Katherine Scholes
Author of Peace Begins With You
About the Author
Image credit: Katherine Scholes
Works by Katherine Scholes
O Anjo de Pedra 2 copies
A Rainha da Chuva 1 copy
EL NIÑO Y LA BALLEA 1 copy
Associated Works
Het beste boek, #277 [Tegenspel; Caleidoscoop; De roep van de olifant; Het kerstlijstje] — some editions — 1 copy
Reader's Digest Auswahlbücher 278 - Der Canyon. Die Heideärztin. Gambling. Die Sturmfängerin (2008) — Author — 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- Scholes, Katherine Anne
- Birthdate
- 1959-07-05
- Gender
- female
- Nationality
- Australia
- Birthplace
- Dodoma Region, Tanzania
- Places of residence
- Tasmania, Australia
Members
Reviews
Awards
You May Also Like
Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 17
- Also by
- 3
- Members
- 851
- Popularity
- #30,067
- Rating
- 3.7
- Reviews
- 18
- ISBNs
- 134
- Languages
- 9
- Favorited
- 1
Scholes explores a number of themes in The Beautiful Mother. One of the most significant examines universal questions about motherhood as Essie cares for the baby girl she names Mara. It’s a joy to be part of her journey as she opens her heart to Mara, and gains new perspective about who she is and what she wants.
Essie’s relationship with Mara also allows the author to delve into the dynamics of marriage and family as the infant’s presence drives a wedge between Essie, Ian, and Julia. The baby stirs up repressed feelings about the loss of Julia’s youngest son who disappeared as a toddler at Magadi, and Ian resents the changes Mara effects in his previously pliant wife.
Also of importance in the novel is the author’s exploration of home and belonging. This is particularly shown through the character of Essie’s assistant, Simon, who is torn between his perception of himself as a ‘modern’ Tanzanian, and his birthright as as a member of the Hadza.
Scholes descriptions of the Tanzanian landscape are breathtakingly vivid from the red rocky desert plains of Magadi to the majesty of Ol Doinyo Lengai, an ever grumbling volcano. I found it easy to visualise the layout of the Camp, it’s work tables cluttered with tools and specimens, and the careful grids of the nearby the dig sites. The people too are easy to imagine from Mara’s bright eyes, to the African Camp workers, and the women of the nearby Maasai village.
A well told, evocative novel The Beautiful Mother is sure to engage both interest and emotion.… (more)