An epic, powerful and intensely personal debut about war, migration, family, and the search for a place to call home. For fans of PACHINKO, WILD SWANS and ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE
Melissa Bank Book order (chronological)
Melissa Bank is an American author whose work offers a keen insight into relationships and the search for identity. Her stories and novels explore the complexities of modern life with wit and empathy. Bank masterfully captures the inner lives and outward expressions of her characters, creating narratives that are both humorous and deeply poignant. Her distinctive style is known for its candor and its ability to get to the heart of human experience.







- 2022
- 2022
Houseplant Oasis
- 176 pages
- 7 hours of reading
Learn how to keep your houseplants healthy, happy and looking stylish in this contemporary reference and project book for plant parents. YOUR #1 RESOURCE FOR PLANT PARENTHOOD
- 2007
Rivages Poche - 576: Prochain arrêt le paradis
- 464 pages
- 17 hours of reading
Six years after her debut, Melissa Bank offers a refreshingly honest portrayal of a young woman's journey into adulthood. Following Sophie Applebaum from her awkward childhood in suburban Pennsylvania to the challenges of love and career in Manhattan, the narrative avoids the self-indulgent traps of typical Chick Lit. We meet the Applebaum family en route to cousin Rebecca's bat mitzvah, where Sophie sneaks cigarettes with a charming eighth grader. This minor rebellion showcases her role as an innocent observer rather than an instigator. Sophie's defining moments unfold through her relationships: a mythical college roommate, a charismatic older brother, a brilliant younger brother, an impenetrable father, and a hilarious grandmother determined to save her from "impending spinsterhood." Her journey includes encounters with commitment-phobic men, highlighting her struggle to find comfort in herself. As she reflects during a seventh-grade skating party, Sophie grapples with the feeling of being both seen and invisible. Clever, occasionally hilarious, and often poignant, this narrative captivates readers, inviting them to forgive Sophie's indecisive tendencies and appreciate her sincerity.
- 2006
Rien ne va de soi pour Sophie Applebaum, la nouvelle héroïne terriblement attendrissante de Melissa Bank. Enfant espiègle, elle s'applique à faire plaisir ; jeune diplômée fascinée par New York, elle peine à trouver un emploi ; amie fidèle, elle découvre que la loyauté n'est pas forcément la chose la mieux partagée au monde ; amoureuse impétueuse, elle rompt aussi souvent ou presque qu'elle s'éprend. D'un médecin, père de famille et divorcé ; d'un serveur, poète à ses heures et en rupture de ban ou encore d'un musicien à peine sorti de l'enfance. Sophie est ainsi : toujours, elle relève le gant. Avec d'autant plus d'ardeur que sa famille, véritable tribu où l'on rit, s'aime, se chamaille et pleure, n'est jamais loin. Drôle, émouvant, agité, Prochain arrêt, le paradis raconte avec entrain les tribulations d'une fille bien décidée à conquérir le monde ou pour le moins à y trouver sa place.
- 2005
The Wonder Spot
- 336 pages
- 12 hours of reading
From the author of 'The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing', this is a tale of growing up, finding love, and following your path. Join Sophie Applebaum and discover 'the wonder spot'.
- 2001
Bibliothèque étrangère - 326: Manuel de chasse et de pêche à l'usage des filles
- 256 pages
- 9 hours of reading
Hailed by critics as the debut of a major literary voice, The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing dazzled and delighted readers and topped bestseller lists nationwide. Generous-hearted and wickedly insightful, The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing maps the progress of Jane Rosenal as she sets out on a personal and spirited expedition through the perilous terrain of sex, love, and relationships as well as the treacherous waters of the workplace. With an unforgettable comic touch, Bank skillfully teases out issues of the heart, puts a new spin on the mating dance, and captures in perfect pitch what it's like to be a young woman coming of age in America today.
- 2001
Welcome to My Planet
- 304 pages
- 11 hours of reading
Shannon is 30 and single. When her relationship falters, she moves home to save money. Once home, she is reluctantly drawn into the sometimes infuriating realm of her mother. Life for Shannon takes on the complexities of Flo's life, as mother and daughter struggle to redefine their own boundaries.
- 1999
Hailed by critics as the debut of a major literary voice, The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing dazzled and delighted readers and topped bestseller lists nationwide. Generous-hearted and wickedly insightful, The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing maps the progress of Jane Rosenal as she sets out on a personal and spirited expedition through the perilous terrain of sex, love, and relationships as well as the treacherous waters of the workplace. With an unforgettable comic touch, Bank skillfully teases out issues of the heart, puts a new spin on the mating dance, and captures in perfect pitch what it's like to be a young woman coming of age in America today.

