Andrea Lee
Author of Red Island House: A Novel
About the Author
Andrea Lee lives with her husband and two children in Torino, Italy.
Image credit: via Simon & Schuster
Series
Works by Andrea Lee
Pulse: A Dark Paranormal Romance (Pulse: A Dark Paranormal Romance Series Book 1) (2022) 7 copies, 3 reviews
Pulse: Aftershock (Pulse, #4) 2 copies
Accidental Always 2 copies
Pulse: Descension (Pulse, #3) 2 copies
Anthropology 1 copy
Associated Works
Daughters of Africa: An International Anthology of Words and Writings by Women of African Descent from the Ancient Egyptian to the Present (1992) — Contributor — 186 copies
Children of the Night: The Best Short Stories by Black Writers, 1967 to the Present (1995) — Contributor — 126 copies
More Stories We Tell: The Best Contemporary Short Stories by North American Women (2004) — Contributor — 66 copies
Best of The Oxford American: Ten Years from the Southern Magazine of Good Writing {anthology} (2002) — Contributor — 45 copies
The Bluelight Corner: Black Women Writing on Passion, Sex, and Romantic Love (1998) — Contributor — 10 copies
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- Lee, Andrea Nancy
- Birthdate
- 1953-04-27
- Gender
- female
- Education
- Radcliffe College (BA|1974; MA|1978)
- Occupations
- fiction writer
travel writer - Short biography
- "Andrea Lee was born in an educated, upper-middle-class family in Philadelphia. She grew up during the turbulent years of the Civil Rights movement. Educated in the best schools, Lee finished her master’s degree in English from Harvard. At Harvard, she met and married Tom, who was specializing in Russian history. Subsequently, she accompanied Tom, who was awarded a fellowship to study in Russia, where she lived for ten months. Her experiences in Russia were recorded in a journal. After a year’s stay, both Andrea and Tom returned to the United States, where Andrea took up a job and worked for several years as a staff reporter with the New Yorker. Now she lives with her husband in Paris."
- Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Associated Place (for map)
- Pennsylvania, USA
Members
Reviews
Set against the idyllic tropical island of Madagascar, we follow Shay, an African-American professor, and her Italian husband Senna as they build their massive dream home. At the heart of the novel is Shay's relationship with Senna and her growing realization of the sacrifices she's made for their marriage. This book also talks about the natural beauty of the island, its rich culture, the stark class divisions, and the settler exploitation.
"You can't come into the country, build a big house, show more and take what you want. The country comes into you as well, into your blood. And so the land you set out to plunder ends by plundering you."
Remarkably slow-paced, this novel is structured into 10 chapters that can be read as their own distinct stories. My favorite is the first chapter, titled "The Packet War". It is mysterious with gothic vibes!
What I loved:
Andrea Lee's writing style! The prose is lyrical with rich descriptions and keen attention to detail. The settings were so vivid I was transported to the island, basking in the sun, and enjoying the gorgeous beach and beautiful, lush surroundings! She also did an excellent job of crafting interesting characters.
The novel explores important themes, such as questions of identity, privilege and power dynamics, and cultural exchange and the clash between Western influences and local traditions.
Lee also expertly captures the complexities of human relationships. The interactions between the characters felt authentic and layered.
What didn't work for me:
The pacing is quite slow, and while the first chapter immediately captivated me, the rest of the book seemed to drag on a bit and the drastic jump between years may confuse some readers. French and Malagasy languages are peppered throughout the book especially in dialogue or cultural references to add authenticity and linguistic diversity, but at some point, I stopped checking what they meant.
Overall, I did enjoy this novel. This is the type of literary fiction that I love reading now and then - immersive, thought-provoking, complex, and layered. show less
"You can't come into the country, build a big house, show more and take what you want. The country comes into you as well, into your blood. And so the land you set out to plunder ends by plundering you."
Remarkably slow-paced, this novel is structured into 10 chapters that can be read as their own distinct stories. My favorite is the first chapter, titled "The Packet War". It is mysterious with gothic vibes!
What I loved:
Andrea Lee's writing style! The prose is lyrical with rich descriptions and keen attention to detail. The settings were so vivid I was transported to the island, basking in the sun, and enjoying the gorgeous beach and beautiful, lush surroundings! She also did an excellent job of crafting interesting characters.
The novel explores important themes, such as questions of identity, privilege and power dynamics, and cultural exchange and the clash between Western influences and local traditions.
Lee also expertly captures the complexities of human relationships. The interactions between the characters felt authentic and layered.
What didn't work for me:
The pacing is quite slow, and while the first chapter immediately captivated me, the rest of the book seemed to drag on a bit and the drastic jump between years may confuse some readers. French and Malagasy languages are peppered throughout the book especially in dialogue or cultural references to add authenticity and linguistic diversity, but at some point, I stopped checking what they meant.
Overall, I did enjoy this novel. This is the type of literary fiction that I love reading now and then - immersive, thought-provoking, complex, and layered. show less
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars.
I couldn’t have loved this book more, although (no spoilers) it broke my heart.
