What readers think of Isola, plus links to write your own review.

Oh, this book is horrifying. Not because it's a horror story or a terrifying thriller, but rather because the premise of the story is grounded in one human being's horrifying, reprehensible treatment of another. It is evil personified. And we readers cannot even comfort ourselves with the thought that it is total fiction because it's based on a true story.

Horrifying though it may be, this is a must-read book!

It is 1531 in Périgord, France. Marguerite de La Rocque is orphaned at age three, and her great wealth is legally placed into the hands of her guardian, Jean-François de la Rocque de Roberval, who was her father's cousin. This duplicitous and devious man barely provided enough financial resources for Marguerite to live with her beloved nursemaid Damienne, while he proceeded to spend and then lose her vast fortune.

When Marguerite is 20, Roberval sold the estate in which she and Damienne were living and forced her to accompany him on his ship that was setting sail to New France, a vast territory in North America, including parts of Canada, where he was determined he would make his fortune. While on board the ship, the mercurial Roberval decides that Marguerite has betrayed him by having an affair with his secretary, Auguste Dupré. So he brutally punishes the couple, along with Damienne who will never leave her mistress, by abandoning them on an uninhabited island in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, off Newfoundland. Of course, he assumes the trio will die miserable, long drawn-out deaths when the brutal snowy and icy winter comes—if they live that long.

Beautifully written by Allegra Goodman with vivid characters and a jaw-dropping plot, this is a remarkable tale of one woman's resilience, perseverance, courage, and stamina in the most appalling of circumstances. It is an historical fiction page-turner, a gripping, unflinching tale that is haunting and gritty.

This is a sweeping story that takes you back to the 16th century when a noble family dies off except for 1 young daughter and a designated "Guardian" (her cousin). The guardian is a rogue and loses much of the girl's estate.

Our heroine is then taken forcibly by the guardian on a ship that is exploring the new world for the King. Marguerite and the Guardian's Secretary fall in love and of course get caught. This enrages the guardian and he punishes them by having them dropped on an uninhabited island in the middle of the new world (probably what is now Canada). Only her Nurse is to stay with them.

The rest of the book is how the 3 castaways survive brutal winters, lack of food and other threats including disease and bears. Tragedy strikes with great loss. Will our heroine survive and take revenge on her guardian?

Enjoy a good book and try Isola (a Reece Witherspoon book of the month).

Isola by Allegra Goodman

4.5 stars
Inspired by the real life of a sixteenth-century heroine, Isola is the timeless story of a woman fighting for survival. French noblewoman, Marguerite de la Rocque de Roberval, who lives to tell the tale of her exile on an island off the coast of New France. She was orphaned by age three, and Marguerite and her nurse, Damienne, are placed in the care of Marguerite’s deceitful cousin. He also squanders Marguerite’s inheritance to pay his debts and fund his naval expeditions. She is to accompany her guardian on an expedition to New France. While on the ship, Marguerite befriends her guardian’s servant and the two form a loving relationship. When discovered they along with Marguerite’s servant, Damienne, are punished by being banished to an isolated island of no inhabitants. Once a child of privilege now finds herself at the mercy of nature. Marguerite is a survivor too. She must learn to climb and hunt and wrestle with despair.

I was so excited that I was able to read an ARC of this. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this beautifully written story of this courageous woman whose story is now being told. It is a page turner and you will find yourself rooting for Marguerite and also grieving with her on this incredible journey of her life. This is my first time reading anything by Allegra Goodman and I will be following what this talented author does next. I will check out her previous book, Sam.