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Book Jacket

 The White Mary:
A Novel
by Kira Salak

Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
Publication date: 08/05/2008.
Novels, 368 pp.

Number of reader reviews: 17
Readers' Consensus: 4.0
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First Impressions: Page 1 of 3
Rated 5 of 5 of 5 by Lois (Redding CA)

Enthralling, Mesmerizing, and Riveting, this book held me to the spot!
From the moment I turned the cover to read the first page until I closed the book at the end, I was right there. Marika Vecera, a young journalist, has patterned her career after that of Richard Lewis. Lewis being an award winning, outstanding Journalist that had committed suicide a couple of years earlier.

Marika decides to write a biography of Richard Lewis. She begins to gather information about him.and comes across a letter that suggests that Lewis might not be dead after all. This sets Marika on a journey that is unlike anything she has ever experienced before.

Kira Salak in her Authors Note just inside the front cover tells us that some of the information about Marika is from her own life. Which made it all the more interesting to me.

I found this book to be an excellent read.

Rated 5 of 5 of 5 by Erika (San Jose CA)

The White Mary
In Salak's dugout canoe take an inhospitable adventure into the jungles of Papua New Guinea in search of a man believed dead. But is he? Beautiful, hypnotic, mesmerizing, intoxicating. Raw in nature while elegant in spirit. Simple yet deeply profound. Meaningful reading. Salak will renew your sense of spirit.

Rated 5 of 5 of 5 by Mary (Boston MA)

A True Heroine, The White Mary!
This is a riveting, and sometimes harrowing, adventure tale which at times I found to bounce between a love story and a "nail biting thriller". Marika is a gutsy heroic journalist and a fearless survivor who attacks the harsh realities of war zones and untamed jungles. She is a hero to inspire all adventure "junkies - a character you will never forget! This book is all fast paced action and for me was mesmerizing - I definitely felt like I was under a spell and couldn't wait to read the next page. I read the book all in one sitting! It is obvious that Kira Salak as a reporter herself has lived through similar adventures and that is how she can capture the beauty of exotic places like Papa New Guinea at the same time as the violence of war zones and political upheaval. I can't recommend this book enough - I LOVED IT!!!

Rated 5 of 5 of 5 by Suzanne Johnson (Auburn AL)

One Woman's Heart of Darkness
How much sorrow and intentional pain can we witness without losing our souls? It's a highly personal question that award-winning journalist Kira Salak explores in her first novel, The White Mary. Knowing that Salak has herself spent much time in the heart of Papua New Guinea and covering atrocities in the Third World brings a sense of realism to this story that makes it all the more heartbreaking. It has some awkward tense changes in the beginning, and the character of Seb could have been better developed, but the plotting and pace of the book are impeccable and the story riveting. I highly recommend it.

Rated 5 of 5 of 5 by Janice (Bluffton SC)

A Winner
Kira Salak has fashioned a powerful tale. I was glued to the pages as she took me through the jungle to Papua New Guinea introducing me to customs and people I never imagined. This is a beautiful descriptive novel with exceptional characterization packed with love and adventure. Hats off to a winner and a fine novelist!

Rated 5 of 5 of 5 by Stephen (Aston PA)

The White Mary
This is an incredible debut novel by Kira Salak. The novel follows in the tradition of Conrad's In the Heart of Darkness.The adventure scenes leave one speechless and brings back the story of Stanley's search for Livingston. This tale of spiritual quest will inspire and change the reader's view of the world. It is a tale of survival and enlightenment.

Rated 5 of 5 of 5 by Vicki (Watertown MA)

Incredible!
This is a sweeping adventure tale that is also a spiritual quest for love and meaning. Kira Salak work as a journalist really pays off here in her first novel. Incredible book.

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