The Distance Home
Published on 23. January 2020
Book
Paperback/Softback
256 pages
978-1-5098-9534-2 (ISBN)
Description
Must a child's past define their future?
'Stark and beautiful . . . I haven't read anything this good in a long time' - Rachel Joyce, author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
Set on the rugged plains of South Dakota, The Distance Home is the story of Rene and Leon, two children who grow up side by side but end up on very different paths. Rene is clever, athletic, aggressive, a go-getter, the apple of her father's eye; while Leon is shy, tender-hearted, a stutterer, constantly struggling for acknowledgement. They both possess a talent for dance, but it is a gift their father adores in his daughter and loathes in his son.
A heartbreaking saga of familiar turmoil, a child's desire for acceptance, and the ways in which our parents shape the adults we become, Paula Saunders' The Distance Home is a breathtaking new examination of the American dream and the eternal question of how any of us can finally be free.
'A heartfelt tale of brutal parental love' The Times
'Stark and beautiful . . . I haven't read anything this good in a long time' - Rachel Joyce, author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
Set on the rugged plains of South Dakota, The Distance Home is the story of Rene and Leon, two children who grow up side by side but end up on very different paths. Rene is clever, athletic, aggressive, a go-getter, the apple of her father's eye; while Leon is shy, tender-hearted, a stutterer, constantly struggling for acknowledgement. They both possess a talent for dance, but it is a gift their father adores in his daughter and loathes in his son.
A heartbreaking saga of familiar turmoil, a child's desire for acceptance, and the ways in which our parents shape the adults we become, Paula Saunders' The Distance Home is a breathtaking new examination of the American dream and the eternal question of how any of us can finally be free.
'A heartfelt tale of brutal parental love' The Times
Reviews / Votes
Deeply involving . . . rich, shimmering, sensuous -- Jennifer Egan, author of <i>A Visit From the Goon Squad</i> Stark and beautiful . . . luminous . . . Heartbreaking, full of compassion . . . I haven't read anything this good in a long time -- Rachel Joyce, author of<i> The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry</i> A heartfelt tale of brutal parental love . . . one of the most convincing portraits of a mother-daughter bond that I have read . . . generous, humane * The Times * Sensitively imagined and perceptively told . . . affecting and rewarding * Daily Mail * Moving and startling . . . a true, and rare, accomplishment -- Michael Cunningham, author of <i>The Hours</i> Riveting . . . it kept me turning pages in the wee hours. One of the best books I've read in years - destined to become a classic. -- Mary Karr, author of <i>The Liars' Club</i> Saunders skillfully illuminates how time heals certain wounds while deepening others, and her depiction of aging is viscerally affecting . . . The Distance Home becomes a mediation of the violence of American ambition - and a powerful call for self-examination * New York Times * Smart and empathetic, highlighting how prejudice can make us forget about love * Elle Magazine * Evocative, moving and deeply immersive . . . There is an undeniable beauty to this epic portrayal of the complex and intimate nature of human relationships - well worth a read * Woman & Home * Superb * Irish Times * Slow-burning and contemplative . . . the emotional stakes are nevertheless high . . . exquisitely rendered by Saunders in long, perfect sentences * Daily Telegraph * Incredibly assured * Observer * Bracing and beautiful . . . it will break your heart and open it up -- <u></u>Maile Meloy, author of <i>Do Not Become Alarmed</i> Beautiful, tender . . . fans of Elizabeth Strout will love it * Prima Magazine * An exquisite, searing portrait of family . . . The Distance Home will leave readers eager for more from this extraordinarily talented writer * Booklist (starred review) * Penetrating and insightful * Publishers Weekly * The author's compassion for her characters shines through in this honest story * Library Journal * Honest, and true . . . this soul-searching first novel offers everywhere that most mysterious and essential of artistic achievements: heart. -- Douglas Unger, author of <i>Leaving the Land </i>and <i>Voices from Silence</i> Extraordinary . . . beautiful, evocative . . . The Distance Home is heart-breaking and full of compassion -- Dana Spiotta, author of <i>Innocents and Others</i> A tender book * Independent i * Beautifully written, atmospheric and emotionally powerful * Northern Echo *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Pan Macmillan
Target group
Interest Age: From 18 years
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 197 mm
Width: 130 mm
Thickness: 22 mm
Weight
230 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5098-9534-2 (9781509895342)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Paula Saunders grew up in South Dakota. She is a graduate of the Syracuse University creative writing program, and was awarded a postgraduate Albert Schweitzer Fellowship in the Humanities at the State University of New York at Albany, under then-Schweitzer Chair, Toni Morrison. She lives in California with her husband. They have two grown daughters. The Distance Home is her first novel.