Divisadero (novel)

Divisadero is a novel by American author Michael Ondaatje, published in 2007. The story unfolds across two distinct geographical settings: the rural landscape of Northern California and the urban environment of France. The narrative structure is fragmented and non-linear, shifting perspectives and time periods to reveal the interconnected lives of its characters.

The novel begins on a California ranch where a family of four resides: a father, Rafael, and three children – Anna, Claire, and Coop. An act of violence irrevocably alters their lives, scattering them and setting them on different paths. Anna becomes a scholar researching the life of a French writer named Lucien Segura. Claire pursues a career as a lawyer, and Coop descends into the world of gambling and petty crime.

In France, the story follows Lucien Segura and his sister, Valérie. Their lives intertwine with those of the characters in California, revealing connections and parallels across generations and continents. The novel explores themes of memory, loss, family, identity, and the enduring impact of past events.

Ondaatje's signature prose style, characterized by lyrical language and vivid imagery, contributes to the novel's atmospheric quality. The fragmented narrative allows for exploration of different perspectives and the gradual unraveling of the characters' histories and relationships. Divisadero received generally positive reviews, praised for its evocative writing and complex narrative structure.