Madapple

When I first heard about Madapple, my reaction was basically, “Well who would ever want to read that?” This book sounded really crazy, and I heard from quite a few reviewers that it was disturbing and/or nasty. In the end, I decided to read Madapple because it sounded so weird and different.

And yes, Madapple is very odd. While I was reading this book, I got this very surreal vibe, like the entirety of Madapple takes place inside a dream. It was just so out there, so strange. Not necessarily a bad thing, but it’s very interesting to read a book that seems to be in some alternate reality.

The story itself was also unusual. Among other things, Madapple dealt with murder, incest, immaculate conception, and botany. Unexpected combination, yes. Meldrum alternated her chapters between scenes from Aslaug’s point of view and courtroom dialogue, where Aslaug is being tried for murder. I’m not one of past/present split narratives, but I think that worked in Madapple.

However, I only had one big problem with Madapple, and that was the courtroom scenes. They were straight dialogue, no speaker tags or description, and very monotonous. Initially, I thought those parts were interesting, but over time they began to grate on me, since every other line was “Objection. Leading.” or “Objection. Speculation.” I mean, yes, that is how a real trial goes, but I started cringing every time one of the attorneys made an objection. It might have been too much.
Madapple’s chief strength was in the way Christina Meldrum let the story unfold. I never felt like Aslaug was leading the reader along, showing me things with a direct and obvious purpose. Her story was very simply told, which worked rather well, given that a lot of the subject matter presented was a little far-fetched.

There aren’t many YA books out there that take immaculate conception seriously, you know.

As a character, Aslaug was a bit too dreamy. Her mother had kept her inside their house all her life, and she’d never met another person except for her mother until after her death. Her approach to life was very naïve and sometimes confusing.
All the characters, in general, seemed to be too extreme. The very (VERY) deveout charismatic pentacostal aunt, the female cousin, Sanne, who jumped on board the virgin birth bandwagon; even Rune, the male cousin, had traces of fantasy about him.

Like I said, Madapple read like a very surreal dream. A good, amazing dream with an unspeakably awesome ending, but still a dream. These types of books aren’t usually my thing, but I was just really impressed with the way Meldrum related her tale, and at times, with her vivid and beautiful turn of phrase.

Reader reviewed by Sarima89




I got to say it was a little bit difficult to read at first, because it
has a different kind of language, but then I decided to read it slowly
in order to catch everything, because the story is complex.
The development of the story is very surprising and it will keep you
thinking about whats happening. If you like books with history,
religion and some mystery, this is definitely a must read.

Reader reviewed by Misty

Let me start by saying that in some weird way, this book blew me away.



Madapple is the story of Aslaug Hellig, a bright girl who was
raised in near isolation by her genius -- but disturbed -- mother. When
Aslaug's mother dies, Aslaug goes to the only place she can remember
her mother having taken her. The place, it turns out, is a former
monastery-turned-church, run by an aunt she never knew she had. Aslaug
moves into the church with her aunt Sara and her children, Sanne and
Rune, and gets caught up in the distrubing world they have created for
themselves.



Madapple mixes religion, mythology, psychology and (of all things)
botany to create a very captivating and disturbing world for Aslaug to
live in. Told through chapters set alternately in the present and in
the past, Aslaug's story is revealed slowly and cryptically, making the
book a potentially challenging read for some. Also, some themes and
subject matter may be too adult and/or inappropriate for some readers,
but for those who persevere and can handle the dark subject matter,
Madapple is a strange little gem. It is little wonder that Meldrum, a
first time author, was a finalist for the Morris Award.

Reader reviewed by EmilyRuth

Aslaug has lived alone with her mother almost all her life. So when

 something happens to her mother, and Aslaug is accused, she runs away to find her aunt. But things are different than Aslaug expected. New problems arise, new temptations, and Aslaug must figure out how to deal with them all, and ultimately, how to separate the truth and the lies.

