Gail Godwin is an American novelist whose work delves into the intricacies of relationships and the psychological depths of her characters. Through her prose, she explores themes of identity, memory, and the search for meaning in the modern world. Her style is characterized by keen insight and a carefully crafted atmosphere that draws readers into the inner lives of her protagonists. Godwin examines the human condition with nuance and intelligence, making her a significant voice in contemporary literature.
The narrative centers on a young girl's deep devotion to her father, a rector in a small Virginia church. It explores themes of hope, dreams, and love as they navigate the challenges of betrayal and family tragedy. Celebrated for its emotional depth and beautifully crafted prose, this poignant story highlights the enduring bond between father and daughter, making it one of Gail Godwin's most acclaimed works. The novel stands out in contemporary literature, reflecting Godwin's status among notable Southern authors.
"From the bestselling, award-winning author of Flora and Evensong comes the story of two remarkable women and the complex friendship between them that spans decades. When the dean of Lovegood Junior College for Girls decides to pair Feron Hood with Merry Jellicoe as roommates in 1958, she has no way of knowing the far-reaching consequences of the match. Feron, who has narrowly escaped from a dark past, instantly takes to Merry and her composed personality. Surrounded by the traditions and four-story Doric columns of Lovegood, the girls--and their friendship--begin to thrive. But underneath their fierce friendship is a stronger, stranger bond, one comprised of secrets, rivalry, and influence--with neither of them able to predict that Merry is about to lose everything she grew up taking for granted, and that their time together will be cut short. Ten years later, Feron and Merry haven't spoken since college. Life has led them into vastly different worlds. But, as Feron says, once someone is inside your "reference aura," she stays there forever. And when each woman finds herself in need of the other's essence, that spark--that remarkable affinity, unbroken by time--between them is reignited, and their lives begin to shift as a result. Luminous and literary, Old Lovegood Girls is the story of a powerful friendship between talented writers, two college friends who have formed a bond that takes them through decades of a fast-changing world, finding and losing and finding again the one friendship that defines them"-- Provided by publisher
"After his mother's death, eleven-year-old Marcus is sent to live on a small South Carolina island with his great aunt, a reclusive painter with a haunted past. Aunt Charlotte, otherwise a woman of few words, points out a ruined cottage, telling Marcus she had visited it regularly after she'd moved there thirty years ago because it matched the ruin of her own life. Eventually she was inspired to take up painting so she could capture its utter desolation. The islanders call it "Grief Cottage," because a boy and his parents disappeared from it during a hurricane fifty years before. Their bodies were never found and the cottage has stood empty ever since. During his lonely hours while Aunt Charlotte is in her studio painting and keeping her demons at bay, Marcus visits the cottage daily, building up his courage by coming ever closer, even after the ghost of the boy who died seems to reveal himself. Full of curiosity and open to the unfamiliar and uncanny given the recent upending of his life, he courts the ghost boy, never certain whether the ghost is friendly or follows some sinister agenda. Grief Cottage is the best sort of ghost story, but it is far more than that--an investigation of grief, remorse, and the memories that haunt us. The power and beauty of this artful novel wash over the reader like the waves on a South Carolina beach."--Back cover
Publishing is a personal story of a writer's hunger to be published, the pursuit of that goal, and then the long haul--for Gail Godwin, forty-five years of being a published writer and all that goes with it. A student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1958, Godwin met with Knopf scouts who came to campus every spring in search of new talent. Though her five pages of Windy Peaks were turned down and the novel never completed, she would go on to publish two story collections and fourteen novels, three of which were National Book Award finalists, five of which were New York Times bestsellers. Publishing reflects on the influence of her mother's writing hopes and accomplishments, and recalls Godwin's experiences with teachers Kurt Vonnegut and Robert Coover at the Iowa Writers' Workshop; with John Hawkins, her literary agent for five decades; with John Irving and other luminaries; and with her editors and publishers. Recollecting her long and storied career, Godwin maps the publishing industry over the last fifty years, a time of great upheaval and ingenuity. Her eloquent memoir is illuminated by Frances Halsband's evocative black-and-white line drawings throughout. There have been memoirs about writing and memoirs about being an editor, but there is no other book quite like Publishing for aspiring writers and book lovers everywhere.
Ten-year-old Helen and her summer guardian, Flora, are isolated together in Helen's dilapidated family home while her father is doing secret war work during the final months of the Second World War. At three Helen lost her mother and the beloved grandmother who raised her has just died. A fiercely imaginative child, Helen is desperate to keep her house intact with all its ghosts and stories. Flora, her late mother's twenty-two-year old first cousin, who cries at the drop of a hat, is ardently determined to do her best for Helen. Their relationship and its fallout, played against the backdrop of a lost America, will haunt Helen for the rest of her life.
Set against a backdrop of sweeping and sultry literary landscapes, the story follows a memorable young heroine whose life intertwines with engaging characters, each grappling with their own intimate dramas. The narrative weaves these relationships together, creating a rich tapestry of interconnected lives. Renowned author Gail Godwin delivers a compelling exploration of personal journeys and emotional depth in this eagerly awaited new novel.
Violet Clay's aspirations in the New York City art scene unravel as she faces the harsh realities of her life, marked by failed relationships and excessive drinking. After losing her job as a freelance illustrator, the situation worsens when she learns of her Uncle Ambrose's tragic suicide. This pivotal moment forces Violet to confront her past and reassess her future, setting the stage for a journey of self-discovery and redemption amidst personal and professional turmoil.
Gail Godwin's novels are celebrated for their evocative storytelling and beautifully crafted prose, featuring endearing and unforgettable characters. Her work has garnered critical acclaim, positioning her alongside literary giants like Eudora Welty and Carson McCullers. As a prominent Southern novelist, Godwin's fiction resonates deeply, marking her as a significant voice in contemporary literature.
Set in a small Smoky Mountain town, the narrative explores the profound impact of community on a woman's life. Through rich character development, the story delves into the complexities of human experience, revealing themes of success and struggle, disappointment and joy. Gail Godwin's emotional precision illuminates the everyday existence of her characters, capturing the essence of their lives and the transformative power of connection.
