Lynne Sharon Schwartz is a celebrated author whose work spans novels, poems, short fiction, and criticism. Her writing delves into the intricacies of human relationships and the search for identity in the contemporary world. Schwartz masterfully blends keen intellect with sensitive observation of everyday life, crafting narratives that are both thought-provoking and deeply human. Her distinctive style is marked by rich language and a profound ability to uncover hidden truths about the human psyche.
Discover the meaning of Passover by finding the answers to The Four Questions, while observing richly colored scenes and delicate Hebrew calligraphy that joyfully extend the meaning of this venerable tradition. "A striking picture book".--Kirkus Reviews, pointered review. Full color.
A collection of stories and essays about translating and translators"What an astonishing collection, it seemed as if I could drink it--these pieces exude such humanness, refer effortlessly to the tender place that exists in between languages, and somehow leave you with both everything and nothing to say." --Ella Frances Sanders, author of Lost in TranslationIn Joyce Carol Oates's story "The Translation," a traveler to an Eastern European country falls in love with a woman he gets to know through an interpreter. In Lydia Davis's "French Lesson Le Meurtre," what begins as a lesson in beginner's French takes a sinister turn. In the essay "On Translating and Being Translated," Primo Levi addresses the joys and difficulties awaiting the translator. Lynne Sharon Schwartz's Crossing Stories and Essays About Translation gathers together thirteen stories and five essays that explore the compromises, misunderstandings, traumas, and reconciliations we act out and embody through the art of translation.
A talented young runner, Santino, lives in Palermo, Sicily - a beautiful region of Italy that's dominated by the Mafia. With Santino's first communion approaching, his father and grandfather carry out a theft to pay for the party - but they steal from the wrong people. A young, cocky, Mafioso summons them to a meeting, and they bring the boy. As Santino wanders off into the old abandoned neighborhood, he hears shots and runs back to see two armed men - and his father and grandfather slumped over in the car. The boy barely escapes with his life. Now, he's left with a choice: cooperate with police and be a "rat," or maintain Omertá: the code of silence. Twelve-year-old Lucio lives in the northern Italian city of Livorno and dreams of sailing when not taking care of his young sister, Ilaria, and his sick mother, who is convinced that a witch has cursed her. One day, Lucio's mother goes missing and he receives a mysterious text: "Come to Palermo. Mamma is dying." Panicked, Lucio grabs Ilaria and rushes to Sicily, where Lucio's and Santino's stories converge with explosive results
One marvels at the force of seeing in Schwartz's No Way Out But Through and cannot help but feel a particular gratitude for her abundant humor. Go all in with these poems; you'll reap unknown rewards. She possesses a quick-witted imagination that sanctifies memories and makes room for the wondrous nature of our cosmopolitan lights. -Major Jackson
The story unfolds with the sudden death of concert pianist Suzanne, leaving her husband Philip engulfed in paranoia. He believes their life is a facade, as he had manipulated her recordings by blending segments from other pianists to craft an acclaimed yet fraudulent musical career for her. As he grapples with guilt and fear of exposure, the narrative explores themes of deception, the nature of artistic integrity, and the psychological turmoil stemming from his actions.
Exploring the dual nature of travel, this memoir engages with the ongoing conversation about its thrills and challenges, echoing the insights of historical figures like Marco Polo and Montaigne. Lynne Sharon Schwartz reflects on her own experiences, blending humor with deeper inquiries about the impact of travel on personal growth and understanding. Through her narrative, she invites readers to contemplate both the joys and the potential pitfalls of venturing into the unknown.
For the first time, one of New York City's major resident authors spins a breathtakingly immediate, intimate family novel set around the September 11th attacks. Thirty–four and decidedly independent, Renata has been known to keep her involvement with people – men in particular – to a minimum. Even her job at the library keeps her at a remove from the uncertainty of trusting other people with the stories of her past. Instead, she loses herself in language, always measuring the integrity of words against lived experience. Then Jack, patient, solid and sexy, enters her life. One bright September morning as Renata walks across the Brooklyn Bridge to work, the sky bursts open and change comes without warning. It quickly becomes clear in the days ahead that Renata cannot keep memories of her buried past – of a twin sister, a betrayal, of family truths too ugly to acknowledge – at bay. Written with tremendous compassion and imagination, informed by an abiding love for the people of New York, and crafted by a master storyteller at the height of her powers, "The Writing on the Wall" is a profoundly engaging novel about how one woman saw – and we all continue to ponder – the defining event of our time.
Exploring the duality of human nature, this book delves into the contrast between public personas and hidden inner lives. It examines how individuals present themselves while concealing their true thoughts, fears, and desires. Through a compelling narrative, it invites readers to confront the complexities of identity and the often unsettling truths that lurk beneath the surface.
As powerful now as when first published in 1983, Lynne Sharon Schwartz’s third novel established her as one of her generation’s most assured writers. In this long-awaited reissue, readers can again warm to this acutely absorbing story. According to Lydia Rowe’s friend George, a philosophizing psychotherapist, a "disturbance in the field" is anything that keeps us from realizing our needs. In the field of daily experiences, anything can stand in the way of our fulfillment, he explains—an interrupting phone call, an unanswered cry. But over time we adjust and new needs arise. But what if there’s a disturbance you can’t get past? In this look at a girl’s, then a wife and mother’s, coming of age, Schwartz explores the questions faced by all whose visions of a harmonious existence are jolted into disarray. The result is a novel of captivating realism and lasting grace.
Exploring the theme of self-discovery through personal encounters, the essays delve into how connections, both significant and minor, shape identity. Lynne Sharon Schwartz offers a reflective journey that illuminates the solitary self against a backdrop of diverse experiences. Her keen observations and insightful prose invite readers to engage with the complexities of relationships and the nuances of personal growth, showcasing her trademark intelligence and hopefulness.