“The kind of writing that makes us want to read the whole book as soon as possible; a shot of adrenaline that immediately takes us to a new world.”—David Varno, Words Without BordersJournalist Daniel Mandelkern leaves Hamburg on assignment to interview Dirk Svensson, a reclusive children's book author who lives alone on the Italian side of Lake Lugano with his three-legged dog. Mandelkern has been quarreling with his wife (who is also his editor); he suspects she has other reasons for sending him away.After stumbling on a manuscript of Svensson's about a complicated ménage à trois, Mandelkern is plunged into mysteries past and present. Rich with anthropological and literary allusion, this prize-winning debut set in Europe, Brazil, and New York, tells the parallel stories of two writers struggling with the burden of the past and the uncertainties of the future. Funeral for a Dog won the prestigious Uwe-Johnson Prize, and critics raved: "Pletzinger's debut is a real smash hit. It's been a long time since a young German writer has thrown himself into the hurly-burly of life and literature with so much intelligence and bravado" (Wolfgang Hobel, Der Spiegel). Views: 17
Amazon.com ReviewAmazon Best Books of the Month, October 2011: Yael was born of a dead mother and father who knows how to become invisible. Revka learned silence when her grandsons lost their voices after witnessing their mother’s brutal murder. Aziza became a boy to protect herself, and hates being forced to turn back into a woman. And Shirah will do anything to protect those she loves from the horrors of the world. The power and violence of these women is evident in every word of The Dovekeepers. Hoffman’s prose is vivid and unforgettable, scorching like the desert heat, and will stay with you long after you finish the last page. A story of sacrifice, endurance, and above all, survival, The Dovekeepers is homage to anyone who’s ever held fast to their beliefs in the face of nearly insurmountable adversity. --Malissa KentReview"Beautiful, harrowing, a major contribution to twenty-first century literature."—Toni Morrison, Nobel Laureate in Literature "I am still reeling from The Dovekeepers--from the history Alice Hoffman illuminates, from the language she uses to bring these women to life. This novel is a testament to the human spirit and to love rising from the ashes of war. But most of all, this novel is one that will never be forgotten by a reader." --Jodi Picoult, author of Sing You Home “In her remarkable new novel, Alice Hoffman holds a mirror to our ancient past as she explores the contemporary themes of sexual desire, women's solidarity in the face of strife, and the magic that's quietly present in our day-to-day living. Put The Dovekeepers at the pinnacle of Hoffman's extraordinary body of work. I was blown away.” —Wally Lamb, author of The Hour I First Believed Views: 17
Darla seeks to put an end to her life, but is cast into Redemption. Demon’s, Vampire’s, Lycan’s not only exist there but have walked among us since the dawn of time. But something darker is in pursuit of Darla. Can Quinn save the woman who sets his senses on fire? Time is running out. Caught in a battle between good and evil, the cost of failure could bring about the destruction of Heaven itself. Views: 17
For better for worse, ‘til death us do part...When Dottie’s husband Reg receives a mysterious letter through the post, Dottie has no idea that this letter will change her life forever. Traumatised by his experiences fighting in World War II, Reg isn’t the same man that Dottie remembers when he is demobbed and returns home to their cottage in Worthing. Once caring and considerate, Reg has become violent and cruel. Dottie just wants her marriage to work and tries hard to please Reg, although nothing she does seems to work.The letter informs Reg that he is the father of a child born out of a dalliance during the war. The child has been orphaned and sole care of the young girl has now fallen to him. He seems delighted but Dottie is far from pleased and struggles with the idea of bringing up another woman’s child, especially as she and Reg are further away than ever from having one of their own.However, when eight-year-old Patsy arrives the smile is wiped off Reg’s face – Patsy is far from what he had expected. Patsy’s arrival opens a whole can of worms and it becomes clear that Reg has been very economical with the truth. But can Dottie get to the bottom of the things before Reg goes too far?A compelling family drama that will appeal to fans of Maureen Lee, Lyn Andrews, Josephine Cox and Annie Groves. Views: 17
Since its first issue in 1973, Cricket magazine has cherished the goal of bringing the beauty, integrity, and humor of the world's best stories to children everywhere. In "The Realm of Imagination" you will find realistic stories about kids in America and around the world, as well as inspiring tales of true adventure, fantasy, and science fiction. With comments from Cricket's irrepressible bug characters, these stories will excite your imagination and curiosity—and often, make you laugh Views: 17
Lily Taub is the brilliant, beautiful and headstrong American daughter of Holocaust survivors. Seeking relief from their traumatized world, Lily escapes to Oxford University, where she meets Julian Aiken — black sheep of an aristocratic English family. When Lily is invited to the family’s ancestral home over Christmas vacation, her deepening romance with young Julian is crossed by a shocking accident that affects them all. Julian must face the harsh disapproval of his anti-Semitic family, who consider Lily a destructive force, not only in Julian’s life, but to their own sense of order. In the King's Arms is a lyrical, literary novel about the healing possibility of love.ReviewPraise for Mothering Heights:"Wise, witty, and often hilarious."— Publishers Weekly Views: 17
Fantasy/Science Fiction. 11547 words long. First published in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, May 2006 Nebula Award Preliminary Ballot Nominee Views: 17
Set in Brighton over the bank holiday weekend of 1964, an ambitious and handsome young detective named Vince Treadwell is sent down to solve a murder and catch the elusive and powerful gangster, Jack Regent. In the tangled web of the crime, Vince falls for Jack's beautiful girlfriend, Bobbie LaVita, and discovers the truth about their own dark pasts. "Kiss Me Quick" goes behind the headlines of rioting Mods and Rockers, and into the deadly world of a secret Corsican crime organization, a burgeoning drug trade, police corruption, pornography rackets, and the dark side of the music business. With its elaborate and compelling plot, a cast of deliciously treacherous and vividly drawn characters, this page turning thriller introduces us to the dangerous world of Vince Treadwell. Views: 17