The story follows a young couple, - Shay, an African-American scholar, and Senna, her wealthy Italian entrepreneurial husband, - as they build and periodically vacation in an extravagant villa and property in the unspoiled paradise of the African isle of Madagascar.
The author has a gorgeous command of language, and within the first few pages, I was instantly transported to show more a vivid and exotic land, where:
🖊” in the light soaked stillness of the hottest noontime hour, mongrel dogs lie flat as puddles in patches of shade”.
🖊” the land formation is dazzlingly, virginally green, as if it is the first time that color has been used on earth.”
🖊”the long curve of empty coral beach, is white and perfect as a fresh slice of apple”
🖋”(visitors) are dizzied by the infinite possibilities of using First World money in a Third World country, one of the poorest on earth.
🖋”the first caress of tropical air like an infant’s hand on the face”
It doesn’t take too long for complex and interesting themes to begin to emerge.
The novel spans decades, with each chapter feeling like a self-contained short story, introducing us to new and beautifully rendered characters whose lives, loves, losses and adventures, feel less and less strange the more we become absorbed deep into the fabric of this book and the all-encompassing pull of the magical Madagascar setting.
Gradually it becomes clear that this is a novel about power, about entitlement, about rich sojourners, taking over (or so they believe), through the mastery and exploitation of new territories, leveraging whomever and whatever opportunities present themselves. An age-old theme.
However, as the story plays out through the lives of the protagonists Shay and Senna, it becomes clear that rather than simply rolling over and allowing dominance- homelands that are mired in history, in the deep-rootedness, culture, and connection to the land experienced by all their native peoples, rise up in unexpected ways to have a profound and inescapable effect over the lives of all involved. Most definitely including the interlopers.
This is a brilliant book that I will think about for a long while.
A big thank you to NetGalley; the publisher, Simon and Schuster Canada; and the author, Andrea Lee for an advance review copy of this book. All thoughts presented are my own. show less
I couldn’t have loved this book more, although (no spoilers) it broke my heart.
The story follows a young couple, - Shay, an African-American scholar, and Senna, her wealthy Italian entrepreneurial husband, - as they build and periodically vacation in an extravagant villa and property in the unspoiled paradise of the African isle of Madagascar.
The author has a gorgeous command of language, and within the first few pages, I was instantly transported to show more a vivid and exotic land, where:
🖊” in the light soaked stillness of the hottest noontime hour, mongrel dogs lie flat as puddles in patches of shade”.
🖊” the land formation is dazzlingly, virginally green, as if it is the first time that color has been used on earth.”
🖊”the long curve of empty coral beach, is white and perfect as a fresh slice of apple”
🖋”(visitors) are dizzied by the infinite possibilities of using First World money in a Third World country, one of the poorest on earth.
🖋”the first caress of tropical air like an infant’s hand on the face”
It doesn’t take too long for complex and interesting themes to begin to emerge.
The novel spans decades, with each chapter feeling like a self-contained short story, introducing us to new and beautifully rendered characters whose lives, loves, losses and adventures, feel less and less strange the more we become absorbed deep into the fabric of this book and the all-encompassing pull of the magical Madagascar setting.
Gradually it becomes clear that this is a novel about power, about entitlement, about rich sojourners, taking over (or so they believe), through the mastery and exploitation of new territories, leveraging whomever and whatever opportunities present themselves. An age-old theme.
However, as the story plays out through the lives of the protagonists Shay and Senna, it becomes clear that rather than simply rolling over and allowing dominance- homelands that are mired in history, in the deep-rootedness, culture, and connection to the land experienced by all their native peoples, rise up in unexpected ways to have a profound and inescapable effect over the lives of all involved. Most definitely including the interlopers.
This is a brilliant book that I will think about for a long while.
A big thank you to NetGalley; the publisher, Simon and Schuster Canada; and the author, Andrea Lee for an advance review copy of this book. All thoughts presented are my own. show less
"Jesus, you are annoying. Yes. You smell like lavender and sunlight. It's fucking intoxicating and, quite frankly, difficult to resist."
"I also feel like the minute I see any man look at you the way I am now, it will make me want to rip out their jugular."
Eve is twenty-five years old and living in Los Angeles. Her life is okay: she has a great job, more or less. Eve even has three amazing friends. She spends her free time reading and keeping to herself. Until one night when her life show more spirals out of control... Eve is attacked by a creature with two inch long incisors. She is saved by a handsome, ocean blue eyed man; who also has fangs. Her rescuer is named Will, a vampire and one who seems eager to help her. Eve quickly learns the underworld is very real and she is being hunted by one of the most ruthless vampire covens.
This book was great. I mean it had vampires, werewolves, demons and angels. The "good" vampires working for Lux who were responsible for keeping those who had pledged allegiance to Lucifer, the Fallen, in line. Vampires use werewolves to maintain security during the daylight hours. It was all great and elaborate and the author did an amazing job of building the world by integrating it into the development of the story. It wasn't a huge chunk of world building and then story, which I was incredibly thankful for. Oh and of course you can't forget the romance, with a slight love triangle vibe.
