I’m fairly certain that my desire to read Matrix, Lauren Groff’s new novel, was primarily motivated by FOMO — I felt like I was the only person I know who hadn’t read and loved Fates and Furies. So, thanks to Penguin Group Riverhead and NetGalley, I was ready to go with a copy in exchange for this honest review. 

While I studied British history in college, that was back in the day (to say the least), and I was initially challenged by my lack of understanding and awareness of the situation in twelfth century England and France, and who exactly Eleanor of Aquitaine and Marie de France were… turns out that despite my laziness that prevented me from refreshing my memory that Eleanor had been Queen of France when married to Louis VII and Queen of England when she later married Henry II, and Marie was the first female poet of France. Despite my ignorance, I decided to just jump in and see if I could figure out the story without much background knowledge. 

Turned out I followed it fine, I just didn’t care enough. I did feel for Marie when, at the age of seventeen, she was sent from France to England to be the prioress of a wretched abbey. It was not an environment she desired, as “…the religion she was raised in had always seemed vaguely foolish to her.” She faced it bravely: early on, she “… has yet to cry for having been thrown to the dogs.” Marie was a large, not particularly attractive woman, a fact which was constantly pointed out to her. Talk about mean girls, both at court and at the abbey!! Marie settles in to a life with a group of starving, sick women, and lives among them as she leads and protects them for many years. She has desires and divine visions, and lives a life that is full — although not with the family and homeland she desired. (Sad!)

The novel is described as “...a defiant and timely exploration of the raw power of female creativity in a corrupted world.” TBH, the writing is often lovely, and Marie is a tower of strength, but I just didn’t care enough. I am unclear whether I might have enjoyed it more if I had retained more of the history I studied back in the day, but in any case, it was a struggle for me to get through it. I know several people who will LOVE this book, and I will recommend it without hesitation. It’s just not my thing. Three stars.