Madapple, Christina Meldrum's debut novel, was in a word, weird. It was so weird. But that doesn't mean I didn't like it. Meldrum's style is brilliant, and I found the different point of views to bring a certain mysterious quality that wouldn't otherwise be there. Madapple has its own feeling to it, unlike any other book I've read. 

I would have expected this book to be written in first person, because of all the focus on the feelings of Aslaug, but I must applaud Meldrum's ability to keep it in third person and still bring in vast emotions. Aslaug is always a mystery, always making you think. In truth, the readers don't figure out what is true and what is false until the last, like 50 pages!

Which brings me to this-moments of Madapple will bore you. The perspective of the interviews/whatever they're called for Aslaug's case will be annoying with all the "objection"s. It's neat at first, but then it does get a little annoying, but if you suffer through that little dip in the middle and make it to the end, you won't be sorry.

There were moments in Madapple when my jaw dropped and a "wow" came out. It's stunning how Meldrum can surprise her readers, yet keep the storyline so intact. It's strange. It's beautiful.

Rating: 4 Stars

Clean?: Some language, some sexuality

Length: 407 pages

Most Like: Tender Morsels, by Margo Lanagan

Reprinted from my blog: http://ayecaptain.blogspot.com

Reader reviewed by Liz C.

 Madapple is about a
girl named Aslaug. She grows up extremely isolated with her ill mother who only
teaches her about plants, languages, and religions. She has believed her whole
life that she has no father- she was born of a virgin. When her mother, the only
person shes ever known suddenly dies, she is plummeted into the real world.
She finds her way to her Aunt Saras house, which is also a church, and finally
meets the people her mother has tried so hard to keep her away from all those
years. Her cousin Sanne holds important journals kept by Aslaugs mother,
reassuring Aslaug that she was indeed born of a virgin. She quickly falls in
love with her other cousin, Rune, who does not believe in his sisters
theories. When Aslaug mysteriously becomes pregnant, her first instinct is to
accuse Rune of rape. To protect her child, Sara confines Aslaug to a locked
room, while Sanne tries to convince her cousin that she will soon be having a
virgin birth, like her mother, and Aslaug eventually begins to believe. When
Aslaug gives birth, Rune and his girlfriend Rebecca run away with the baby, in
hopes that they can live a normal life together. Sometime after Rune and
Rebecca run away, Aslaug ends up in court, where she is being tried for murder.
The book goes back and forth between the courtroom, and Aslaugs time at Saras
church. Slowly the story begins to unravel, until we finally know the truth
about Aslaugs birth, her daughters birth, and why shes in court.

 

 

Madapple is a tragically beautiful book. While the story may
seem unbelievable at first, it feels sickeningly real. Aslaug was a character
filled with strength and pride even after all she went through. Even when she
felt like she hated her mother, she honored her when she died. The other characters
each had unique personalities, and weaknesses. Sanne and Sara were in a way
pathetic, they believed in Aslaugs baby so much that it killed them. Rebecca
and Rune were the minds of reason, willing to do anything to protect Aslaugs
baby, even if they had to run away. Madapple is a story of deceit, Aslaugs
entire life is a lie, but it is also a story of hope, as Aslaug could not have
had the ending she did without that lie. The ending was not predictable at all,
but it was perfect. It was truly the definition of a happy ending. I cried
when I was done with the book, and wished that it hadnt ended. Madapple is
hands-down one of the best books Ive read.

Reader reviewed by An_d

Christina Meldrum's writing style kept me glued to the pages throughout the whole novel.  I was entranced with her lyrical writing.  The beauty of the language.  I was having a hard time, however, enjoying the actual story.   The story was strange; weird, at best.  I found myself becoming frustrated by it, but at the same time, I wanted to continue reading!  Then on the final page, emotion overcame me and I didn't know if I should scream, cry, kick the book across the room or just regret reading it.   There is no way that I can convey the emotions that came to mind at different points during this novel.  It is hard to describe it and for this, I can say that I was overwhelmed.  Questions of religion, life, growing up, incest, child abuse, drugs and just plain, strange subjects fill this book.  If you are up for a challenge in your reading, this would be a definite read.  I gave this book 4 stars for the writing STYLE, not the story and if one book can conjure so many emotions, it deserves at least a 4 out of 5.  I did not like the story, I did not like many of the characters, but the author is definitely gifted.  I will definitely read her next novel to simply enjoy her writing.  I recommend this book to 15 year olds and up.  It has some serious adult themes, drug use, incest and sex issues and a bit of language.  

