A Dangerous Woman

by Mary McGarry Morris

Book Overview

Martha Horgan is not like other women. She stares. She has violent crushes on people. She can't stop telling the truth. Martha craves love, independence, and companionship, but her relentless honesty makes her painfully vulnerable to those around her: Frances, her wealthy aunt and begrudging guardian; Birdy, who befriends her, then cruelly rejects her; and Colin Mackey, the seductive man who preys on her desires. Confused and bitter, distyrusting...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0670836990
• ISBN13: 9780670836994
• Release Date: January 1991
• Publisher: Viking
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.6" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Outstanding

A Dangerous Woman is a rich characterization of a woman in need of love, support, understanding, security and warmth. This novel is one of the most brilliant that I've read so far this year and it's now the tenth month. The extra-ordinary depth of it's author, Mary McGarry Morris in her understanding of the heroine is outstanding and she delivers her punches with passion and tenacity. We follow Martha through her ordeals, from teenage insecurity through to early thirties bewilderment. We grope blindly along, knowing that there is a tragedy coming and wishing that we could avert it, but it's impending doom is fate and Martha must face hers alone. While Martha can be annoying, gratingly stubborn and insensitive, most of the time she is written about in such a way that you just want to wrap her in your arms and protect her to save her from herself. The novel left me with the huge provocation of how we are in control of our destinies and how we affect those that witness our lives around us. I can't rate this novel high enough. It's compelling, absorbing and brilliantly written and can teach you things about yourself that you may not already know. A must read on anyone's list. I loved it!

Intensely written, another winner from Morris

This is a truly amazing author. All of her books have been 5 stars in my opinion. This novel is so absorbing! Morris has captured the tortured life of Martha and keeps you riveted to the story through suspense and compelling honesty. You will not easily forget this story, but that is typical of all the books I have read of Ms. Morris's.

Her characters are very heavy and realistic

I happen to LOVE Mary McGarry Morris...I've read all of the Oprah books and she, of all authors, writes the most about very very real people and situations. This is a depressing situation book, but if you like those "heavy family dramas", you'll love this one. It's NOT all "happy and worked out" at the end. I felt so bad for Martha, yet, I would have had to run away from her too, she's overwhelming and just "not right" and very annoying to everyone! The last sentance blew me away - it just finalized her situation and mentality in my mind. And Mary McGarry Morris - when is your NEXT book coming out - I CAN'T WAIT!

Do you want to BECOME a character? Read this book!

I was first introduced to Mary McGarry Morris when Oprah chose Songs in Ordinary Time. I loved both of these books. Martha was such a vivid character and I could actually feel each emotion as she experienced it. Well-written, descriptive, and haunting. The ending made me cry, I was so emotionally involved by then that I felt like I should be trying to help Martha! This was a quick read and I was enthralled from the start.

The Most Original and Gripping Novel I Ever Read

Don't let the movie fool you. This book is an absolute must read. Do not cheat yourself from this wonderful and gripping elegy of a town in Vermont, its views for one of its less fortunate and the love of a 'dangerous woman.' Dangerous is used ironically, since the protagonist of this book is so damaged that her greatest goodness is what ultimately seals her fate and the fate of those around her. This is truly a literary masterpiece that reads like a page burner. Morris is an author that we all should take more notice of. What first appears at the surface is most definitely not what lies beneath. She is truly a wonderful and thoughful writer who has turned this novel into a poem that will not let the reader get on with their lives quite the same way as before. How Morris "pulls" off this novel, I am still amazed by!!!! Marthahorgan will be seen by your own eyes more times than you would think after reading this book.