shelved with admiration and I admit, a bit of jelousy.....best wishes to you for 2010

Mark Reece wrote 868 days ago

Hi Phillippa, This is very different and totally against anything else I have come across on this site. Did I like it ? I found it hard work at first, but maybe after a long day is not the time to read this sort of book. It is however, fabulous writing with skilful use of words. Good luck with it.
Mark - Another Day in Paradise

leighahh wrote 868 days ago

This is a wonderful piece of writing. This author has shown what the true meaning of poetry is. This is a beautiful, inspiring, and deeply thought provoking book. Great Job Backed!

Jared wrote 871 days ago

Philippa, I'm returning a read and am so glad I had the opportunity to read this. I've read all you've posted, gone back to the start and read it all again. What a sumptuous blend of poetry and prose. I can't find words to do this justice - there aren't words to do this justice and even if there were, I'd not be so presumptuous as to attempt to describe such masterly work. I love the cover, the title is perfect and the pitch works for me on every level. I remember all your references as if they occurred yesterday and this is a book I'll return to time and again. Putting on my shelf for an unavoidably short time is so far removed from the acclaim it deserves as to be almost an insult and yet it is all I have at my disposal.
Backed with immense approval and admiration.
Jared.

John Booth wrote 872 days ago

Hi Philippa,

Some interesting poetry with excellent imagery - Shelved

John Booth (Shaddowdon)

gillyflower wrote 875 days ago

This is a marvellous book, part Dylan Thomas, part TS Eliot, and wholly Philippa Rees. Stephanie is such a real character. By using poetry, and prose which is more than half poetry, you show us her feelings at a deeper level than most prose can do, and you shake our emotions in doing this. The end of Chapter Two is particularly moving, with Stephanie's joy as she makes her decision conveyed in so few words but so effectively. This book is outstanding. My only worry is whether Harper Collins, who so far as I know don't publish poetry, will consider it. But someone surely will, if there's any sense left in publishing today. Backed.
Gerry McCullough,
Belfast Girls.

FrancescaPolini wrote 876 days ago

I am so glad I stumbled upon this. Such poetic writing, and yes it did bring me back to the days I thought I had lost forever. Thanks, gorgeous writing too. Backed.

Francis Albert McGrath wrote 876 days ago

I'm a fan of verse by James Schuyler and Frank O'Hara... Yours reminded me, but it has its own unique melody.
This is stunning, sharp, original and repays rereading.
Shelved
Frank

KW wrote 893 days ago

"It was worth it. I promise. You go on without me." Enough said. Simply, I enjoyed this very much. "It torn, it reforms. If tattered, it refracts." Shelved.

Zehra Mustafa wrote 895 days ago

Philippa,

I can't get over your style, it's mesmerizing and poetic, exactly what I look for when choosing a book. I'm adding it to my watch list and going to back it in a few days after (since I filled it up today)

Zehra

Philippa wrote 899 days ago

'A distilled novel" you call it, but a poem by any other name is still a poem. This one is wonderful. I love the silence that runs through it, under various guises - solid as butter, like fish on the other side of glass etc - the sense of the 60's woven with other parts of the culture, the slightest hint of the man behind Stephanie's pregnancy in Desdemona's willow willow willow song and the allusions to and twists on the story of Moses, here with Miriam watching out for the mother, not the baby, and the child placed by it's adoptive mother directly back into the birth mother's waiting arms. Really really great. The beauty parlour chat alone was worth the price of admission.

LOvely comment great pleasure it gave you pleasure P

Mairi Graham wrote 899 days ago

'A distilled novel" you call it, but a poem by any other name is still a poem. This one is wonderful. I love the silence that runs through it, under various guises - solid as butter, like fish on the other side of glass etc - the sense of the 60's woven with other parts of the culture, the slightest hint of the man behind Stephanie's pregnancy in Desdemona's willow willow willow song and the allusions to and twists on the story of Moses, here with Miriam watching out for the mother, not the baby, and the child placed by it's adoptive mother directly back into the birth mother's waiting arms. Really really great. The beauty parlour chat alone was worth the price of admission.