Reader reviewed by Bookluver-Carol

THE SECRETS OF the past meet the shocks of the present.
Aslaug is an unusual young woman. Her mother has brought her up in near isolation, teaching her about plants and nature and languagebut not about life. Especially not how she came to have her own life, and who her father might be.

When Aslaugs mother dies unexpectedly, everything changes. For Aslaug is a suspect in her mothers death. And the more her story unravels, the more questions unfold. About the nature of Aslaugs birth. About what she should do next.

Madapple is NOT for everyone.

I've never read a book like this. It keep me reading and wondering what happen. The alternate chapters one in the past and the other in the present was pure genius and the let us know more about Aslaug and what happened to her. I found this book to be amazing, heart breaking, and interesting. The religion ,language,and botany parts of the book were so well written you know that the author knew what she was talking about. The book refused to leave your head even after you finished reading it. Aslaug was a unique character and you felt bad for her because of everything that she went through. This was an amazing debut for Christina Meldrum. The plot was really great and I can't believe that this was Christina Meldrum's YA debut. It was just so amazing.

Reader reviewed by ambeen

Madapple is truly a very different sort of novel from what I'm used to reading. I really enjoyed it, though, finding myself getting wrapped up in the story, desperate to know more.

Each chapter alternates between the past events and the present jury trial. I really liked this aspect because it gave us a glimpse of what would be happening in the future chapters. Those events would then turn out to be totally different from what I was expecting from the information given during the trial chapters. I thought this was clever and an interesting new way to tell a story.

While I enjoyed the trial chapters, some of the legal jargon during the objections from the lawyers was confusing and I wasn't sure how it fit with what the witness was testifying. It didn't really affect the reading, but was just a minor annoyance that I wasn't able to fully grasp what was going on during the trial.

The characters in the novel were another part I thought was executed really well. While I hated pretty much every character apart from Aslaug (the main character) and Phalia, I thought they were well written and developed. I was able to understand why they were all a bit psychotic along with their extreme behaviors, even while hating them for it.

All in all, a wonderful first novel. I can't wait to see what Christina gives us next. She really is an author to look out for with her originality and great writing style. I literally ate up this 400 page book in 2 days.

Reader reviewed by Kayla (Midnight Twilight)

Aslaug has spent her whole life in a small house with her mother. She feels trapped but there is nowhere for her to go. When her mother dies she gets the chance to leave, but where does she have to go to?

Aslaug is then put on trial for two murders. But can she distinguish what is the truth and what is derived from the "mad apple".


I was pulled in very quickly to Madapple. The writing style is very interesting and very original. I read somewhere Christina Meldrum did a lot of research while writing Madapple and it shows. This book contains a wealth of knowledge that just adds more intrigue. This is a book you will definitely want to read again and again.

Reader reviewed by Khy

Aslaug is a strange young woman. Her mother has brought her up in a highly unusual way, teaching her about plant's abilities and languages. But when Aslaug's mother grows sick and dies, Aslaug is blamed for her death. As she goes off to live with relatives, her life becomes more complicated and eventually becomes blamed for more deaths. She is put on trial and the story is revealed.

Madapple was beautifully and cleverly written. The chapters alternate between Aslaug's story and the trial that follows Aslaug's story. Because of this, the story is revealed in pieces, keeping things suspenseful and making you want more.

The chapter's of Aslaug's story were poetic, while the trial chapters were really intense. The intensity showed how big of a deal finding out the truth was. The difference in chapter writing made the book interesting to read.

This book deals with fascinating subject matter and I highly recommend it.