Eve it turns out may be more than she appears given the Fallen are stalking her, which is not normal behavior for them. Will offers her his support and moves her into the Lux compound in an attempt to keep her safe. I loved the dynamic between Will and Eve, it was the perfect amount of hate turned love haha. The book had a slight amount of steam, I would have liked more from a vampire romance, but honestly I didn't mind because the story was so great and involved. The story was different and had a few twists that I suspected but didn't really know were coming for sure.
I will say for Eve's friends to have been so important to her, they played a minimal role in the story and she was quick to forget about them. I realize that it was necessary but I would have liked more since they were her family. I also would have liked a bit more spice in the romance, but again this is easily forgiven because the story was really good. It does end on a semi cliffhanger which drives me crazy!! Overall, it was a quick and engaging read and I look forward to the next book. show less
"I also feel like the minute I see any man look at you the way I am now, it will make me want to rip out their jugular."
Eve is twenty-five years old and living in Los Angeles. Her life is okay: she has a great job, more or less. Eve even has three amazing friends. She spends her free time reading and keeping to herself. Until one night when her life show more spirals out of control... Eve is attacked by a creature with two inch long incisors. She is saved by a handsome, ocean blue eyed man; who also has fangs. Her rescuer is named Will, a vampire and one who seems eager to help her. Eve quickly learns the underworld is very real and she is being hunted by one of the most ruthless vampire covens.
This book was great. I mean it had vampires, werewolves, demons and angels. The "good" vampires working for Lux who were responsible for keeping those who had pledged allegiance to Lucifer, the Fallen, in line. Vampires use werewolves to maintain security during the daylight hours. It was all great and elaborate and the author did an amazing job of building the world by integrating it into the development of the story. It wasn't a huge chunk of world building and then story, which I was incredibly thankful for. Oh and of course you can't forget the romance, with a slight love triangle vibe.
Eve it turns out may be more than she appears given the Fallen are stalking her, which is not normal behavior for them. Will offers her his support and moves her into the Lux compound in an attempt to keep her safe. I loved the dynamic between Will and Eve, it was the perfect amount of hate turned love haha. The book had a slight amount of steam, I would have liked more from a vampire romance, but honestly I didn't mind because the story was so great and involved. The story was different and had a few twists that I suspected but didn't really know were coming for sure.
I will say for Eve's friends to have been so important to her, they played a minimal role in the story and she was quick to forget about them. I realize that it was necessary but I would have liked more since they were her family. I also would have liked a bit more spice in the romance, but again this is easily forgiven because the story was really good. It does end on a semi cliffhanger which drives me crazy!! Overall, it was a quick and engaging read and I look forward to the next book. show less
This mesmerizing book opens as Shay Gilliam, a Black American intellectual married to Senna a tycoon Italian businessman, and unwilling mistress of the Red House, a sprawling big house and household in Madagascar, is following her Malagasy housekeeper to a conjurer to lift an evil spell on her house.
This quietly powerful book, told through a series of incisive and vividly written vignettes/anecdotes, presents a narrative arch spanning a twenty year-period exploring cultural and identity show more collisions between and within the Indigenous population and the Europeans in this neocolonial society.
While Shay is not always present in the vignettes, she is always hovering as an observer, as she tries to reconcile the rifts in her marriage, her identity as being a “mistress” to a “plantation” house, the cost of being an outsider and the higher cost of belonging to the privileged class and the history as a Black woman in Africa.
I appreciated all the wonderful historical and cultural details of the Malagasy world, and how the people live with dignity as they and their country become a fetish exotic adventure destination for others.
This is an eloquent and elegant introspective read as the topics of identity expectations and being the life you want, how to enjoy your success yet still honoring your ancestry, and how survival is knowing your worth and the making the best with what you have to offer are presented from a fresh perspective on cultural collisions and the dualities and multiplicities that exist within us. show less
This quietly powerful book, told through a series of incisive and vividly written vignettes/anecdotes, presents a narrative arch spanning a twenty year-period exploring cultural and identity show more collisions between and within the Indigenous population and the Europeans in this neocolonial society.
While Shay is not always present in the vignettes, she is always hovering as an observer, as she tries to reconcile the rifts in her marriage, her identity as being a “mistress” to a “plantation” house, the cost of being an outsider and the higher cost of belonging to the privileged class and the history as a Black woman in Africa.
I appreciated all the wonderful historical and cultural details of the Malagasy world, and how the people live with dignity as they and their country become a fetish exotic adventure destination for others.
This is an eloquent and elegant introspective read as the topics of identity expectations and being the life you want, how to enjoy your success yet still honoring your ancestry, and how survival is knowing your worth and the making the best with what you have to offer are presented from a fresh perspective on cultural collisions and the dualities and multiplicities that exist within us. show less
Lists
Awards
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Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 18
- Also by
- 23
- Members
- 862
- Popularity
- #29,693
- Rating
- 3.7
- Reviews
- 21
- ISBNs
- 44
- Languages
- 3