Having set aside her own life in her support of her parents, husband, and children, Helen Knightly confronts the realities of the choices that were imposed upon her during a harrowing twenty-four-hour period of death and revelation.
This is the tale of family, memory, love, and living told by 14-year-old Susie Salmon, who is already in heaven. Through the voice of a precocious teenage girl, Susie relates the awful events of her death and builds out of her family's grief a hopeful and joyful story
In a memoir hailed for its searing candor and wit, Alice Sebold reveals how her life was utterly transformed when, as an eighteen-year-old college freshman, she was brutally raped and beaten in a park near campus. What propels this chronicle of her recovery is Sebold's indomitable spirit - as she struggles for understanding ("After telling the hard facts to anyone, from lover to friend, I have changed in their eyes"); as her dazed family and friends sometimes bungle their efforts to provide comfort and support; and as, ultimately, she triumphs, managing through grit and coincidence to help secure her attacker's arrest and conviction. In a narrative by turns disturbing, thrilling, and inspiring, Alice Sebold illuminates the experience of trauma victims even as she imparts wisdom profoundly hard-won: "You save yourself or you remain unsaved."
This year's edition of the well-known anthology engages with contemporary issues rather than adhering strictly to academic formalism. Series editor Pitlor notes that each of the twenty stories is "risky in its own way," showcasing the resilience of the human spirit in the face of crises. Among the diverse entries, two stories inspired by Hurricane Katrina stand out for their contrasting approaches. "Rubiaux Rising," the shortest at eight pages, delivers a powerful narrative about an Iraq veteran detoxing from painkillers in an attic during the storm. This compelling piece is the author's first submission, highlighting the anthology's value in uncovering new talent. In contrast, Adam Johnson's "Hurricanes Anonymous," the longest story at 40 pages, explores the emotional aftermath of two Louisiana storms, weaving intricate connections and losses. Other tales delve into themes of war and foreign affairs, featuring both emerging voices like Zambia-born Namwali Serpell and familiar authors such as Jill McCorkle, Richard Powers, and Annie Proulx. The collection includes multiple selections from esteemed publications like the New Yorker and Tin House. As always, readers are likely to discover new favorites within these pages. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
A collection of pieces of memoir by contemporary international writers. Edited by the author of 'IF THE SPIRIT MOVES YOU'.
Погибшая - главная героиня Сюзи Сэлмон - приспосабливается к жизни на небесах и наблюдает сверху за тем, как ее убийца пытается замести следы, а семья - свыкнуться с утратой...