Jane Alexander wrote 911 days ago

I'll be honest, I started this without realising what it was and my initial thought was, 'oh shit'....and nearly backed off. But didn't - and now feel so stupid about that first reaction. I've become a lazy reader of late, mainly choosing books (not here, just generally) that are undemanding on the whole. But this reminded me how much I love words, carefully chosen, each doing their own job.
I'm not going to crit this - would be ridiculous.
So much to love. 'sunk in her talcum sleep', 'soured by lemon sorbet socks', 'the butter-solid silence' and on and on and on.
Brave. Fabulous. Backed.
Jane

Steven Wyatt wrote 913 days ago

I’m backing this because I don’t quite know what else to do with it. It certainly can’t be ignored. Part poem, part stream-of-consciousness lyric, part God-knows-what, it’s a courageous attempt to do something different and deserves support on that basis alone. Glittering fragments of imagery pulse from the page. It’s how I would imagine some acid-tripping rock poet’s notebook: an inchoate rag-bag of glimpses, sounds, thoughts; a scent of patchouli oil and kif in the air, a sitar playing in the background, a Big Sur starscape with Kerouac wandering lost and mad on the beach below, flashbacks of Mexico consuming him. Hopelessly uncommercial, of course. Difficult. Defiant. Occasionally self-indulgent. But you knew that and did it anyway: more power to you.

T.L Tyson wrote 916 days ago

This is beautiful and draining.
What a delight to read. I was unsure if it was poetry or a story but I realize it is both.
Unique and different. A clear and somewhat unsettling story that is encrusted with emotion.
Backed.
T.L Tyson-Seeking Eleanor

suzyvegas wrote 916 days ago

I came over because I liked your comments on another's book. At first I thouht 'Oh Dios, poetry!' And then I read the lot. Cant quite explain the quantity of images it threw across my mind. There was rap music accompanying the words.
This may be one of the books of the future. WHen we dont have books anymore - just downloads and 'real' books will have to be beautifully bound and exquisitely priced? Is it? If it is I will buy one. un beso

Onthedottedline wrote 923 days ago

This is a beautifully-written trip down memory lane, into the pop and youth culture of a bygone era, when life seemed so much simpler (but actually wasn't!). You express your ideas and concepts with consumate ease, and this is a most enjoyable read. Backed with pleasure. Best wishes, Tony.

chrisalys wrote 945 days ago

A style of its own and very lyrical and fascinating. Backed because i can't remember reading anything quite like it on this site. Well done.

Cato Sulla wrote 945 days ago

Every once in a while, something comes along that captures my imagination. It might be a painting, a song on the radio or an actor's performance in a film. Today I came across your book and it captured my imagination, locked it up in a strange place for the four chapters you have on here and it threw away the key.

Backed with pleasure.

Bob

Urania wrote 955 days ago

Philippa, this is so different from everything else on this site - evocative, beautiful, lyrical, a true song of the sixties. Breathtaking. Shelved without hesitation.

andyroo wrote 957 days ago

If I were to buy a Ferrari, I would only ever be able to drive it, at the best of my ability, at 30% of what it is capable of. It is me that would let the package down. I feel that when I read this, I am doing it a disservice by analysing it with my amateur eyes, not soaking up anywhere near the best of what is written here. I can enjoy it nonetheless, but always with a pang of guilt that I am undeserved of it.

Simon Swift wrote 978 days ago

Awesome! BACKED with great pleasure!

Kim Jewell wrote 978 days ago

Hi Philippa!

This is very beautifully written. The descriptive words you choose... Well, I can tell you put a lot of thought into exactly how you want to craft your message. Very well done - on my shelf!

Kim
Invisible Justice

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