The Primrose Path (Matas novel)
{{short description|1995 novel by Carol Matas}}
{{other uses|Primrose Path (disambiguation){{!}}Primrose Path}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox book|
| name = The Primrose Path
| image = The_Primrose_Path_(Matas_novel).jpg
| caption =
| author = Carol Matas
| illustrator =
| cover_artist =
| country = Canada
| language = English
| genre = Novel; children's literature
| publisher = Bain & Cox
| release_date = 1995
| media_type = Print (hardback & paperback)
| pages = 152
}}
The Primrose Path is a 1995 novel by Carol Matas.{{Cite web | url=http://carol.carolmatas.com/carol-matas-contemporary-fiction.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501102850/http://carol.carolmatas.com/carol-matas-contemporary-fiction.htm | title=Contemporary fiction for middle grades, teens & young adults | archive-date=2019-05-01}} According to the author, the book "is about sexual abuse, but it's not graphic".“Book’s Theme Is Sexual Abuse: [FINAL Edition].” The Gazette 21 Sept. 1995: F.10. Web. 7 Feb. 2016. In addition to the text, Matas also supplies the reader with a six-page glossary detailing various terms related to the Jewish faith.{{Cite web | title=CM Magazine: The Primrose Path | url=https://umanitoba.ca/cm/vol1no16/primrev.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990202121056/http://www.umanitoba.ca:80/cm/vol1no16/primrev.html | access-date=2025-04-06 | archive-date=1999-02-02}}
Plot summary
A fourteen-year-old Jewish girl named Debbie moves to a new city and finds herself part of a small Jewish Orthodox community. Soon she comes into contact with Rabbi Werner, who is the principal of the Orthodox school that his synagogue houses, Debbie's teacher, and a child molester. After his seemingly accidental tickles and touches become inappropriate, Debbie tells her father about the non-sexual touching. He confronts Rabbi Werner. However, instead of rejecting the rabbi, the local community rallies to defend him and rejects Debbie and her family. The story is complicated with marital issues within Debbie's family, and is further complicated by the fact that Rabbi Werner never faces justice for his crimes.Matas, Carol. The Primrose Path. Bain & Cox, 1995. Print.
Reception
The Primrose Path was a finalist for the Manitoba Book of the Year in 1995, as well as being recognized as an Outstanding Book Of The Year by the Children’s Book Centre in 1996. The novel was also a finalist for the Manitoba Young Readers Choice Award in 1997.{{Cite web | url=http://carol.carolmatas.com/carol-matas-awards-honors.htm | title=Awards & honours for books by Carol Matas | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701194659/http://carol.carolmatas.com/carol-matas-awards-honors.htm | archive-date=2017-07-01}}
Controversy
In 1995 Matas had been invited to speak at an interfaith luncheon at the Shaarey Zedek synagogue in Winnipeg, which she and her family had attended for three generations. However, the invitation was withdrawn several weeks before the scheduled presentation, as the synagogue feared the possibility of libel because the fictional story had parallels with a recent charge against a Winnipeg rabbi.{{Cite web | url=http://www.freedomtoread.ca/challenged-works/the-primrose-path/ | title=Freedom to Read Challenged Books | website=www.freedomtoread.ca}} In response, Matas stated "This is paranoia of the worst sort and censorship in the worst way. Libel chill isn't a strong enough term. Basically, they're censoring me and not the book. Somehow, I am no longer acceptable".Hubert, Marc, and SPCL. “Libel Chill Leaves Children’s Author Feeling Censored OPINIONS / Carol Matas's Novel about a Jewish School and a Child-Abusing Rabbi Touched a Nerve in Winnipeg. A Synagogue Cancelled Her Appearance amid Threats of Litigation.” The Globe and Mail (Canada) 19 Dec. 1995. Web. 7 Feb. 2016. Denying all accounts that claimed her story held similarities with Bryks, saying that her book is "a universal story which I based on research across North America. And in two other communities where I've spoken besides Winnipeg, people in the audience believe that the book is about a specific case in their community. It says to me that I'm doing my job as a writer because it is a universal story." Matas has not received any libel suits against the novel.
References
{{Reflist}}
Bibliography
- [http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CH1420021607&v=2.1&u=malaspina&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w&asid=41c90878a0df51bfb7320b5d4ea3b8ba Wytenbroek, J. R. "Review of The Primrose Path." in Quill and Quire 61.11 (Nov. 1995): 45. Rpt. in Children's Literature Review. Detroit: Gale. Literature Resource Center. Web. 30 Jan. 2016.]
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