Trust Marie's taste? Here's what she's picked in the past!
The Invisible Mountain by Carolina De Robertis
When author Carolina de Robertis began writing as a child, her parents
begged her to put their family stories on paper. Available in August,
the result of family oral tradition and lots of listening and research,
is her debut novel. The
Invisible Mountain is as lush in character, plot and language
as the South American landscape in which it is set. More than a narrative
of the Firrelli’s, a Uraguayan family with Italian roots that
run deep within the Venetian canals, de Robertis’s novel traces
the stories of three generations of women: Pajarita, the baby who went
missing only to be discovered in a tree; her daughter, Eva, a rebellious
poet who finds love in the most unlikely of places; and Eva’s
daughter, Salomé, who risks her life hiding weapons for guerilla
rebels under bed. Infused into the societal and political unrest of
Eva Perón’s Buenos Aires and the gleaming city of Montevideo
are the bits of magical realism, sweeping sticks-in-your-mouth prose,
and an addictive storyline rich in cultural significance. This striking
start will delight fans of Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Isabel Allende
who will find themselves fully immersed in the “sharp t’s
and j’s, y’s and g’s” that tie these women together.
978-0-307-27163-1 | $24.95/NCR | Knopf | HC | August 2009
Atlas of Unknowns by Tania James
There is great joy to be had in recommending something written by a
first-time author. Atlas
of Uknowns is no different. As in many other books, the reader
gets caught up in the plot’s central relationship, this time between
the two sisters: homely Linno, kept in the shadows of the family home
in Kerala, India and Anju, the dreamer, whose good fortune brings her
to New York City where she must navigate the city streets, her family’s
dreams, and a life-altering secret all at once. Add to that a set of
parents with secrets of their own, a wealthy Hindu-American host family,
and a lonely hairdresser with ties Anju and Linno’s past, and you’ve
got an interesting cast of characters. Yet what is most striking about
Tania James’s new novel are the ever-present myths and realities of
the American Dream as seen through the eyes of modern immigrants. These
opposing forces are woven together to showcase the balancing act each
character faces in an attempt to gain a sense of self and cling to a
family identity all at once. A great storyteller, James creates depth
in her characters and plot by highlighting the emotional truth associated
with the realization of a dream above any fictional fantasies created
for the story’s sake. Such poignancy is enough to turn the pages in
this refreshing read.
978-0-307-26890-7 | $24.95/$27.95C | Knopf | HC | April 2009
The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff
At first glance this novel appears to be straightforward historical
fiction surrounding the life of Ann Eliza Young, the outcast wife of
Brigham Young, a founding prophet and leader of the Mormon Church. Yet,
intertwined is a modern tale of a murder mystery involving a polygamist
family in present-day Utah. The research lengths the author went to
for his novel are impressive. At a recent lunch event he told attendees
stories of interviewing former members of FLDS communities, of visiting
one Utah community himself, and of hours spent poring over historical
documents. While the connection between the historical and fictitious
is especially strong, what is most extraordinary are the “documents”
interspersed within it: a Wikipedia entry, newspaper articles, a college
thesis paper, and more, all penned by the author himself but seemingly
so authentic that I had to flip back to the Author’s Note to check
for citations. A complex, timely and addictive mixture of past and present,
this book will no doubt spark discussion and entice readers to learn
more about this piece of American religious history. Great for
book clubs!
978-1-4000-6397-0 | $26.00/$30.00C | Random House | HC | August 2008
Relentless Pursuit: A Year in the Trenches with Teach for America: by Donna Foote
I admit it. I considered Teach for America. I suppose you could say
it was a “Plan B” for me. But after reading this book I
realize as a “Plan B”er I never would have made it. Never
mind the rigorous admissions process involving rounds of interviews
and calculated formulas, the duties bestowed upon TFA corps members
demand nothing less than amazing tenacity and voracious devotion. Foote’s
book weaves stories of four young teachers at a South Central Los Angeles
high school with historical accounts of the birth and growth of the
organization which, since its 1990 founding, has taken on the monumental
task of closing the U.S. educational achievement gap. These corps members
represent a select few of the many thrown into the most desperate classrooms
after only one summer of intense training. This is a book that informs
as much as it challenges, addressing criticisms and spotlighting the
problems that face so many of America’s young and disadvantaged.
A humbling read not just for this former TFA enthusiast but also for
those interested in learning more about Teach for America and the discrepancies
within our country’s public education system.
978-0-307-26571-5 l $24.95 l Knopf l HC l April 2008
