There comes a point in people’s lives where they begin to question the very roots of their identities.
Often, a person’s thoughts are caught in a cyclical process of doubt and reflection as they seek to answer two looming questions—who am I? And why am I here?
For some people, the journey to self-discovery is metaphysical. Existential in character, their questions are rooted in finding cosmic, philosophical meaning.
For others, the journey to self is a question of belonging and acceptance, which was precisely the case for Magdalene Vega, the protagonist in Citrus librarian Elizabeth Cook’s novel “Becoming Magdalene.”
Written under the pen-name Elisabeth Fitzgerald, Cook captures the emotional struggles her young protagonist faces as she is challenged by new circumstances.
Maggie Vega, a horror screenwriter from Chicago who just sold her first screenplay, thrusts herself into the chaos that is Hollywood only to feel she does not belong.
Between Hollywood’s hectic eat-you-alive attitude and the mess that is Los Angeles traffic, Maggie finds herself torn between two selves—the polite mid-westerner she once was and the thick-skinned shark she needs to be to succeed in LA.
Ever since she was young, Maggie struggled with acceptance from others. With an absent, alcoholic father and a mother with a penchant for dating men half her age, Maggie was left feeling like her own source of solace.
She finds her greatest source of comfort in her new neighbor, Tatiana—an aspiring actress with an abrasive wisdom who cares for Maggie in her most desperate moments.
Perhaps the most striking feature in Cook’s novel is the detail with which she renders her characters, especially Tatiana.
The caustic tenderness of Tatiana’s persona juxtaposed against her rough environment shows the care with which Cook crafted Tatiana’s personality.
In one scene, Maggie confides in Tatiana about her trust issues and how they have affected her romantic life. Tatiana, who listens intently as Maggie relates her insecurities, responds with acerbic comfort, “Look, I say this with nothing but love but b****, you crazy!”
In an earlier scene, Maggie’s estranged father suddenly reaches out to her, which leaves Maggie quietly upset. Tatiana notices this and says, “Your eyes look sad,” before offering Maggie her advice.
It is in these small interactions that Cook presents her readers with the vulnerability of her characters, and in doing this, she captures the contradictions of Los Angeles—grit, grace and caustic wit.
Overall, Cook’s novel is an engaging, enjoyable read. “Becoming Magdalene” is currently available on Amazon. Readers can anticipate a sequel as Maggie continues her journey toward self-discovery.
